HOW SERMI CERTIFICATION IMPACTS VEHICLE AND PASSENGER SAFETY
High-tech car theft is on the rise, and the responsibility of vehicle repair technicians has evolved. In response, the industry has introduced a new compulsory certification.
The SERMI scheme (short for SEcurity-related vehicle Repair and Maintenance Information) was introduced in August 2023. Based on European Union directives, it is in the process of rolling out across 28 countries in Europe and the UK. Its objective is to gain control of the access to a vehicle’s on-board diagnostics (OBD) and repair and maintenance information (RMI). OBD and RMI concern not only the functional security of the vehicle but also its immobilization and anti-theft systems. This includes the keys, lock systems, and transmitters of passenger vehicles, trucks, and even trailers.
Car body workshops that work for multiple brands, often specializing in specific automotive repairs—known as independent operators (IO)—are the most concerned by SERMI. Another party that will need to prepare is remote-service suppliers, service providers that offer remote technical services such as programming or fitting and need to activate parts and equipment on a vehicle.
A certification to support increased responsibility
Vehicles contain sensitive technology that, among other purposes, can be used to prevent them from being stolen or to track and recover lost vehicles. Technicians need access to this technology to maintain and repair security-related systems. Access enables them to file official repair orders, conduct vehicle identification number (VIN) verification, and make the link with the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) information or system—to name a few of the functions.
If independent operators and remote-service suppliers don’t obtain SERMI certification, eventually they won’t be able to perform repair and maintenance activities. When performing an action, access to the OEM platform’s information and the system’s data will only be possible for certified independent operators’ technicians.
Reinforced security needed in a time of increased vehicle theft
The SERMI certification comes at a time when car theft is on the rise across Europe. Data from motor.com shows a sharp uptick in vehicle theft between 2021 and 2023,
Most vehicle theft crimes go unsolved; instead, the cars end up being reprogrammed and sold. Repair technicians have the ability to know if a vehicle’s registration or log is authentic. They also have the tools and authorization to re-program security systems if the car owner locks themselves out of a car or has lost their keys. SERMI requires that the technician make the necessary ownership checks before accessing the vehicle’s security system.
Media and police warnings suggest that thieves’ knowledge is evolving. New techniques such as “keyless theft,” using remote access or fob cloning, have emerged. It is now the responsibility of the technician to make sure that anti-theft technology is up to date, incorporating the many security updates manufacturers have made.
Moving towards simplicity and choice for vehicle maintenance
As well as strengthening trust between independent repair shops and the consumer, SERMI
also simplifies procedures. Until recently, vehicle repair technicians required certification and/or authorization from each vehicle manufacturer they work on, putting them at a disadvantage to workshops specialized in one brand. With 300,000-400,000 car body workshops across Europe and more than one million authorized staff members, the certification is set to have a big impact in the sector.
Bureau Veritas already accompanies leading automotive enterprises and aftermarket service providers around the world through testing, inspection, certification, and advisory services. It applies its 200 years of expertise in inspection and certification to act as its clients’ trusted partner and enables clients to understand and comply with the new SERMI regulation, and deliver safe and reliable automotive services to their customers.
The SERMI certification in a nutshell
- The SERMI certification, valid for five years, concerns anyone dealing with OBD in vehicle repair workshops, both on a company and on an individual-employee level
- The first step in the certification process is a remote document review, checking business and employee documents such as:
- documentation of vehicle ownership
- qualification and training certificates
- liability insurance with a minimum coverage of €1 million for bodily injury and €500,000 for property damage
- certification to show that legal representatives of the business and concerned mechanics possess a clean criminal record
- proof of legitimate business activities in the automotive maintenance market (organizations that are involved in car tuning, chip tuning, or tampering with systems that affect pollution or emissions control are not eligible for certification)
- the required training and qualification certificates relevant to their market
- auto-declaration confirming compliance to SERMI requirements
- not having a former SERMI certificate revoked due to misuse
- Once certification is obtained, the repair workshop is also subject to an unannounced inspection during the five-year certification period and a renewal audit six months before the end of the certification. During the inspection, they will need to demonstrate that the organization and technicians fulfill the authorization criteria and that they complete the necessary checks to ensure that the vehicles are not stolen.