roadside vehicle technician
Snapshot
Do you enjoy problem-solving and working with your hands, especially in a dynamic environment? As a roadside vehicle technician, you'll be the go-to expert providing essential repairs and maintenance directly to drivers in need.
Roadside vehicle technicians are skilled professionals who provide on-site repair, testing, and maintenance services for vehicles experiencing breakdowns or requiring immediate attention. Your work involves diagnosing issues, performing repairs, and ensuring vehicles are safe and operational. You'll often be travelling to customer locations, requiring excellent communication and customer service skills alongside your technical expertise.
- • Diagnose vehicle faults using diagnostic tools and your technical knowledge.
- • Perform repairs such as tyre replacements, battery changes, jump starts, and minor engine repairs.
- • Conduct routine maintenance checks and servicing.
Where this occupation is in demand
Reported labour shortages and surpluses, by year. Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
Deeper colour: reported the same way in more consecutive years.
Figures cover Metal, machinery and related trades workers — 106 jobs including this one.
In shortage: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia and 12 more.
Longest-running shortage: Austria, 4 years.
Select a place on the map to see its figures.
About this source›
Source: ELA/EURES labour shortages and surpluses. Readings are published at occupation-group level, and cover Europe. Editions differ in annex layout and country coverage, so a change between years does not always mean the labour market changed. Countries in grey were not reported, which is not the same as being in balance.
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Could roadside vehicle technician fit you?
Answer three quick questions. This is not a full assessment — it is a teaser to help you decide whether to compare your profile.
Do you enjoy tasks that require Attention to Detail?
Do you enjoy tasks that require Dependability?
Do you enjoy tasks that require Integrity?
Future Outlook for roadside vehicle technician
The outlook for roadside vehicle technician reflects a balanced mix of automation exposure and durable, human-led work.
How are these scores calculated?
The Resilience Score (0–100) estimates how structurally protected this occupation is from automation and AI disruption, based on task-level analysis. Higher scores mean more human-judgment-intensive tasks. AI Exposure shows the estimated percentage of task hours that current AI capabilities could affect. These are model-derived structural indicators, not predictions about individual job security.
How could roadside vehicle technician change as AI adoption grows?
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
How could roadside vehicle technician change as AI adoption grows?
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
How AI may change this role
Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.
What still depends on people
- execute working instructions
- communicate with customers
- use different communication channels
Where AI may become a co-pilot
- perform manual work autonomously
- drive vehicles
- perform technical tasks with great care
Tasks most exposed to automation
- maintain vehicle records
- maintain motorcycle records
Vital Signs & AI Vectors
AI Exposure Vectors
0-100%Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement
Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks
Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools
Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation
Technical Details
NexFuture v3.0 estimates automation exposure natively from ESCO essential-skill groups, weighted by skill mass and calibrated against expert anchors. Scores are probabilistic estimates, not guarantees. See the NexFuture Methodology White Paper for full details.
Measures automation exposure. It does not measure pay, demand, or how many jobs exist near you.
What people in this role usually do
Supply Chain & Transportation
A typical day as a roadside vehicle technician
09 09:00 · Morning carry out repair of vehicles
10 10:30 · Mid-morning carry out repairs and maintenance of vehicle bodies
12 12:00 · Midday identify vehicles service requirements
14 14:00 · Afternoon maintain vehicle records
15 15:30 · Late afternoon organise vehicle breakdown support
17 17:00 · Wrap-up maintain motorcycle records
Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.
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car controls
The functioning of specific car equipment such as how to operate and handle the clutch, throttle, lighting, instrumentation, transmission and the brakes.
- types of vehicles
- electrical wiring plans
- electronics
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communicate with customers
Respond to and communicate with customers in the most efficient and appropriate manner to enable them to access the desired products or services, or any other help they may require.
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respond to customers' inquiries
Answer customers' questions about itineraries, rates and reservations in person, by mail, by e-mail and on the phone.
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maintain vehicle records
Maintain vehicle records by accurately recording service operations and repairs.
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maintain motorcycle records
Maintain and update motorcycle records by accurately recording service operations and repairs.
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carry out repair of vehicles
Provide repair for vehicles and routine level checks, such as engine tune-ups, oil changes, tire rotation and changes, wheel balancing, replacing filters, repair engine failures; repair mechanical and electrical systems malfunctions; replace parts and components; repair body damage.
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carry out repairs and maintenance of vehicle bodies
Execute repair and maintenance tasks to damaged vehicle bodies; follow customers' individual requests and instructions.
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identify vehicles service requirements
Interpret customers’ descriptions of vehicle problems; translate these issues into concrete instructions for mechanics and technicians.
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drive vehicles
Be able to drive vehicles; have the approapriate type of driving license according to the type of motor vehicle used.
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use different communication channels
Make use of various types of communication channels such as verbal, handwritten, digital and telephonic communication with the purpose of constructing and sharing ideas or information.
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perform technical tasks with great care
Avoiding possible risks and unwanted outcomes by watching carefully over all parts of a machine, device or vehicle and executing processes of production, maintenance or repair with great care.
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execute working instructions
Understand, interpret and properly apply work instructions regarding different tasks in the workplace.
Skill DNA
Work personality traits and values that define this role
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Explore typical career progression paths, adjacent skills, and similar roles to plan your next transition.
Where does roadside vehicle technician fit?
Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.
Frequently asked questions
- What kind of vehicles might I work on as a roadside vehicle technician?
- You’ll typically work on a wide range of vehicles, including cars, vans, and light trucks. The specific types of vehicles you encounter will depend on the employer and location.
- What skills are most important for success in this role?
- Strong mechanical aptitude, diagnostic skills, and the ability to work independently are crucial. Excellent communication and customer service skills are also essential, as you’ll be interacting directly with drivers who are often in stressful situations.
- Is it common to be self-employed as a roadside vehicle technician?
- While this occupation is primarily employee-based, it’s also commonly pursued as a self-employed business. Many roadside vehicle technicians operate their own mobile repair services, offering greater flexibility and autonomy.
- Roadside Vehicle Technician — is there a shortage in Europe?
- Yes. In the 2025 ELA/EURES edition, a shortage was reported in 16 of the 19 European countries that assessed this occupation group: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany and 12 more. Austria has reported one for 4 consecutive years. These assessments are published per occupation group rather than per job title.
- Roadside Vehicle Technician — what does it pay in the United States?
- $50,540 a year at the median, as of 2025-05. State medians run from $35,920 to $68,240. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is a United States figure and not a projection for Europe.