The Retail Motor Industry will launch a new division next year that will, having ascertained and certified that they are reputable, award garages with access to manufacturers’ security technical information.

RMI Standards and Certifications (RMISC) will be launched in 2011, making the RMI the first organisation in Europe to become a certification body for security technical information.

Car manufacturers will now have to provide security technical information to mechanics nationwide, regardless of their brand affiliation, the EU has ruled.

The new RMI division was launched to ensure manufacturers’ security technical information doesn’t land in the wrong hands “posing a threat to vehicle security and triggering a rise in car crime”.

Stuart James, head of RMISC, said: “The consumer has the right to take their car to any garage they like to get it fixed, and that garage has the right to access the manufacturers’ technical information to be able to fix the car.

“To turn off an engine management light in a car, for potentially just a battery, wiper blade, or even a tyre change, security information access will be required. Subject to meeting relevant criteria the RMISC division will be certifying garages so they can gain access to this vital information.

“In the future, every business repairing motor vehicles will need access to this information to continue operating in the same way. We appreciate that it’s a bold step to make, being the first organisation in Europe to put ourselves forward, but it’s the right thing to do for our members and the UK motor industry.”

There are four main objectives for RMISC:

  • To eliminate the risk of misuse of vehicle security information
  • To ensure that persons accessing such security information have a legitimate and recognised need to do so, by enforcing the necessary checks.
  • To establish a robust procedure that ensures the process of providing garages access to vehicle security relevant information does not compromise the security of the vehicles anti-theft systems.
  • To ensure that the access to information does not affect the advances made in reducing vehicle theft.