Patent ID: 8521547

Claim:
A system in a vehicle for tracking mechanic certification information for the vehicle, comprising: a certification validator that: determines whether mechanic certification information received for a mechanic is validated by stored authorized mechanic certification information; if determined that the mechanic certification information is validated by the stored authorized mechanic certification information, facilitates service on a vehicle by the mechanic by placing the vehicle in a service state for executing diagnostic software via a vehicle computer, and by generating a signal that causes unlocking of at least one of a door, a hood, and a trunk of the vehicle; if determined that the mechanic certification information is not validated by the stored authorized mechanic certification information: inhibits service on the vehicle by the mechanic by disabling at least one electrical sub-system of the vehicle and by generating a signal that causes locking of at least one of the vehicle door, hood, and trunk; and enables a vehicle owner authorization of the mechanic to supersede a manufacturer rejection of the mechanic via the stored authorized mechanic certification information and facilitate the service on the vehicle by the mechanic by placing the vehicle in the service state for executing the diagnostic software via the vehicle computer, and by generating the signal that causes the unlocking of at least one of the vehicle door, hood, and trunk; and a storage component of the vehicle that stores a signal from the certification validator that is indicative of a service performed on the vehicle by the mechanic and whether the mechanic is validated by the stored authorized mechanic certification information to perform the service or is authorized to perform the service on the vehicle by the superseding vehicle owner authorization.