SERMI for auto locksmiths in the UK and Ireland: who needs it and what it costs
SERMI went live in the UK on 1 April 2026. Most questions from auto locksmiths since then come down to three: do I need it, what does it cost, and what changes on a job. This guide answers them for the UK and Ireland. Each rule links to its source, and the facts were checked on 15 October 2026.
What is SERMI?
SERMI is the approval scheme for anyone who wants security data from a car maker. Security data means the information, software and functions needed to repair the parts that stop a car being stolen or driven away: keys, immobilisers and the codes behind them. The name stands for Security-Related Repair and Maintenance Information.
The rules come from EU law, Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/1244, which applies from 30 July 2023. An assessment body approves the business and authorises each technician by name. The technician then logs in to the maker's repair information website with a personal digital certificate.
Do I need SERMI to program car keys?
Only if you get key data from the car maker's own systems. If all your key work runs on aftermarket programmers and you never log in to a maker's website, SERMI does not apply to you. Locksmith Journal's write-up of a SERMI webinar (1 July 2026) put it plainly: "If you rely solely on aftermarket tools, registration isn't necessary."
You need it when you want what the dealer has: key codes, PINs or key commissioning from the maker, either direct or through a third-party platform that connects to dealer systems. The same article notes that the technician and the business must both be approved when dealer tools are used.
In Great Britain the scheme is voluntary. The SERMI scheme site says its use "is not mandated by UK law". Car makers choose whether to offer their security data through it.
Which car makers use SERMI in the UK?
On 15 October 2026 the SERMI UK site listed 22 brands: Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroën, Dodge, DS Automobiles, Fiat, Ford, Jaguar, Jeep, Lancia, Land Rover, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Opel, Peugeot, Ram Trucks, Toyota, Vauxhall, Volvo and Volvo Trucks.
Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda, SEAT, BMW, Mini, Renault, Hyundai, Kia and Honda were not on it. Before you pay, compare the list with the cars you see most.
What does SERMI cost in the UK?
SERMI approval in the UK costs £1,800 plus VAT for five years, for the business and one technician.
| Item | Price (SERMI UK pricing, October 2026) |
|---|---|
| One payment | £1,800 + VAT for 60 months |
| Monthly | £30 + VAT a month for 60 months, interest-free |
| Each extra technician | £125, one-off |
| Included | The business and one technician, ID checks, two on-site audits, the helpline |
Two other costs to plan for:
- A criminal record check for each technician. A Basic DBS check in England and Wales, Disclosure Scotland in Scotland, and an AccessNI check in Northern Ireland (£16, per the SERMI UK FAQ).
- Public liability insurance of at least €1 million for bodily injury and €0.5 million for property damage, or the same in pounds.
How does a UK business get approved?
The UK assessment body is RMI Standards and Certification (RMISC), owned by the Independent Garage Association. Digidentity issues the digital certificates. The SERMI UK FAQ sets out what each part needs:
- The business applies and shows the insurance above.
- Each technician sends a Basic DBS certificate and a signed self-declaration of any spent convictions. The FAQ asks for a check done within the last 6 months. One line on the same page says 3 months, so ask SERMI UK before you order it.
- Each technician shows more than 2 years' experience as an automotive mechanic and a qualification that included a practical assessment and at least one unit on on-board diagnostics. A knowledge-only qualification is not accepted.
- Each technician proves their identity with a UK driving licence or passport and a smartphone, then receives a personal digital certificate.
Ask about step 3 first. An auto locksmith with years of key work but no mechanic qualification should ask SERMI UK about its "alternative solution" before paying anything.
What do you have to check and record on each job?
Once approved, you check the car and the person before you request any security data. The SERMI UK FAQ lists what to record. The evidence must be kept for at least 5 years after the job, and digital copies are allowed.
| Check | What to record |
|---|---|
| The car | The VIN on the car matches the VIN on the registration document (the V5C) |
| The keeper, from the V5C | First name, surname or business name, address, and the V5C date of issue |
| The person in front of you | ID card, passport, driving licence or roadside membership card, with its number on the repair order |
| Fleet, lease, rental or loan cars | When the company holds the V5C: the agreement, the company name, a contact name, address, phone, and the driver's company ID if there is one |
| The repair order | Registration, make, model, mileage, the reason for the job, and the customer's signature |
The assessment body makes at least one unannounced visit during the 60 months and looks at these records. A paper folder is fine if you can find any job from the last five years in a few minutes.
Nyrano has an ownership check on car key jobs: the technician records the type of ID and papers seen, whether the names and the VIN match, and the customer signs on the phone. It does not store the ID number or the mileage, so it does not replace a SERMI repair order. An approved business keeps the repair order as well. For jobs where SERMI does not apply, the proof of ownership guide covers what to accept.
How do you keep the approval from lapsing?
The business approval lasts 60 months. Each technician is authorised only for what is left of the business's period. Two events decide whether you keep access:
- The re-approval inspection. It takes place in the last 6 months of the approval, and the business has to book it. The FAQ warns that failing to book it ends the authorisation of the business and every technician.
- A technician leaving. Authorisation belongs to the business. It ends when the technician leaves, "even if you are moving to another authorised IO". A new hire needs a new application.
In Nyrano, the owner can keep each person's SERMI approval and DBS check date under Team, Records. Nyrano sends a reminder 6 months before a SERMI approval ends. It stores dates and numbers only, never the certificates.
What about Ireland and Northern Ireland?
Ireland. SERMI is EU law, so it applies in the Republic. On 15 October 2026 the official list of assessment bodies had no Irish entry, and it says that where a country is not listed, "it is not yet possible to request a SERMI certificate in your country". Autotrade.ie reported in April 2026 that NSAI and SGS Ireland would act as assessment bodies, at €350 to €500 per company and €120 per employee for five years, with Garda vetting for every employee who needs access. Those figures come from the trade press, so confirm them before you budget. The SERMI scheme site also expects a 2026 EU amendment to give businesses a wider choice of assessment bodies. Whatever you decide about SERMI, an Irish locksmith who works on cars needs a PSA licence; the proof of ownership guide covers what the PSA standard asks for on each job.
Northern Ireland. The SERMI UK FAQ lists the AccessNI check for applicants there. We found no source that says whether the EU rules also apply in Northern Ireland. Ask SERMI UK before you apply.
Is SERMI worth it for a one-van auto locksmith?
£1,800 over five years is £360 a year before VAT. Set that against the jobs you turned away last year.
- Worth a look if you turn away all-keys-lost jobs on brands from the list because you cannot get a PIN or key code without the dealer.
- Can wait if your aftermarket tools cover the cars you see, or most of your work is on brands that are not on the list.
- Ask first if you have no mechanic qualification. Find out about the alternative route before you pay.