Do not rely only on an RMI sign, website logo or old photograph. RMI-accredited businesses receive a membership certificate with a QR code that consumers can scan to check current standing.
RMI warns that the validator can show a certificate as no longer valid when membership fees are not fully paid. Verification should therefore be done when choosing the workshop, not only after a dispute.
Verification steps
Ask to see the current certificate displayed at the premises and scan its QR code with your phone. Confirm that the result matches the workshop’s trading name and location and shows valid status.
RMI also advises consumers to verify membership through its official channels. If anything looks inconsistent, contact the relevant RMI regional office using details from the official website.
- Inspect the current certificate—not only an outdoor sign
- Scan the certificate QR code
- Confirm name, address and current standing
- Ask which constituent association accredits the workshop
- Contact RMI directly if the result is unclear
RMI, MIWA and other association names
RMI is the umbrella organisation. A general independent workshop may display MIWA accreditation, while another motor business can belong to a different RMI constituent association. The association should make sense for the services being offered.
A valid membership status does not mean every possible repair activity or every claim is automatically approved or insured.
What accreditation gives a motorist
RMI says accredited workshops commit to defined operating standards, codes of conduct and ethics, and a structured complaints process. Current RMI material also emphasises suitable insurance and workmanship protection among workshop criteria.
Customers should still obtain a written estimate, approve additional work and keep invoices and communication.
A motorist sees an RMI logo in an online advert but the certificate displayed at the workshop is old. Scanning the QR code shows the membership is not currently valid. The motorist checks directly with RMI before handing over the vehicle.
Questions an insurer will ask
- Does the certificate QR code show current valid status?
- Do the business name and address match?
- Which constituent association is shown?
- Is the workshop accredited for the type of work required?
- Will the workshop provide a written quotation and warranty?
Official sources
General information only. RMI requirements, fees and processes can change; confirm current requirements directly with RMI. Insurance cover depends on the insurer’s schedule, wording, limits, excesses and conditions.