Motor Vehicle Technician

Motor vehicle technicians maintain and repair cars, motorcycles, vans, lorries and other vehicles, such as buses and coaches.

They diagnose problems, advise the owner about the options and then carry out the required work. They work on vehicle mechanical and electrical systems using a variety of tools and diagnostic equipment. Modern vehicles are very sophisticated and include a great deal of computerised and electronic systems that require specialist knowledge.

Most technicians work around 40 full-time hours between Monday and Saturday. However, there may be shift work, additional weekend work and overtime. The job involves bending, kneeling and lifting, and a general level of fitness is necessary. Heavy vehicle repairers may work at night and some travelling could be involved for technicians attending breakdowns.

Salaries may range from around £7,000 for a new trainee to up to £23,000 or more a year for experienced technicians.

Motor vehicle technicians need:

• an excellent working knowledge of motor vehicles
• to communicate well with customers and team members
• a good level of fitness and normal colour vision
• willingness to learn on the job, working quickly and methodically
• to be interested in cars, heavy vehicles or motorcycles, and electronic equipment
• to work as part of a team and on their own
• to have a driving license or be willing to learn to drive.

Skilled, well-trained technicians are much in demand. There are jobs throughout the UK in garages, workshops and dealerships, with large companies that operate their own fleets, with bus and coach companies and with organisations such as the RAC and the AA.

Many technicians start off on a training scheme or Apprenticeship. There are a range of NVQs, City & Guilds (C&G) courses and BTEC National Certificates and Diplomas in vehicle repair and technology.

Applicants from other related fields of work, such as engineering or electronics are welcome, especially if they have experience.

Training will usually be a mixture of on-the-job experience and college study.

Technicians may need to move to different garages or organisations to gain experience and skills, and to increase their chances of promotion. The usual route for promotion is from technician to senior technician and then to technical supervisor or diagnostic technician.

It is possible to become self employed and work as a mobile technician or to set up a small workshop.

Further details