Motor vehicle body repairer Job Information | National Careers Service

Job profiles

Motor vehicle body repairer

Hours

30-40 per week
Starting salary

£13,000 + per year

If you can pay close attention to detail and you would like a practical job working with vehicles, this job could be for you.

As a motor vehicle body repairer, you would fix or replace damaged body parts on all types of vehicles.

In this job you would need to be good at practical work, and be able to use a range of tools. You would also need to reasonably fit and able to follow instructions.

You could get into this job through an Apprenticeship scheme or by doing a college course. You can also move into this work if you have a background in vehicle mechanics.

The work

Your first task would be to assess the extent of the damage and the best way to do the repairs. On a repair job, your duties could include:

removing damaged panels or parts to repair at a workbench
smoothing out minor dents in panels with a ‘dolly’ hammer and other tools
filling small holes or rusted areas with resin, body solder and other compound fillers
fitting new panels where the damage is too great for repair
custom-building body panels from sheet metal before welding them into place.

After you have fixed the damaged parts, you would refinish the surfaces by:

removing old paintwork, sealant and rust, using a wire wheel attached to a drill or grinder
cleaning the repair area and masking off other parts to be left alone
priming and paint spraying the area, using the manufacturer instructions on colour matches
sealing and waxing the repair.

You would also keep a record of completed work to give to the customer when they come to collect their vehicle.

Hours

Your working hours would usually be between 8am and 5pm, Monday to Friday. Some companies operate a shift system, which could include evenings and Saturday mornings.

You would spend most of your time in a workshop, which might include a paint-spraying booth. You would wear a protective mask, overalls, goggles and gloves for some tasks.

Income

Starting salaries can be between £13,000 and £18,000 a year. With experience, this can rise to around £28,000 a year.

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Entry requirements

You could get into this career through an Apprenticeship in vehicle servicing or body repair. To do this, you will normally need some GCSEs, for example in maths, English, science, IT, design and technology, or equivalent qualifications, check with the college or training provider to see what they require. For more details about this route, see the Apprenticeships website, The Institute of the Motor Industry website or its careers portal Autocity.

Alternatively, you could study for automotive qualifications at college, which would teach you some of the skills needed. Relevant courses include:

City & Guilds Vehicle Body and Paint Operations
City & Guilds Vehicle Body and Paint Maintenance
City & Guilds Vehicle Maintenance and Repair
IMI Awards Vehicle Body and Paint Operations VCQ
IMI Awards Vehicle Maintenance and Repair (Body Repair)
IMI Awards Level 1 Award in Automotive Pre-vocational Learning Body Repair
BTEC National Certificate and Diploma in Vehicle Technology
BTEC National Certificate and Diploma in Engineering (Automotive).

Contact your local colleges for more information about which courses they offer.

You could also get into body repair work after training in vehicle mechanics. See the motor vehicle technician profile for more details about this role.

motor vehicle technician

For more general information about careers in the automotive industry, visit the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) website or their careers portal Autocity.

Training and development

You would usually train on the job with day or block release at a local college or training provider. This would lead to the NVQ in Vehicle Body and Paint Operations at levels 2 and 3.

The NVQ units include:

removal and repair of panels
refit of mechanical and electrical trim
repair of paint defects and refinishing.

You could also work towards the NVQ in Automotive Glazing at levels 2 and 3 if your job includes windscreen fitting.

If you work on passenger carrying vehicles, you can take the NVQ in Transport Engineering and Maintenance at levels 1 to 3. This covers mechanical and electrical work, coachbuilding and body repairs.

Both IMI Awards and City and Guilds offer the above NVQs.

You could improve your career prospects by working towards the Institute of the Motor Industry's Automotive Technician Accreditation (ATA). This professional development programme has several levels.

Paint Technician
Senior Paint Technician
Panel Technician
Senior Panel Technician
MET Technician
Senior MET Technician
Vehicle Damage Technician
Autoglazing Bodyshop Technician

You would take a series of practical exams and online knowledge tests in order to pass each level.

Automotive Technician Accreditation

Skills and knowledge

To be a motor vehicle body repairer you should have:

good practical skills and the ability to use a range of tools
the ability to work methodically and pay close attention to detail
the ability to work without close supervision
good communication skills
the ability to follow written and verbal instructions
a reasonable level of fitness
an awareness of health and safety regulations.

More information

Institute of the Motor Industry (Opens new window)
Fanshaws
Brickendon
Hertford
SG13 8PQ
Tel: 01992 511521
www.motor.org.uk

Autocity (Opens new window)
Email: careers@motor.org.uk
http://autocity.org.uk

City & Guilds (Opens new window)
1 Giltspur Street
London
EC1A 9DD
Tel: 0844 543 0000
www.cityandguilds.com

Opportunities

You could find work throughout the country, from large car dealerships to small workshops. You could also work for specialist customisation bodyshops, vehicle restorers, road haulage, and bus and coach companies.

In a small garage, you might combine vehicle body repair with paint spraying duties. In larger garages, you can usually specialise in one area.

Your options for promotion include supervisory and bodyshop management positions in larger organisations. You could also set up your own business or move into mobile or smart repair.

You may find the following useful for job vacancies and general reading (links open in a new window):

Autojob
IMI Magazine
Directgov (Jobseekers page)

Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.

We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.

Related industry information

Industry summary

The vehicle maintenance and repair industry is part of the automotive retail sector, represented by the IMI Automotive Sector Skills Council, which also includes: vehicle sales; vehicle rental; and vehicle parts, distribution and supply. The UK automotive retail sector employs an estimated 514,572 people, accounting for 1.9% of the UK workforce. Future growth for the whole sector is forecast to be an increase of 2% by 2017.

The vehicle maintenance and repair industry covers all forms of maintenance on all types of vehicles. Different types of maintenance and repair include:

Routine maintenance and repair – such as regular servicing of cars, lorries, motorcycles, vans, motorsport vehicles, fork lift trucks and the diagnosis and fixing of any faults
Accident repair ‐ reinstating of vehicles to original condition following the event of an accident (activities such as panel beating, re‐spraying, mechanical electrical trim replacement and auto glazing)
Roadside assistance – diagnosis and repair of faults of vehicles at the roadside
Body building – the design, build and fitting of bespoke body work for commercial vehicle chasses, such as fire engines, horse boxes and vans
Fast fit operations (tyres, exhausts, batteries etc.) – such as fitting of tyres, exhausts, brakes and suspension systems normally done whilst the customer waits

Key facts:

There is an estimated 193,789 working in the industry, in an estimated 37,985 business units.
The number of vehicle maintenance and repair businesses has increased by 48% over the last decade.
The number of jobs in the industry has grown since 1998.

Jobs in the industry include: service technician, diagnostic technician, master technician, workshop supervisor, management, motorsport technician, paint technician, MOT examiner.

National and regional data

East Midlands – There is an estimated 15,297 jobs in the industry, which is an increase of 39% since 1998. The East Midlands accounts for 9% of all employment within the vehicle maintenance and repair industry. The automotive retail sector as a whole is set to decline by 4% in the region by 2017.

East of England – There is an estimated 20,709 jobs in the industry, which is a rise of 32% since 1998. The East accounts for 12% of all employment within the industry. The automotive retail sector as a whole is set to increase by 4% in the region by 2017.

London – There is an estimated 15,641 jobs in the industry, which is a fall of 9% since 1998. London accounts for 9% of all employment within the vehicle maintenance and repair industry. The automotive retail sector as a whole is forecast to decline by 14% in the region by 2017.

North East – There is an estimated 7,868 jobs in the industry, which is a rise of 53% since 1998. The North East accounts for 5% of all employment within the vehicle maintenance and repair industry. The automotive retail sector as a whole is forecast to decline by 11% in the region by 2017.

North West – There is an estimated 20,036 jobs in the industry. The region accounts for 12% of all employment within the vehicle maintenance and repair industry. The automotive retail sector as a whole is forecast to decline by 4% in the region by 2017.

South East – There is an estimated 31,349 jobs in the industry. The South East accounts for 19% of all employment within the vehicle maintenance and repair industry. The automotive retail sector as a whole is set to increase by 17% in the region by 2017.

South West – There is an estimated 18,911 jobs in the industry, which is a significant increase of 30% since 1998. The region accounts for 11% of all employment within the vehicle maintenance and repair industry. The automotive retail sector as a whole is forecast to decline by 16% in the region by 2017.

West Midlands – There is an estimated 18,745 jobs in the industry, which is an increase of 26% since 1998. The region accounts for 11% of all employment within the industry. The automotive retail sector as a whole is forecast to increase by only 1% in the region by 2017.

Yorkshire and the Humber – There is an estimated 19,110 jobs in the industry, which is an increase of 52% since 1998. The region accounts for 11% of all employment within the industry. The automotive retail sector as a whole is forecast to increase by 15% in the region by 2017.

Scotland – There is an estimated 13,646 jobs in the industry, which is a fall of 31% since 1998. Scotland accounts for 9% of all employment within the vehicle maintenance and repair industry. The automotive retail sector as a whole is forecast to increase by 1% by 2017.

Wales – There is an estimated 8,980 jobs in the industry. The automotive retail sector as a whole has seen a growth in employment over the past decade jobs, but it is forecast to decline by 2% by 2017. The sector as a whole accounts for 4% of all national employment within the automotive retail sector.

The following data are for the automotive retail sector as a whole:

Northern Ireland – The automotive retail sector has seen a growth in employment over the past decade, to an estimated 13,893 jobs. Employment is forecast to continue to increase by 17% by 2017. It accounts for 3% of all national employment within the automotive retail sector.