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What is motor vehicle repair work?

Most types of motor vehicle repair work (known as classes of repair work) are covered by the Motor Vehicles Repairers Act 2003, including:
  • examining motor vehicles;
  • diagnosing and detecting faults in motor vehicles;
  • adjusting, servicing and maintaining motor vehicles;
  • overhauling motor vehicles;
  • replacing components of motor vehicles;
  • modifying and altering motor vehicles; and
  • painting or treating the surfaces of motor vehicles.

The Act covers most types of repair work however there are exclusions eg window tinting.

Most repairers who work on a vehicle unsupervised or supervise a person carrying out repair work will require a repairer’s certificate, approved by the Motor Vehicle Industry Board.

Repairers will require a certificate if they work on vehicles which carry persons or goods or a goods trailer which has brakes. There are some exemptions for repairers who carry out work on agricultural machinery (tractors, combiners, seeders etc), plant equipment, bobcats, cranes, ride-on mowers, boats, bicycles.

Most repair businesses will be need to apply for a licence to carry out motor vehicle repair work from July 2008.