Auto Body vs Auto Mechanic – What Is the Difference

When you get into a car accident, you wreck the outside of your car, but you might also damage its inside-like the engine or electrical system. And while some shops can handle repairs to both, there's a difference between auto body repair and auto mechanical repair. Which specialty would you choose? Do you want to restore classics to their yesteryear luster, or do you want to keep cars on the road longer for their cash-strapped owners?

What is an Auto Body Shop?

Auto body shops concentrate on the outside appearance of a car, including the frame, doors, windows, and bumpers. Some of the common services you might provide as an auto body repair technician might include:

• Restore vehicles after accidents
• Pull out dents
• Buff out scratches
• Repaint the vehicle or its components
• Replace windows, windshields, or fenders

You may also have the opportunity to work on vintage vehicles. Car collectors sometimes bring in autos that need replacement parts, a fresh coat of paint, or major restoration work. But no matter what type of car you work on, you have an important role in ensuring that drivers and passengers remain safe behind the wheel; your work helps restore the original integrity of the car. You can also prevent further damage to the vehicle because dents and scratches can lead to rusting, which can weaken the structure of the vehicle over time.

What is an Auto Mechanic Shop?

An auto mechanic shop takes care of the mechanical parts of the vehicle not covered in an auto body shop. Working as an auto mechanic, you provide regular maintenance to a vehicle, which includes such services as changing oil, replacing air filters, and checking brake pads. You may also:

• Repair or replace engine parts
• Diagnose and repair electrical system issues
• Maintain drivetrain components
• Rotate or replace tires & perform alignments
• Service the steering and suspension system

As an auto mechanic or technician, you identify and repair mechanical issues. For example, if a customer comes in complaining of a rattling sound, you find out whether it's something amiss with the engine, the brakes, or an electrical component. Some auto shops also have their workers specialize on certain parts of the vehicle such as the brakes, the air conditioning system, the transmission, or the front end.

Comparing Auto Body Repair Technicians and Mechanics

Both auto body repair technicians and mechanics work on a variety of cars and there can be a lot of overlap in what they do. You often find shops that provide both services, sometimes with dedicated personnel for each specialty. Both professionals also perform diagnostics to ensure the safety and integrity of vehicles. And while auto body repair is technically focused on the outside of the car, you need to understand the structure of the vehicle to properly do your job. And as an auto mechanic, you may use advanced diagnostic tools to determine if a car is running properly, but you also pay attention to cracked windshields and rusted components.

The work environments are also a bit different. Auto body shops have large painting facilities. Auto mechanic shops have equipment, tools, and facilities that fit better with mechanical repairs. They have lifts to raise the car, transmission jacks, hydraulic presses, and digital inspection tools for the electrical systems and emissions tests.

But an important similarity between auto mechanics and auto collision repair techs is that they often complete training programs before working in the field. You need to learn the latest repair techniques, practice with tools and equipment, and understand the environment of a professional auto shop before you work in one.

Train for a Career in Auto Body Repair or as an Auto Mechanic

To work as either an auto collision repair tech or an auto mechanic, you need some natural abilities such as an eye for detail, good coordination, excellent problem-solving skills, and the ability to serve customers. And a passion for cars will help you love the work you do! But to work in the modern auto shop, you need deep knowledge about cars and how they're built. An automotive training program can get you started on the path to a rewarding career as either an automotive body technician or an automotive mechanic.

Auto Body Repair School

Your auto body repair school should teach you about vehicle construction and systems and how to diagnose damage in order to decide whether to repair or replace parts. You also learn how to bang out dents using body hammers and how to repair panels with patching, welding, fiberglass, and chemicals. And you learn to prep surfaces for paint, from sanding and edging to priming. You may even learn how to airbrush and apply decals and automotive art and how to do vehicle detailing.

Auto Mechanic School

A good auto mechanic school will teach you about gasoline and electric engines and how braking, steering, starting, lighting, and electrical systems work. You learn how to use modern diagnostic tools to identify problems under the hood and the steps you need to take to repair them. From suspensions to air conditioning systems, you learn how to assess, price, and repair.

Whether you want to work on a vehicle's body or its engine, you need to learn now. Lincoln Technical Institute offers training in both Automotive Technology and Collision Repair and Refinishing. Our programs are taught by industry certified instructors who have years of experience in the field. You gain hands-on experience in our garages and have access to our partnerships with leading car manufacturers. What are you waiting for? Fill out the form to get started on the career of your dreams.

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