03 Jul 2023
Once a country is ready SERMI will be implemented
SERMI, the authentication procedure that enables independent operators in the automotive aftermarket to have a standardised access to the specific part of the website of the vehicle manufacturer that contains the security related information of a vehicle, will be implemented in a gradual manner throughout Europe. This standardised procedure will replace all brand specific proprietary protocols for access to security-related Repair & Maintenance Information (RMI).
According to EU Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/1244, SERMI should have come into force in all EU member states from 1 August 2023. However, as not all Member States have an accredited Conformity Assessment Body available in time, the SERMI Operations Group, in cooperation with the European Commission, decided to:
- Implement the SERMI scheme in those EU Member States that are ready, via a staged implementation
- Continue using current vehicle manufacturers’ proprietary identification systems in other countries
- Continue using current vehicle manufacturers’ proprietary identification systems in other countries
The United Kingdom intends to use SERMI on a voluntary basis. The staged implementation dates are as follows:
| Date | Countries |
| 1 October 2023 | Sweden |
| 1 December 2023 | To be defined |
| 1 February 2024 | To be defined |
| 1 April 2024 | To be defined |
| 1 June 2024 | To be defined |
| 1 August 2024 | To be defined |
This schedule will be updated every 2 months on the SERMI website: www.vehiclesermi.eu
How SERMI works
• Independent operators make a request to the Conformity Assessment Body (CAB) in their country to approve them and to authorise their selected employees to obtain a “one fits all” VMs’ authentication to access security-related repair and maintenance information (RMI).
• The CAB checks, inter alia, that the independent operator conducts a “legitimate business activity”, and that its employees are trained for repair activities concerning automotive maintenance, reprogramming and security and safety functions, and have a clean criminal record.
• If this is the case, independent operators and their selected employees will be provided standardised access method to the website of the manufacturer(-s) containing security related RMI.
• As long as the SERMI scheme is not implemented in a particular Member State, independent operators can access security related RMI using vehicle manufacturers’ current systems.
• Independent operators make a request to the Conformity Assessment Body (CAB) in their country to approve them and to authorise their selected employees to obtain a “one fits all” VMs’ authentication to access security-related repair and maintenance information (RMI).
• The CAB checks, inter alia, that the independent operator conducts a “legitimate business activity”, and that its employees are trained for repair activities concerning automotive maintenance, reprogramming and security and safety functions, and have a clean criminal record.
• If this is the case, independent operators and their selected employees will be provided standardised access method to the website of the manufacturer(-s) containing security related RMI.
• As long as the SERMI scheme is not implemented in a particular Member State, independent operators can access security related RMI using vehicle manufacturers’ current systems.