The launch of the SERMI (Security-related Repair and Maintenance Information) scheme on April 1, 2026 marks a significant step forward for the UK automotive repair industry.
Already rolled out across Europe, SERMI grants independent repair shops access to the same critical vehicle data as dealerships, levelling the playing field and improving both repair efficiency and data security.
Previously, sharing data between garages, repairers, and vehicle manufacturers was disjointed. Each vehicle manufacturer required independent certifications, creating a cumbersome and time-consuming system for them to talk to others in the vehicle life cycle.
SERMI simplifies this by introducing a single, standardised point of accreditation, approval, and authorisation. It ensures secure access to essential vehicle systems, like diagnostics, software updates and key programming, across all participating OEMs.
The result is faster, more accurate repairs and less time lost navigating different systems.
As the SERMI Trust Centre, Digidentity delivers certificates and security tokens through its own datacentre. This allows independent operators to access security-related repair and maintenance information without needing to install additional software or drivers locally.
Marcel Wendt, CTO and founder of Digidentity: “For modern repairs, access to software, diagnostics and security data is now just as important as access to the parts themselves. By acting as the Trust Centre for SERMI in the UK, our role is to issue credentials securely and give manufacturers full visibility into who’s accessing their systems. This protects security information for drivers and enhances the safety of modern connected vehicles”
With SERMI going live in the UK, independent garages are no longer disadvantaged compared to OEM-authorised dealerships. In the past, limited access to manufacturer systems made it harder for independent repairers to compete, even when they had the same technical capabilities.
By providing verified access to the same information, SERMI helps change that. It ensures independent garages can work to the highest standard, with the tools and data they need to perform secure, high-quality repairs.
It also gives manufacturers peace of mind. With a clear framework for technician verification and credentialing, they know exactly who is accessing their systems and when.
Stuart James, Chief Executive of the IGA, says: “Independent garages have always had the capability to carry out complex, high-quality repairs. What they haven’t had is consistent access to the data that modern vehicles now rely on. As more systems go digital and EV adoption accelerates, that lack of access has become a serious barrier. SERMI puts a structure around something we’ve needed for years, bringing trusted access to the systems and information that have held the sector back for too long.”
The importance of secure information sharing cannot be overstated in today’s increasingly connected automotive environment. Severe consequences of digital vulnerabilities can include financial losses, operational disruptions, and the erosion of consumer trust.
As vehicles become more connected and software-defined, secure information sharing has become a vital part of the repair process. Whether it’s accessing encrypted diagnostics or managing digital keys, technicians need secure, structured access to systems that were once tightly restricted.
Without a clear model, the risk of delays, unauthorised access, or data misuse increases. SERMI helps manage those risks by putting strong controls around who can access what, and ensuring those controls work at scale.
A Trust Centre combats these risks by centralising a company’s security posture, balancing accessibility and security to keep the repair ecosystem safe, accountable and able to evolve.
With SERMI’s implementation, UK garages will be better equipped to handle the demands of modern vehicle repairs.
Digidentity is proud to support the industry through this shift, enabling faster, safer and more consistent repairs, while ensuring that data remains protected at every step.
Learn more about how Digidentity supports the SERMI scheme.