Thatcham has launched ReMAG, its Repair Methods Assessment Group, to drive progress towards a standard for crash repair methods.

Since the introduction of the Vehicle Body Repair Kitemark earlier this year, the accident repair sector has argued that comprehensive, timely and accessible repair methods information is a crucial aspect of safe, quality repair.

Thatcham said ReMAG will ensure that the standard reflects the needs of all those concerned with vehicle repair including the motor and insurance industries.

ReMAG will comprise representatives from all sectors involved in vehicle manufacture and crash repair including insurers and wider stakeholders such as BSI.

A first draft of the standard has already been prepared which describes the minimum content and accessibility requirements for the UK repair industry and will provide the means by which repair methods available in the market will be assessed.

The inaugral meeting of ReMAG will take place on December 12 with the first priority to complete and agree the standard, which will then be circulated to a wider consultation group, including motor organisations, trade bodies, government and consumer groups for additional comment before sign off for a 2008 launch.

Once the standard is published the next phase will be for vehicle manufacturer methods to be assessed against the standard criteria and published in a publicly available rating table for the benefit of vehicle specifiers including fleet and private purchasers.

Andrew Miller, Thatcham’s director of research, will chair ReMAG.

He said high quality, comprehensive and timely methods are essential if vehicles are to be repaired back to original Euro NCAP safety standards.

He added: “Encompassing views from across the industry, the ReMAG standard will provide a benchmark to which all method producers can aim, and from which all involved in vehicle repair and the motoring public can ultimately benefit.”