What Is An Automotive Technician?

At DARCARS, we are almost always looking for another automotive technician to join our forces, which currently number about 2,000 employees. Our automotive group has locations in six states – Maryland, Virginia, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Florida. Within those states, we have over 30 locations total, providing numerous opportunities for those who want to work with cars – whether in a sales position or as an auto tech in our service department.

We believe that what goes around comes around, which is why we treat our team well – so that they can carry over that same mindset to the cars they look after and the customers they meet. Here's a closer look at what being an automotive technician for us is like.

Automotive Technician Job Description

Our automotive service technician jobs might vary somewhat in their expectations, depending on location. However, common responsibilities include the following:

• Complete maintenance and repairs on vehicles according to dealership and manufacturer standards.
• Diagnose problems related to a vehicle's engine, transmission, electrical, steering, suspension, braking, or HVAC system.
• Provide an estimate of the labor and time it would take to complete automotive repairs.
• Transparently communicate with other technicians to help reach joint goals.
• Inspect and test vehicles and report what you discover so that necessary repairs can be made.
• Take vehicles out on road tests to confirm that a repair has been successfully completed.
• Complete the paperwork necessary for the successful filing of warranty claims.
• Continue learning new automotive information and techniques through formal training sessions to stay up to date with advances in the automotive industry.

Being an automotive technician vs. mechanic is, perhaps, a subtle difference. However, it essentially comes down to mechanics doing more of the hands-on work, such as putting a car through its routine maintenance. As an automotive technician, you might do this, too, but you will also be relied upon to test cars for problems, identify issues, and provide solutions. For example, you might deal with complaints about a vehicle's driveability that don't have an immediately obvious cause.

Automotive Technician Training

The amount of experience recommended to apply for automotive careers with DARCARS will also depend on the specific opening available. In some cases, we may ask for applicants with ASE certification in one or more relevant categories, while in others, we might be looking for candidates with more experience or certification working with specific car brands. Our locations often specialize in one or more of the following OEMs:

• Chrysler models
• Dodge models
• Jeep models
• Ram models
• Toyota models
• Nissan models
• INFINITI models
• Ford models
• Kia models
• Volvo models
• Volkswagen models
• Lexus models

Regardless of the experience you come to us with, we do expect our automotive technicians to continue to learn on the job and through formal training opportunities that we will make available to you. After all, the industry is changing rapidly, with hybrid vehicles and fully electric cars becoming a surging presence and new safety technology always being developed. We want to ensure our teams can meet any and all needs of our customers who trust us to connect them with high-quality vehicles and maintain them afterward.

Benefits of DARCARS Automotive Careers

We offer a competitive automotive technician salary commensurate with experience. However, this exact amount will depend on the job at hand. We recommend you apply through our website, stating your salary goals. You can also contact us if you have specific questions.

In addition to competitive compensation, we offer:

• Insurance: medical, vision, dental, life
• Short-term and long-term disability plans
• 401(k) options
• Paid holidays & PTO
• Employee discounts on car purchases, parts, and services
• Opportunities to join our community service initiatives
• Internal career advancement opportunities

We have a whole other page dedicated to the benefits of DARCARS Automotive careers that we encourage you to check out.

Find a Great Job With Us Today

We've been told since we were kids that "finding a job you love means not having to work a day in your life." While we do, in fact, expert our automotive technicians to work hard, we seek out those who truly love cars as much as we do and who will contribute to the fun, respectful environment at our service departments. We also do what we can to treat our people as they deserve to be treated, with great benefits and opportunities to build an ever brighter future. Check out our available listings today if you're interested in being part of DARCARS.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a vehicle technician?

A vehicle technician is a broad job title encompassing a professional who diagnoses issues and strategizes for a solution in addition to more hands-on maintenance jobs. The job often involves working with a team of other technicians and includes providing quotes for service, test driving vehicles to ensure the success of a repair, staying on top of warranty claims, inspecting vehicles, and completing consistent training.

What is the hardest mechanic job?

The most difficult mechanic job will vary from person to person, depending on your skillsets and level of experience. Working as an automotive technician, however, is certainly considered to be one of the more challenging professions in the car maintenance realm. Identifying and repairing issues in a car, especially when the diagnosis is not immediately apparent, requires a considerable amount of knowledge and hands-on experience working with vehicles.

Should I become a mechanic if I like cars?

We wholeheartedly encourage auto enthusiasts to join our East Coast team. Although our auto technicians work incredibly hard, they also love what they do because we specifically seek out talented individuals with a special interest in working with cars. If you're interested in learning more about DARCARS Careers, don't hesitate to reach out to our available listings to learn more about starting your automotive technician journey today.

Other Dealership Career Resources: