The agencies were initially contacted a month ago with a view to a possible pitch. It is understood talks have now progressed to more advanced stages with a number of unnamed shops.
A spokesperson for Kwik-Fit said: "We have not made a decision to change our advertising agency. However, from time to time we do take the opportunity to speak to other agencies."
Kwik-Fit has about 2,500 service centres and more than 10,000 employees across Europe in operations which include Pit-Stop in Germany and France's Speedy Europe.
The company was acquired by the venture capitalist CVC Capital Partners from Ford for £330m last July. Ford retains a 19 per cent stake in Kwik-Fit. CVC also owns Halfords, the 400-store auto and bike accessory chain, which it acquired from Boots for £427m.
Following its move out of Boots, Halfords reviewed its media agency arrangements, moving its £8 million media planning and buying account out of MindShare into OMD UK last August.
OMD held the account from 1994 to 2000 before Boots consolidated its £80 million global business into WPP.
Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO is the incumbent on the creative account for Halfords.
Analysts have mooted that a possible merger between the two businesses could be on the cards, a move that CVC denies. The two operations are well matched, with Kwik-Fit specialising in tyres and exhausts, while Halfords operates in the lighter end of the market, selling car parts and accessories.
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