I am 32, and would like to train to be a mechanic, where can i go?

Answer 1

really the proper thing to do is to go to college but if you know your bits about cars then see if you can get a job in a garage you knever know...

Answer 2

I'm 27, I've got an HND (British Qualification, equal to 66% of a degree) in Automotive Engineering which I obtained when I was 19, and tried to get a job in a garage, they didn't want to know because I wasn't 'time served' and therefore thought I was some kind of stupid idiot! They are wrong, I can do anything a 'time served' mechanic can do! I dont understand it either, theres supposed to be a dire shortage in the motor trade! But, back to the question in hand, assuming you are british, the best place to go would be a technical college as some of these private training firms are useless, but somehow garages seem to value the mickey mouse qualifications you get from training establishments higher than a National Qualification! I haven't a clue though if you are American!

Add-on:
I've got practical experience, both from my course, and the fact I'm constantly doing something to either my own or my friends cars, I have covered a lot of ground! But I would have to agree that I would need marque specific training to work in a dealership. Once you have the basics though, anything further you should be able to pick up no problem, you need to know how to adapt, and some of the differences car designers put in, they can pull some surprises now and again!

Answer 3

Hi if you're in the UK then depending on how much you want to do this there are usually part time courses available at most colleges these will teach you the very basics though if you want to learn more then try and get on a modern apprenticeship or full time college course with hands on experience I've been in the trade since i was 12 and the only things i learnt in college are now obsolete get a course with workshop training as well as theory this will help you get the grasp of health and safety and you learn more doing something than talking about it ( that's the difference between theory and practical ) hope you pursue it though I've been doing it for 20 yrs and still learning and loving it , have fun and remember it's just playing with cars lol
Further to Alf Garnet ( above ) most new mechanics straight out of college need a lot of training before they can be left to there own devices i have had 3 fully qualified mechanics straight out of college work for me over time and had to train them all not knocking anyone but there's not substitute for practical experience

Answer 4

Looked into this myself about 8 years ago and found that it is easy enough to get a day release type placement where you work in a garage and go to college a couple of days a week. However these are set up for 16 year olds that still live at home so the pay (at the time) was in the region of about £60 per week which is just not enough to live on. The other option is nightschool but you will always struggle to find a job with no hands on experience.

Answer 5

PRISON!

All the villans that know the secrets of how to start a car are in there!

Well I say all of them, some are still scumming around the streets of Manchester and Liverpool I guess!

Answer 6

unless you can afford to go day release then nothing available, trust me i tried every avenue.
ive been doing it years and wanted the papers just to open up some different options.

cambox - brave statement, perhaps you should keep your biggoted insulting remarks to yourself.

Answer 7

College would be a step in the right direction.

Answer 8

easy done at any mechanic, but are you willing to live on that money at your age

Answer 9

ask your local kwik fit fitters, they the boys to trust

Answer 10

a vocational school in your area