Auto Body

Auto body technicians work on cars and other motor vehicles that have been damaged or need upgraded. Auto body technicians, familiarly known as auto body techs, are skilled workers employed by auto repair shops, auto dealers or directly for auto manufacturers. Industrial auto body techs work for trucking lines or bus lines. Some auto body technicians are self-employed, operating their own shops or performing work onsite.

Auto body technicians working for a company are assigned work by their supervisors or by a work order entry technician whose job is to take orders directly from customers. In many cases, the auto body tech’s job begins with assessing the work that must be done and providing an estimate of cost. Once the estimates are accepted, the actual work can begin.

Parts of cars that are badly damaged or intend to be upgraded are removed from the car and replaced. In cases where the frame of the car is bent, it must be straightened or welded into an acceptable position. Small dents are hammered out and large dents are pried out with pry bars. Some small dings can also be filled in with a hardening putty and sanded down. In some auto body shops, the auto body techs are also responsible for painting the body to meet their original condition. In large or specialized shops a separate auto body painter is used.

Most auto body techs have access to large and specialized company tools and machinery. However, most hand tools must be purchased directly by the technician. Most techs gradual build up a full set of tools during their three to four years of initial training because they can be expensive to purchase all at once.

Auto body technicians do not require any formal education. Most are trained in a shop or by experienced friends or family members. Many auto body technicians get in the business because of their love for cars, so it is a natural progression to performing the job for a living. Some repair shops offer formal apprenticeships for new trainees. As they learn one aspect of the job, they progress to others until they have experience with all types of body work. Auto body techs working for auto manufacturers must have some experience when hired, and after being hired, they also go through a formal training program to learn the specific policies and methods of the manufacturer.

While many people who become auto body technicians know they have a love of cars and are good at working for them, some people are not so sure if they can make it a career. If you are unsure if it is a career for you, an aptitude test or career assessment test can help you make the choice.