Motor Vehicle Service and Maintenance Technician

On a motor vehicle service and maintenance technician apprenticeship course, you’ll help service and repair light vehicles such as cars and vans.

A motor vehicle service and maintenance technician works either at dealerships specialising in a particular manufacturer or at an independent garage that works with several vehicle manufacturers. In this role, you must work independently while still working as an effective team member and provide exceptional customer service.

You’ll learn how your workshop, dealership, or garage operates commercially, and you’ll discover ways to work more efficiently. You will be responsible for all of the vehicle’s systems. Your everyday activities will range from replacing simple components to troubleshooting complex difficulties using diagnostic methods and equipment. Because of the advancement of increasingly complex technologies and diagnostic techniques, tasks will change regularly.

What you’ll learn

On a motor vehicle service and maintenance technician apprenticeship course, you’ll learn to:

• Assist with the maintenance of a safe and efficient workshop.
• Perform fundamental tasks related to vehicle removal and replacement operations;
• Discover how to perform diagnostic and repair operations.
• Evaluate the serviceability of a system, interpret diagnostic data, and analyse electrical wiring diagrams.
• Use recognised diagnostic techniques, a logical diagnostic sequence, and advanced diagnostic ideas and problem-solving approaches to identify defects.
• Use business processes to report issues and determine suitable subsequent actions.
• Use recognised repair procedures to carry out a wide range of repairs, even those needing specialised techniques or in-depth experience.
• Examine the functioning of the repaired and installed components.
• Maintain business operations and documents in conformity with workplace standards.
• Complete a range of services and inspect and prepare a vehicle for customer handover to the acceptable quality.

Entry requirements

You’ll usually need:

• Depending on the employer, but likely GCSEs or equivalent or relevant experience.
• Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this level before taking the end-point assessment.
• You may need a driving licence for some apprenticeships.

Assessment methods

The End Point Assessment consists of three distinct assessment methods: 

• Online Knowledge Test 
• Skills Test 
• Professional Discussion 

Duration, level, subjects and potential salary upon completion

Apprenticeship standard

More information about the Level 3 Motor Vehicle Service and Maintenance Technician Apprenticeship standard can be found here.

Apprenticeship end point assessment

For more information about the End Point Assessment Process, please read the Institute of Apprenticeships’ information page.