Proudfoot Motors celebrates 10 years in Navan
30/09/2025
Celebrating 10 years in Navan and 35 years as a CVRT Test Centre, Proudfoot Motors continues to go from strength to strength by offering an unrivalled service to a loyal and ever-expanding customer-base.
Founded in 1969 as Nobber Motors, the family-run business relocated from Nobber to Beechmount Home Park in Navan in 2015 and hasn’t looked back since. It is a one-stop shop, providing sales, service and CVRT testing from 8.30am until 6pm Monday to Thursday and 8.30am to 12.30pm on Fridays to ensure greater flexibility for customers. Indeed, it is the only CVRT Test Centre in Navan.
“It was a great move. The past 10 years have flown by,” owner Thomas Proudfoot enthuses.
“As Navan and the surrounding towns and villages continue to grow, so do we. We’ve never been as busy. We’re centrally located within Co. Meath which makes us easily accessible. We can test, service or repair everything from a van to the largest truck. We look after the Meath Fire Service, ESB and HSE fleets to name but a few as well as those of various garages. About 20% of all bookings are made online.
“While we’re best known as a CVRT Test Centre, the repair and maintenance side of things is very strong. We’re also main Isuzu dealers for the North-East and pride ourselves on our personal, friendly and value-for-money service.”
Proudfoot Motors is an LCV and HGV test centre whose services include vehicle testing, safety checks, tachograph calibration, road speed limiters, vehicle plating, vehicle servicing, vehicle sales and finance. The CVRT inspection, which is carried out on behalf of the RSA (Road Safety Authority), includes checking brakes, lights, markings, wheels and tyres, steering and suspension, chassis and underbody, tachograph, speed limiter, exhaust emissions, electrical systems, glass, mirrors and more.
“We’re a Stoneridge tachograph fitting centre, capable of fitting, repairs and calibration as well as vehicle dimension plates and speed limiter calibration,” Thomas explains.
“We can also service vehicles on the same day as the test and carry out any repairs required to ensure that the vehicle passes. When a vehicle fails initially, it is possible to have the necessary repairs carried out on the same day.”
Proudfoot Motors has invested heavily in the latest equipment for testing all LCV and HGV commercial vehicles, including new MAHA lifts to replace the LCV pits and other state-of-the-art equipment that meets RSA standards. The purpose of the test is to ensure that vehicles are in good roadworthy condition throughout their entire life.
Quality, consistency and unbiased vehicle testing are the core values of the Proudfoot Motors team who are customer-focused, compliant, thorough and offer a comprehensive and courteous service. At all times, the test centre adheres to stringent guidelines as laid down by the RSA. Excellence in service and the highest possible standards are a given at the Navan-based operation.
The premises includes a showroom and waiting room that makes customers feel at home along with a modern workshop that stocks a wide range of parts and modern equipment used for repairs and service work. The test centre has three lanes which are manned by five experienced testers, including manager James O’Keeffe, with the capacity to perform quick and affordable tests on all types of commercial vehicles, including vans, trucks, trailers, buses, coaches, mini-buses, ambulances, campervans and motorhomes. In total, Proudfoot Motors employs 22 people.
“Our people are our greatest asset. We’d be nothing without them,” Thomas stresses.
“We have a number of staff who have been with us for 20-plus years. That experience counts for a lot. We also recruit apprentices on a regular basis and are committed to bringing through the next generation of testers and mechanics.”
Proudfoot Motors has been a main Isuzu dealer for many years. The Isuzu N series of rigid trucks (7.5 to 11 tonnes) and D-Max single crew cab pick-ups are all selling well. The new Isuzu D-Max crew Cab is available to test drive on site and with its 3.5Tonne Towing capacity, it sells itself. Residual value is very important and with the D-Max holding its own in that department, it’s an obvious choice. The garage also sells a wide selection of used commercials from 4X4 pickup’s to small and larger vans to suit all budgets.
"Finance is arranged in a matter of hours so it makes the whole process seamless,” owner Marie Proudfoot adds.
The parts department stocks a comprehensive range of original Isuzu parts along with various other brands. Using their electronic parts catalogue, the Proudfoot Motors team can conveniently identify any part within a matter of seconds. From new and second-hand sales to servicing, repairs, parts and testing, a personal touch is provided at all times and excellent customer relations are guaranteed across all aspects of the business.
“My father Jim started the business over 55 years ago and we have remained a family business ever since with my sister Marie co-owing the business with me. We began testing as Nobber Motors in 1990 so we have accumulated a wealth of experience. In conjunction with the RSA’s overhaul of the testing network, we took the opportunity to relocate and rebrand our business 10 years ago and it has thankfully paid off for us,” Thomas explains.
Looking to the future, he adds: “We would like to sustain what we have and also to increase our business further. Commercial vehicle testing has always been busy here and it brings work into the garage as well. One complements the other and we are a one-stop shop providing the full solution, including new and used vehicle sales.
“We’re extremely flexible and have the capacity to accommodate our regular customers at short notice.”
Proudfoot Motors would like to take this opportunity to thank its customers for their continued support, and look forward to catering for all their vehicle test needs for many more years to come.
For your next CVRT test, be sure to get in touch.
Proudfoot Motors
Beechmount Home Park,
Navan,
Co. Meath.
Telephone: 046 909 6100
Email: [email protected]
First published in Irish Trucker magazine September/October 2025, Vol 28-5
