The SERMI (Security-related Vehicle Repair and Maintenance) scheme has today gone live in the UK, giving independent garages access to crucial information required to work on many new cars.
The scheme gives independents that meet select criteria access to security-related data required to repair or maintain complex new cars, such as key and ECU coding. This gives them greater opportunity to compete with manufacturer-backed garages.
SERMI has been live in the European Union since late 2023, but today's launch makes the UK the first country outside the trade bloc to receive full approval for the scheme.
The Independent Garage Association (IGA), which backed SERMI's roll-out in the UK, has hailed it as a "momentous day".
"SERMI changes the position of the independent sector," said IGA chief Stuart James. "It gives professional, compliant businesses access to the information they need to repair modern vehicles properly, safely, and legitimately."
Manufacturers signed up to SERMI include Jaguar Land Rover, Ford and Mercedes-Benz.
Aftermarket leaders have recently called for SERMI to be made mandatory, rather than voluntary. Access to the scheme for a garage’s owner and one technician costs a one-off payment of £1800 plus VAT or £30 per month plus VAT. Additional mechanics can be added for a one-off fee of £125.
Access to SERMI being voluntary means “every garage should judge accreditation against their own business case”, the Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation said in a statement. “If a garage is currently not involved heavily in anti-theft related repair activities such as coding keys and repairing door locks, there is little reason to justify signing up.”
That it is voluntary also raises questions over manufacturer support, it added.
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