The automotive technology field is filled with unique career opportunities that appeal to different students depending on their personal interests and areas of expertise. If you are a do-it-yourselfer, possess a keen eye for detail, and have an appreciation for vehicle repair and restoration, a career as a collision repair technician is a rewarding way to earn a living while doing something that you enjoy. In this career close-up, we’ll explore a collision repair tech’s main duties, required skills, occupation outlook, and much more.
Let’s get started!
What Does a Collision Repair Tech Do?
Most collision repair technicians work in dealership collision centers or independent auto body facilities repairing and restoring damaged vehicles to their original conditions. They take on a wide range of restoration projects, from surface scratches to full body overhauls.
Evaluating Damage
While most of a collision repair technician’s focused shop work is dedicated to prepping and fixing the vehicle, it’s the initial damage assessment that sets the direction for the rest of the job.
During the assessment process, a repair technician will evaluate the vehicle’s current condition and determine whether it can be repaired to a state where it may be safely driven or if it’s damaged beyond repair. The technician will discuss their findings with an estimator, the vehicle’s owner, and the owner’s insurance company. Once approval is received from the insurance company, work may begin.
Body Repair
To repair structural damage to a vehicle, collision repair technicians first employ the help of large specialized machinery to restore the vehicle’s frame and shape to the manufacturer’s specifications. A frame straightener is a staple piece of equipment in an auto body repair shop that often starts a collision technician’s body repair process.
Modern frame machines feature a large platform and pulling posts. The vehicle is positioned on the platform and the machine’s connected computer software examines the damage using advanced computer measuring technology guided by several types of systems: mechanical, laser, or sound. Based on this initial scan, information about the vehicle’s structural damage will be sent to the machine’s computer screen. The machine can even approximate the time required to execute the repair based on the frame’s condition.
With the manufacturer’s exact dimensions for the vehicle model and year accessed by the computer, the posts are chained to the vehicle and adjusted by the technician to line up with the damaged areas in the worst shape. Straightening begins on the technician’s command, hydraulic pressure is applied at the posts, and the frame is pulled back to its original measurements.
Surface Repair
To smooth out, bend and reshape, restore or rebuild the surface of the vehicle body, collision repair technicians use a variety of specialized tools, such as hammers, mallets, welders, and grinders.
Larger parts that are severely damaged, such as doors, fenders, or windows, will be carefully removed and replaced with new versions. Body fillers are applied as needed. A series of precision sanding done both by hand and machine traditionally ends the surface repair stage.
Painting and Final Steps
Once the vehicle’s exterior is smooth and even, it’s time to apply primer and paint. To re-create the same color that the car was wearing pre-collision, many repair technicians rely on a special paint-matching machine called a spectrophotometer, which uses light to measure and match color. A spectrophotometer’s color-matching results are 20 times more accurate than the naked eye!
By evaluating the current hue, value, intensity, and finish quality with this level of precision, the spectro-system provides a paint mixing formula.
Paint mixing instructions in hand, repair technicians will either paint vehicle regions using a handheld spray gun or a paint booth to ensure even application.
Post-Repair Road and Test Delivery
After the proper finish is applied and everything’s dry, the technician will perform a final road test to make sure that the car is safe to drive.
Once the vehicle passes this short test, the collision repair technician is ready to reintroduce the restored vehicle to its owner. During this meeting, the technician will walk the customer through the work that was done, ensure that they’re happy with the results, and answer any questions they may have.
The collision repair technician will also relay details about the repair procedures completed and parts used to the shop or dealership’s administration and accounting teams so this information may be prepared in a supplement to the original cost estimate for the customer’s insurance company.
Become a Collision Repair Tech at ATC
ATC’s Collision Reconditioning Technology program is a comprehensive, hands-on study in the essential areas touched on in this eBook, from learning the ins and outs of steering and suspension systems to welding, frame repair, painting and refinishing, and more. Enroll today or contact us for more information!
Q&A
What does a collision repair technician do?
Collision repair technicians inspect damaged vehicles, repair or replace structural and body components, restore the vehicle’s appearance, and ensure it is safe to drive.
What are the main steps in collision repair?
The process includes assessing damage, straightening the frame, repairing or replacing body panels, painting and refinishing, and performing a final inspection and road test.
What skills are needed to become a collision repair technician?
Successful technicians need hands-on skills in welding, frame repair, painting, refinishing, attention to detail, and the ability to use specialized repair equipment and measuring technology.
