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Motor mechanic

Alternative titles for this job include Light vehicle technician, hybrid and electric vehicle technician

Motor mechanics repair and service cars and vans.

Average salary (a year)

£22,000 Starter

to

£42,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

38 to 45 a week

You could work

evenings / weekends flexibly

Meet Sian and Stuart

Sian and Stuart talk about being fleet vehicle apprentice technicians.

Sian started her apprenticeship after sixth form and Stuart started out with a qualification in motorvehicles - now they work on keeping the ambulance and its equipment in good working order.

1 minute 30 second watch

View transcript

Stuart: Hello, I'm Stuart.

Sian: Hi I’m Sian.

Stuart: And we are fleet vehicle apprentice technicians at East Midlands Ambulance Service.

Sian: So before I started my apprenticeship I was in sixth form. It didn't quite suit what I wanted. I wanted something more hands on, but with structure. And then I found the apprenticeship with EMAS.

Stuart: I've always had a sort of passion for fixing vehicles. I’ve got a qualification in motorcycles originally. Wasn’t very good at school, I didn’t really [do well] academically. I've got ADHD and dyslexia so I found out in later life. So going back now with all the stuff that helps you out now, it's a lot easier than I thought.

Sian: Having the more practical side of it all works a lot better for me. I do like to be hands on, with this it's constantly, it's nonstop. There's always something new for you to learn.

Stuart: I quite enjoy working on a variety of vehicles. We've obviously got the standard ambulances, but there's electric and hybrid vehicles coming through. We've got the vans as well, so it's not all about ambulances.

Sian: For the first year I was brand new to mechanics. I didn't know anything. So even changing brakes was new to me. Now I'm taking out engines on my own and things like that.

Stuart: So there's always something new to to get your hands around and have a go at.

Sian: It is stripping things down, seeing how it works, and then figuring out the problems. There's a lot of problem solving with it as well. I could be given brakes one day and then the next day I'm doing an engine, so I'm never, it's not like I'm doing the same job constantly.

Stuart: Then all the equipment inside as well, which is, you don’t get on a general vehicle. So the stretcher side of it, servicing all of them as well, which is nice because it's a bit of a change from the service work you get.

Sian: Obviously with the ambulance service, if an ambulance isn't running, we can't go, like people [ambulance staff] can't go to call outs. So therefore people aren’t receiving the ambulances. So a big part of it is getting the vehicle on the road and making it nice and safe to transport someone to hospital.

Stuart: They save lives. So getting them out on the road is quite self-satisfying, you know it's going out to do something good.

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become

You can get into this job through a college course or an apprenticeship.

College

You could take a college course before applying for a trainee motor mechanic role with a garage.

Relevant courses include:

  • light vehicle maintenance and repair
  • T Level in Maintenance, Installation and Repair for Engineering and Manufacturing

You could specialise in hybrid and electrical vehicles by doing a course like:

  • auto-electrical and mobile electrical operations
  • electric/hybrid vehicle system repair and replacement

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level

More Information

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do a Motor Vehicle Service and Maintenance Technician - Light Vehicle Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship.

This will usually take 2 to 3 years. You'll do on-the-job training and spend time at a college or training provider.

You could also train as a vehicle mechanic in the British Army.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

More Information

More Information

Career tips

It will help if you are interested in the motor industry and enjoy fixing cars. It can also be useful to have a knowledge of different makes and models.

Further information

You can find out more about working and training as a light vehicle technician from Autocity.

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • problem-solving skills
  • the ability to work well with your hands
  • customer service skills
  • the ability to work well with others
  • knowledge of engineering science and technology
  • the ability to use your initiative
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Restrictions and Requirements

You may need a driving licence for some jobs.

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

As a motor mechanic, you could:

  • find and diagnose faults using hand tools or a computer
  • advise customers on what repairs are needed, including costs
  • carry out regular maintenance, and repair or replace faulty parts
  • test vehicles on the road to check repairs
  • monitor stock levels and update vehicle service records
  • work with high voltage batteries, if you deal with hybrid or electric vehicles

We've identified this as a potential green job

For a motor mechanic to be a green job, you could:

  • specialise in maintenance and repair of electric vehicles
  • recycle used materials like batteries, oil and tyres
  • use renewable energy sources in the workshop

Find out more about green careers

Working environment

You could work at a garage.

Your working environment may be noisy, dirty and physically active.

You may need to wear safety clothing and use safety equipment.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

With experience, you could:

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

Apprentice Vehicle Technician

  • Wage: £15,704 a year Annually
  • Location: Harlow

Service Technician Mechanic Apprentice

  • Wage: £17,667 a year Annually
  • Location: 1 Ongar Road, Hook End, Ongar
Find apprenticeships near you

Courses In England

Light Vehicle Maintenance

  • Provider: HULL COLLEGE
  • Start date: 08 September 2025
  • Location: Hull

Diploma in Light Vehicle Maintenance Level 3

  • Provider: HUGH BAIRD COLLEGE
  • Start date: 01 September 2025
  • Location: Liverpool
Find courses near you

Jobs In the United Kingdom

The Find a job service can help you with your search for jobs and send alerts when new jobs become available.

Search further careers

Related careers

Skills assessment

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