Motor Vehicle Body Repairers

Nature of work

Motor vehicle body repairers repair and restore damaged motor vehicle body parts and interior finishing, repaint body surfaces, and repair and/or replace automotive glass. They work for automobile dealerships, automobile body repair shops and automobile appraisal centres. This group also includes metal repairers who repair defective automobile body parts and damage to the bodies of newly assembled cars. They work for motor vehicle manufacturers.

Job duties

Workers in this group:

• Review damage report and estimates of repair cost and plan work to be performed.
• Repair and replace front end components, body components, doors and frame and underbody components.
• Hammer out dents, buckles and other defects using blocks and hammers.
• Use soldering equipment or use plastic filler to fill holes, dents, and seams.
• Remove damaged fenders, panels and grills using wrenches and cutting torch and bolt or weld replacement parts into place.
• Straighten bent frames using frame and underbody pulling and anchoring equipment.
• File, grind, and sand repaired body surfaces using hand and power tools.
• Mask and tape auto body surfaces in preparation for painting.
• Mix paint, blend, and match colors.
• Apply primers and repaint surfaces using brush or spray guns.
• Repair and replace glass components like windshields, windows, and sunroofs.
• Repair or replace interior components like seat frame assembly, carpets, and floorboard insulation.
• Inspect repaired vehicles and test drive vehicles for proper handling.

Sample job titles

• auto body and collision technician
• autobody mechanic
• autobody technician
• automotive glass technician
• automotive painter
• automotive refinishing technician
• motor vehicle body repairer

Skills

• Strength and stamina to handle heavy tools and parts
• Manual dexterity
• Mechanical aptitude
• Creativity, patience, and an eye for detail
• Problem-solving skills
• Good colour vision
• Computer skills
• Communication skills
• Customer service skills
• A commitment to ongoing training

Job requirements

Auto body and collision technicians

• High school or equivalent (usually).
• Training through a 7,200-hour apprenticeship program with four apprenticeship levels: to become an apprentice you first need to have a job - enter an apprenticeship agreement either directly through an employer or after graduating from a college-level pre-apprenticeship program; learn on the job, mentored by a certified journeyperson who signs off on skills in a logbook.
• Trade Qualifier option, 10,800 hours, and other criteria.
• Certification for auto body and collision technicians is compulsory in Nova Scotia.
• Write and score a minimum of 70% on the Red Seal exam for auto body and collision technicians.
• Red Seal Endorsement (RSE) allows for interprovincial mobility.

Automotive painters

• High school or equivalent (usually).
• A combination of one year of work experience in the automotive painter trade and a high school or college automotive painting program is usually required for automotive refinishing technician trade certification.
• Trade Qualifier option, 5,400 hours, and other criteria.
• Certification for automotive refinishing technicians is voluntary in Nova Scotia.
• Write and score a minimum of 70% on the Red Seal exam for automotive refinishing technicians.
• Red Seal Endorsement (RSE) allows for interprovincial mobility.

Other jobs in this group

• Automotive glass technicians usually need high school. Auto glass industry certification is usually required. Trade Qualifier option, 7,200 hours, and other criteria.
• Certification for automotive glass technicians is voluntary in Nova Scotia.
• Write and score a minimum of 70% on the Nova Scotia exam for automotive glass technicians.
• Metal repairers, motor vehicle manufacturing usually need high school. One to two years of on-the-job training are provided.

Other considerations

• Auto body and collision technicians repair, restore, and replace damaged body parts like glass, trim, steering, and suspension.
• Automotive glass technicians work in fabricating, removing, installing, repairing, and generally servicing the glass and associated equipment in motor vehicles.
• Automotive refinishing technicians prepare and paint motor vehicles.
• Work environments vary in this occupation. Typically, technicians work indoors in an environment that may be noisy and dusty. The work often requires considerable standing, kneeling, lifting, climbing, pulling, and reaching.
• Although most shops are well ventilated, the work involves exposure to dust ad fumes. There is always some risk of injury involved in working with sharp metals and power tools.
• Auto body personnel usually work a 40-hour week with occasional overtime required.
• Experienced auto body personnel may advance to supervisory positions, teaching/training in the field, start their own businesses, or become automobile damage appraisers for insurance companies.
• Apprentices usually earn a percentage of the journeyperson (fully qualified) rate. This percentage increases as each level of the apprenticeship program is completed.
• Everyone has fair access to participate and succeed in the apprenticeship system. Everyone who develops the necessary skills and abilities should be able to succeed in the trades and trade qualification system. Work environments in the province support women and equity-seeking communities.

Regulations

Contacts

There are no additional resources for this occupation.