HiQ Tyres & Autocare named Tyre Retailer of the Year 2026

Last week, the National Tyre Distribution Association (NTDA) gathered in Birmingham once again for their 97th annual awards ceremony, at which HiQ Tyres & Autocare was awarded Tyre Retailer of the Year. This prestigious award recognises outstanding performance across every aspect of the business, from leadership and staff development to customer service, innovation and community engagement.

HiQ Tyres & Autocare has exhibited strong growth in recent years, expanding from 190 contracted points-of-sale in 2024 to nearly 290 today. The network has adapted to encompass franchises, brand-owned stores, mobile tyre servicing vehicles and service partners to better serve their local communities, retail customers and fleet clients.

Putting customer service first

Customer service is central to the HiQ Tyres & Autocare ethos, and this effort has yielded results in the form of a 4.8 star Trustpilot rating based on more than 13,000 customer reviews. These reviews are not just collected, but actively listened to and responded to, with any rating below four stars prompting an investigation to find the cause of the issue and produce a resolution.

This commitment to delivering outstanding customer service is subject to independent scrutiny, including a network audit conducted by CAR Consulting Group which assesses the network against more than 200 criteria from customer satisfaction to technical competence. In the most recent audit,, a record number of centres achieved Platinum or Gold accreditation, with more than 90% reaching Silver or above.

The customer journey is enhanced from roadside to the waiting room, with around 90% of HiQ-affiliated locations now displaying the latest Corporate Identity, providing a recognisable and professional look and feel. The brand champions honest pricing, friendly service and delivering outstanding service in the local community.

Contributing to the future of the industry

HiQ Tyres & Autocare proudly invests in the development of the next generation of automotive technicians, including recently hosting its second annual apprentice experience day which took members of its network behind the scenes of the British Touring Car Championship to learn from professional motorsport engineers, working on road-legal race cars and operating in a fast-paced paddock environment.

It also offers a range of mentoring services and development programmes, in addition to assigning each centre to a business consultant, dedicated to assisting with business growth and exceeding KPIs.

Support in the local community and beyond

HiQ Tyres & Autocare’s network is made up of local garage owners that are very active in their surrounding communities, but the network also has a long-running partnership with Breast Cancer Now, including their Project Pink campaign in October. The combined efforts of Head Office employees, franchisees, service partners and customers have currently raised more than £165,000 for the charity.

The brand also demonstrates its commitment to wider societal causes in the form of its environmental efforts, including its partnerships with Fraser Evans & Sons Ltd and Oil Salvage Ltd which ensure that scrap tyres and excess oil is reused wherever possible to reduce the centres’ environmental impact.

Craig Sprigmore, Retail Director, HiQ Tyres & Autocare, said: “Being crowned as Tyre Retailer of the Year is a tremendous honour, and the award is the result of the collective efforts of everyone across the network, from our centre teams, service partners, apprentices and Head Office colleagues. They put customers first every day and hold themselves to the same high standards across every centre across the nation. We have seen exceptional growth in recent years, at a time when the industry is showing signs of struggle, and this award recognises all of the efforts that have gotten us to the position we find ourselves in today. We are thankful to the NTDA and judges for recognising this commitment and take this as great encouragement to continue investing in our people and customers.”

HiQ works alongside the NTDA in support of its commitment to raising standards and promoting excellence across the tyre and automotive industry.

Photography: Aaron Scott Richards