SERMI (an acronym for “Security-Related Repair and Maintenance Information”) is a regulatory initiative by the European Union aimed at controlling access to sensitive technical information related to vehicle safety, such as key programming, access to control units (ECUs) linked to safety systems, and anti-theft procedures.
The SERMI system, in force in Spain since October 2023, allows independent workshops and technicians (not affiliated with car manufacturers) to legally access this technical information in a secure manner, provided they meet certain requirements.
Given its importance for repairers, Cetraa, in one of its “Ten Minutes with Cetraa” segments, addressed—through Ramón Casas, member of Cetraa’s Technical Information Commission and Secretary General of Gremi de Tallers (Cetraa Barcelona)—the main questions workshops have about this procedure, such as the types of vehicles it applies to, which components are affected, and how the certification process works.
The areas affected by SERMI are those related to vehicle anti-theft and geolocation systems. Certification is mandatory for official workshops or multi-brand operators that handle these components, as stipulated by Delegated Regulation 1244 of 2021. However, these components are not standardized, and each manufacturer determines which parts of its technical information are restricted under SERMI.
Regarding the certification process, Ramón Casas explains that the validity period of this certificate is five years. The SERMI certificate is a right recognized by European regulations, but a proactive approach is required to obtain it. The first step is to submit the documentation proving the workshop’s legal accreditation and the professional certification of the person applying. Once approved, the applicant can access the information via a designated application and pre-established instructions.
During the five-year validity period, a verifier from the certifying company will visit the workshop to ensure that the initially submitted documentation is still valid and that the workshop operates according to legal standards. At the end of the validity period, the applicant can decide whether to renew the certificate for another five years or not.
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