Industry leaders look to impact on garages ahead of SERMI

27 January 2026  

Motor factor chief Kevan Wooden has welcomed approval for the launch of SERMI in the UK as a hugely significant moment for the independent aftermarket.

The chief executive of LKQ & Ireland praised work by the Independent Garage Association which announced last week that it had secured full approval to deploy the European SERMI scheme in the UK.

However, IAAF chief executive Mark Field said while the association welcomed the move, it continued to have reservations about the impact of the scheme being voluntary in the UK, risking confusion among garages. 

Wooden said: “SERMI is a proven framework that already operates successfully across Europe and Northern Ireland. Its approval in Great Britain brings much-needed clarity and creates a clear pathway for manufacturers and the aftermarket to align around a single, trusted standard for accessing security-related repair and maintenance information.

‘Reducing uncertainty’

“Independent garages play a vital role in keeping motorists moving, and fair, secure access to vehicle data is essential if they are to remain competitive and keep more work in-house. Widespread adoption of SERMI by vehicle manufacturers is therefore critical.”

Looking ahead, Wooden said mandating the scheme would be the logical next step to ensure consistency, reduce uncertainty, and create a genuinely level playing field across the UK.

“IGA securing SERMI approval is a major structural breakthrough, but it does not in itself create a legal obligation on manufacturers to comply in this country.”

Meanwhile, Wooden said LKQ would continue to work closely with the IGA, OEMs and industry partners to encourage adoption and support independent garages as vehicles become ever more complex.

Business case

IAAF’s Mark Field said: “Every garage should judge accreditation against their own business case. 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.”

He noted that workshops do not need to be part of an industry association to be SERMI accredited. This is because the relevant conformity assessment body (CAB) — in the UK’s case RMI Standards and Certification — is also responsible for investigating claims of misuse of the scheme and must remain impartial.

“A voluntary SERMI scheme also raises the question of how many vehicle manufacturers will adopt this standardised scheme in the UK.”

Field said the the voluntary approach fundamentally impacts the business case for both other CABs applying to be accredited to provide independent repairers with a choice for their accreditation, as well as for access to security related information such as anti-theft related repair work. This is why the IAAF is calling for the scheme to be mandated, as it is in the EU.

IGA director Jonathan Douglass told Aftermarket on January 26 introduction of the scheme in the UK will create a level playing field between franchise dealers and independents.

He confirmed that garages do not need to be IGA members to sign up for SERMI, the official launch date of which is expected to be announced soon.