What is an Automotive Repair Qualification?
3 Answers
Automotive repair qualification refers to the specialized repair qualification certificate issued by the transportation bureau that a repair shop needs. Below are the required equipment for operating a repair shop: Maintenance and cleaning equipment: mainly includes automatic transmission cleaning and oil changing machines, power steering oil changing machines, grease dispensers, refrigerant recovery and charging machines, fuel injector cleaning and testing equipment, polishers, waxing machines, vacuum cleaners, water suction machines, etc. Tire equipment: mainly refers to wheel balancers, tire changers, nitrogen inflators, tire repair machines, etc. Repair tools: mainly refers to various manual repair tools such as wrenches, screwdrivers, workbenches, etc.
I'm an experienced auto mechanic with over 20 years in the trade, and I can't stress enough how crucial automotive repair qualifications are. Simply put, repair shops must meet nationally recognized standards to operate legally. First, they need a business license, and they're categorized by capability - Class I shops can handle complete vehicle and major assembly repairs, while Class III shops are limited to maintenance and minor fixes. All technicians must be certified for their specific trades like bodywork, painting, or electrical systems. Proper equipment is mandatory too - lift racks, wheel alignment systems, and diagnostic computers are standard. Workshops must comply with fire safety and environmental regulations - improper disposal of used engine oil can lead to heavy fines. I've seen too many unlicensed shops cheat customers with substandard parts, leading to brake failures or even vehicle fires - absolutely disgraceful. Always check for the transportation authority-issued repair operation license displayed in the shop, and never compromise safety for cheap roadside repairs.
Last year when I ran an auto repair shop, I went through the entire qualification process. The most basic step was business registration, followed by applying for a maintenance operation license from the local transportation bureau – the application forms alone were over 20 pages. Technically, the repair workshop must cover at least 200 square meters with a minimum of four repair bays, each equipped with carbon dioxide fire extinguishers. Employees must hold three mandatory certificates: Auto Mechanic Vocational Qualification Certificate, Work Safety Certificate, and Special Equipment Operation Certificate. We invested in a complete set of German-made torque wrenches and diagnostic equipment. The most troublesome part was environmental approval – the waste oil treatment system cost over 80,000 yuan. Currently, qualifications require annual inspections, and the transportation bureau conducts random spot checks on parts procurement records. I advise car owners to verify repair shop qualifications on the National Automotive Maintenance Industry Management System by entering the shop's name before getting repairs done.