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Panelbeater

Panelbeaters repair or replace body parts of cars, trucks or other vehicles that have been damaged.

Tasks & duties

Panelbeaters may do some or all of the following:

talk to customers about the repairs needed
estimate the cost of repairs
align and reshape damaged panels
apply body filler to the panels and sand them back to the original shape
straighten bent frames
weld to repair panels, and to attach metal panels onto vehicles
cut out damaged sections of vehicles and weld in replacements
reshape and smooth damaged panels
repair rust
align and repair body structures after major accidents
repair plastic parts
remove parts of vehicles and refit after repaired
sand and prepare panels and parts for spray painting
spray primer

Skills & knowledge

Panelbeaters need to have:

knowledge of metals and vehicle parts
skills in repairing, fitting and preparing vehicle panels and frames
knowledge of vehicle manufacturers' specifications
ability to read and follow manufacturers' instructions
an understanding of mechanics
basic maths skills
listening skills
communication skills

Entry requirements

To become a panelbeater you need to complete an apprenticeship and gain a National Certificate in in Automotive Body Repair Technology.

Secondary education

Many employers prefer apprentice panelbeaters to have three years of secondary school education. Useful subjects include English, maths and workshop technology.

Tertiary education

Certificate II in Automotive Body Repair Technology. This qualification is part of the Automotive Industry Retail, Service and Repair Training Package. It reflects the role of individuals who perform a range of tasks on vehicle bodies in the automotive retail, service and repair industry.