Motor Vehicle Fitter
Job Description:Motor vehicle fitters repair and replace worn or damaged tyres, exhausts, batteries and parts.
Job Category:What you will do:
Your day-to-day duties will depend on the types of vehicles you work on, for example cars, commercial vans, buses, lorries or agricultural vehicles. You could:
- test batteries and other parts of an engine
- check tyres and exhausts
- replace or repair faulty parts
- balance and re-align wheels
- check a vehicle’s tracking
- repair punctures
- give customers advice
You might also have call-out duties to:
- attend breakdowns
- carry out MOT tests
- repair suspension systems, steering and brakes
- do routine vehicle inspections to check they are safe
Skills:
You’ll need:
- the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools
- the ability to repair machines or systems
- the ability to operate and control equipment
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
As well as:
- the ability to work well with your hands
- customer service skills
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail (organisational skills)
- the ability to work on your own (drive)
- to be flexible and open to change (adaptability skills)
Entry Requirements:
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- applying directly
College
You could take a college course to get some of the skills needed for this job. In the UK, for example, courses include:
- Diploma in Vehicle Fitting Principles
- Diploma in Specialist Tyre Fitting Competence
- Extended Certificate in Vehicle Technology
Apprenticeship
Apprenticeships relevant to this role include:
- Autocare technician
- Specialist tyre operative
Direct Application
You can apply for jobs as a vehicle fitter if you’ve got qualifications and experience in motor mechanics.
Working Hours and Environment:
A typical week consists of 42-44 hours of work. You could be required to work evenings/weekends/bank holidays on shifts.
You could work at a garage or in a workshop. Your working environment may be physically demanding. You may need to wear protective clothing.
Career Path & Progression:
With experience, you could move into workshop supervision and management jobs, or related areas, like breakdown and recovery, service centre advice or general vehicle mechanics.