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What is SERMI, and why is it important?
Marco Brunamonti
This is one of those times when the saying ‘better late than never’ applies.
The implementation of the SERMI scheme, adopted in 2021 by the European Commission, was initially planned for August 2023 throughout the EU. After several delays, Italy finally got the official green light a few days ago: the SERMI scheme will be active from 1 February 2025.
The implementation of the SERMI scheme, adopted in 2021 by the European Commission, was initially planned for August 2023 throughout the EU. After several delays, Italy finally got the official green light a few days ago: the SERMI scheme will be active from 1 February 2025.
SERMI (an abbreviation of its complicated official name: ‘Forum for Access to Security-Related Vehicle Repair and Maintenance Information’) is a scheme to manage access to certain vehicle safety data, approved by the European Commission, and designed in such a way as to allow independent operators to operate competitively, as provided for in the Euro 5/6 Regulations (715/2007 and 692/2008) and explained in the dedicated article.
SERMI therefore gives any Independent Operator (IO) who needs access to vehicle safety data in order to do their own repair and/or maintenance work, the possibility to access it in an anonymous and non-discriminatory manner, by means of tools and software that can be provided by market players, both independent and non-independent.
Access to safety data via SERMI certification is the way to allow independent repairers to continue their work on certain safety elements of the vehicle.
The importance of SERMI for the entire vehicle repair sector lies in its potential for implementation. As of February 2025, it will only be implemented on a limited set of sensitive data, but it is expected to demonstrate the ability to provide access to that data in an indiscriminate and competitive manner, all without undermining the safety of vehicles and thus motorists.
If it achieves its aim, the SERMI scheme could be promoted as a solution to manage access to all technical vehicle data.
Given the tendency of the vehicle fleet in Italy to age more and more, the vehicle repair and maintenance sector will become increasingly important in the future. Ensuring access to technical vehicle data that is fair, secure, and free from undue interference will be crucial for the freedom of the vehicle repair market and to prevent the end user, the vehicle owner, from paying the highest price.
SERMI therefore gives any Independent Operator (IO) who needs access to vehicle safety data in order to do their own repair and/or maintenance work, the possibility to access it in an anonymous and non-discriminatory manner, by means of tools and software that can be provided by market players, both independent and non-independent.
Access to safety data via SERMI certification is the way to allow independent repairers to continue their work on certain safety elements of the vehicle.
The importance of SERMI for the entire vehicle repair sector lies in its potential for implementation. As of February 2025, it will only be implemented on a limited set of sensitive data, but it is expected to demonstrate the ability to provide access to that data in an indiscriminate and competitive manner, all without undermining the safety of vehicles and thus motorists.
If it achieves its aim, the SERMI scheme could be promoted as a solution to manage access to all technical vehicle data.
Given the tendency of the vehicle fleet in Italy to age more and more, the vehicle repair and maintenance sector will become increasingly important in the future. Ensuring access to technical vehicle data that is fair, secure, and free from undue interference will be crucial for the freedom of the vehicle repair market and to prevent the end user, the vehicle owner, from paying the highest price.
