Independent repairers are being forced to buy equipment to reset service lights in Volkswagen cars because dealers are refusing to reset them unless a Volkswagen invoice can be produced for the service.

A spokesperson for the manufacturer said: “Volkswagen recommends that authorised retailers should not reset service indicator lights unless they have carried out the work on that vehicle.

“Independents can purchase the equipment and information to reset the service lights themselves.”

Volkswagen would not disclose the price, but said the cost of purchase was the same for independents and franchised dealers.

On the AM forum, one dealer said: “That approach goes to the heart of the whole Block Exemption issue.

“Whatever any of us think, the EC has ruled that independents are capable of doing services properly and it is not for VW to rule that they are not.”