A method for diagnosing and maintaining a vehicle at a repair shop includes connecting a first vehicle inspection device to a first work station and selecting a mobile VCI which is provided a detection software component situated on a central repair shop server and a central diagnostic device; connecting the VCI to the vehicle; establishing a communication between the VCI and the diagnostic device; storing vehicle identification data in the VCI via the diagnostic device; performing a first set of vehicle inspections using the first vehicle inspection device and/or the VCI; disconnecting the first vehicle inspection device from the vehicle; connecting a second vehicle inspection device to the vehicle; reading out the identification data from the VCI into the second vehicle inspection device at a second work station via the diagnostic device; and performing a second set of vehicle inspections using the second vehicle inspection device and/or the VCI.