What is SFD?

Vehicle Diagnostic Protection, also known as SFD (Schutz Fahrzeug Diagnose), is an extra security measure introduced by Volkswagen Group (VAG).

 

What is the purpose of SFD?

It ensures that any modifications to the vehicle's control modules require authorization from both the vehicle and the manufacturer. This process helps prevent unauthorized changes to the vehicle's systems.

 

Do all VAG cars feature SFD?

VAG started implementing the SFD in vehicles produced after 2020. However, not all VAG cars have SFD protection; its availability depends on the specific brand and model.

These are some of the models that include SFD protection: Audi A3 Mk4 (2020–present), SEAT León Mk4 (2020–present), Škoda Octavia Mk4 (2020–present), Volkswagen Caddy Mk4 (2020–present), and Volkswagen Golf Mk8 (2019–present).

Usually, the owners of vehicles equipped with SFD encounter challenges when trying to modify their cars.

 

How to unlock SFD?

Unlock SFD effortlessly with the Carista App and a compatible OBD scanner, such as the Carista EVO Scanner or Carista OBD Reader.

As an official partner of the Volkswagen Group, we fully support unlocking SFD for all VAG vehicles equipped with this layer of protection.

NB: Since 2023, VAG has launched an updated version of SFD. This version is compatible with newer vehicle models and may contain security improvements that our current SFD unlock feature does not support.

Follow these steps to unlock the SFD protection in the Carista App:

Plug in the scanner and turn on the ignition, connect your Carista App to it. Ensure that you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
There are two ways to access the “Unlock SFD-protected features” screen. Both routes guide you through the same required steps.

Option 1: Go to “Customize”, choose a category, and find a customization marked with SFD. Open it and tap Unlock.

Option 2: Open the “Service” section. You’ll see a message explaining that some features are protected by SFD. Tap Proceed to open the unlock screen and follow the steps.

In both cases, you’ll see a three-step “Unlock SFD-protected features” flow that walks you through the process. 

1. Have an active subscription

The SFD unlock functionality is a premium feature that requires an active subscription to the Carista App.

The next two steps are part of the Volkswagen Group's official requirements. For more information read Volkswagen's Terms of Use for the SFD and Volkswagen's Privacy Policy for the SFD

2. Perform a two-factor authentication

Meeting this step is necessary to comply with Volkswagen Group's guidelines for unlocking SFD-protected features. Installing two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of protection and can be easily done on your phone with just a few clicks. 

Learn more about two-factor authentication: 

• How to set up 2FA on iOS
• How to set up 2FA on Android

     3. Fill in additional account information

To meet VAG's requirements, you also need to provide additional account information as part of your Carista account data. You will be asked to fill in your phone number and address.