Car dealerships could be in line for windfall business rates rebates due to the impact of the recession on their business.

CVS (Commercial Valuers and Surveyors) is warning dealers that time is running out for them to make a claim.

The company, which has saved its car showroom clients over £2.7 million, said that there are more errors in the Rating Valuation of car dealerships than any other industry sector.

According to research by CVS, over 8,000 UK car dealerships assessed during the 2005 Rating List have a total Rateable Value liability of £490 million.

This means over £1 billion rates payable in the latest five year rating period, an average of almost £137,000 per dealership.

If the remaining UK dealerships still to appeal took action and were to achieve this level of results, this could create an average rebate of £15,297 per property.

However CVS warns the right to appeal to these charges runs out on March 31, 2010 with the introduction of the next Rating List.