Do car dealerships need Risk Assessments?

Yes — car dealerships are required to carry out Risk Assessments under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. This applies to all workplace activities where there is a potential risk of harm, regardless of the size of the business or whether it is sales-focused rather than a traditional workshop.

In practice, dealerships face a range of risks that should be assessed and managed, including customer areas, vehicle movement, valeting operations, workshop activities (if present), and general workplace hazards such as slips, trips and falls.

Risk Assessments in car dealerships typically consider how vehicles are moved around forecourts and internal areas, how customers and staff interact safely in showrooms, and any servicing or preparation work carried out on site. Where workshops, valeting bays or MOT facilities are included, these higher-risk activities require more detailed assessments.

The aim is to identify hazards and put sensible control measures in place so that staff, customers and visitors can move around and use the premises safely.