GB Type Approval consultation risks restricting aftermarket’s right to repair and hands power to VMs

The Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) has warned that government plans to align GB vehicle rules with some of the EU’s will restrict motorists and workshops right to repair. 

The Department for Transport’s (DFT) latest type approval consultation aligns GB rules with the EU across component approvals, safety standards, towing and repair information, with one exception, SERMI.

In the EU and Northern Ireland, SERMI is in legislation and guarantees independent repairers access to security-related vehicle information. In Great Britain, SERMI operates only on a voluntary basis, and the consultation states that “it is for manufacturers to decide” how access is granted. 

IAAF says this hands control to vehicle manufacturers, who potentially will gain greater powers to restrict access to independent repairers on cybersecurity grounds.

Mark Field, IAAF chief executive, said: “Our right to repair means very little if manufacturers can decide who gets access to the systems modern cars depend on. By aligning with the EU on everything in this consultation except SERMI, the government is leaving motorists’ right to repair at the discretion of vehicle manufacturers.”