Red letter day for garages as SERMI launch date revealed

3 February 2026  

The Independent Garage Association has confirmed that the European SERMI scheme will officially go live in the UK on April 1.

The announcement came just days after Aftermarket reported that the IGA had secured full approval for the European SERMI scheme nationwide.

Launching the scheme follows 17 years of persistent effort, advocacy, and collaboration, the IGA said. The scheme will mean independent garages can finally access secure, security-related vehicle repair and maintenance information through the SERMI framework, unlocking opportunities that were previously difficult to reach.

The UK is the only country outside the European Union to achieve both approval and implementation of SERMI.

Security

SERMI provides a trusted, secure, and manufacturer-recognised route for independent garages to access data that is essential for working on modern vehicles, including systems relating to security, immobilisation, and advanced electronics. 

Stuart James, IGA chief executive, said: “From April 1, eligible repairers can operate within a trusted, recognised framework that puts independent garages back on a level playing field.”

The IGA said it will continue to support garages through onboarding and is advancing further initiatives focused on secure gateway access and cyber security, ensuring the UK remains at the forefront of servicing and repairing next-generation vehicles.