Member Service Spotlight – Digital Service Records
IGA members have access to a full list of links to manufacturers’ technical websites, as well as guides to accessing and uploading digital service records. Find out how we can help.
As an IGA member, you can find a list of manufacturers’ technical sites and digital service records in the IGA Members Area.
About Digital Service Records
Digital service records are maintained and stored online via a secure vehicle manufacturer’s central database. It keeps a record of the service and maintenance history, as well as the mileage and the garages where these services are carried out.
Typically, the service records of vehicles are kept as paper records and stored at the garage which has undertaken the work, with you getting a stamp and entry in the logbook confirming the work that has been carried out. They also keep a record of any major breakdowns or accidents that the vehicle has been through.
One of the biggest issues with paper logbooks is that the information within them can be falsified, meaning that buyers have to use their own initiative and try and verify anything suspicious with the garage that serviced the car. A digital service record can solve all of these problems.
Digital service records are maintained and stored online via a secure vehicle manufacturer’s central database. It keeps a record of the service and maintenance history, as well as the mileage and the garages where these services are performed. A digital service record is updated every time you visit an approved garage for car servicing or car repairs. You can also request a hard copy from any authorised car dealer or from an online portal if available.
Manufacturers currently using DSRs include:
- Audi
- BMW
- Ford
- Jaguar
- Land Rover
- Mercedes
- Mini
- Smart
- Skoda
- Volkswagen
A full list of links to manufacturers’ technical data websites can be found in the Members Area of the IGA website. Simply click on the ‘Document Category’ dropdown, select ‘Manufacturer Website Links’, then click the orange download button.
What the IGA and RMI Technical Helpline can help with
The IGA provides online step by step guides on how to setup accounts with these websites, and how to enter an online service record. These are available to view and saved under the ‘Digital Service Record Guides’ category in the IGA Members Area.
If you are subscribed to the RMI Technical Helpline, the team can also give over the phone guidance when dealing with online service records, however they cannot setup accounts, intervene with the account setup between the IR (independent repairer) and the manufacturer due to GDPR, or enter service records online for the IR.
Sometimes there can be issues regarding initial account setup. Unfortunately, this is an issue that would need to be raised with the manufacturer by the account holder.
The registration setup can sometimes take 2-3 days once all verifications have been setup and this should be made clear to all IRs when registering.
The IGA Members Area does not have guides for all manufacturers – some manufacturers do not allow independent repairers to update online service history, and this is down to the manufacturer.
Common problems include:
- The IR has started the registration process but completed it fully as most manufacturers require a 2-part registration process where the 2nd part is validating the account holder. If this is not complete the account will not be able to access their account.
- Some manufacturers require an IR email that includes the name of the garage and the managers name. If this is not correctly completed it will not allow the full registration process.
- Once registration is complete, if the account has been dormant for some time the password may expire and the email address that was used is no longer available/ forgotten, or the person who controlled it has left. It is always worth saving the access details.
Click here to sign into the IGA Members Area and access our digital service record guides and links to manufacturer websites. If you need further support or would like to find out more about joining the RMI Technical Helpline, please call the IGA Member Helpline on 01788 225 908 or email enquiries@rmif.co.uk.
