Why Are Mechanics Quitting their Jobs 

Being a mechanic is a great opportunity. You work in a hot dirty shop with ridiculous timelines, you get paid peanuts AND you have to buy your own tools. I don't know how anyone could pass that up.

I AM a professional mechanic, and spent nearly 24 years working in dealerships, when i read tech shortage, i think, "good, dealerships deserve this". For decades of tech abuse. payback is a b!#@& aint it!

There is no shortage of auto techs, there is a shortage of good employers. A quick example, last shop I worked at the owner handed a mechanic a pair of "latex gloves" to work safely on a hybrid.

I've been fixing my own cars for the past 20 years just from being too broke to hire a mechanic. looks like i'm prepared for the future.

At 8:27 - I'm an office worker in the San Francisco Bay Area, but I've been doing simple DIY work on my "family fleet" for years. Last summer I changed the timing belt on my wife's 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. It was my first ever timing belt job and it was both terrifying and exciting but in the end it wasn't the huge deal I had built it up in my own mind. Ended up costing $200 using an AISIN kit with included water pump, vs $2000 at my local independent Toyota/Honda/Subaru shop in Berkeley, CA. The *ONLY* reason I had the courage to change my timing belt was RU-vid videos that showed me the process step by step.

Most vehicles built prior to about 2005 (ish) , can be kept alive and well by the owners with only a modest set of tools .

One time my employer tried to dock a ridiculous amount of money from my pay for a damaged door panel reported by a customer. What stopped him was the husband calling and saying that their grandson did it. God bless that man's soul. Like, If I'm financially responsible for any damages, why aren't I getting a 50% commision or more?

Professional automotive technicians are finally waking up and refusing to be paid like it's 1975. Before we start, this is the pay rate for Journeyman technicians, which means these are licensed and proper technicians that have completed their apprenticeship and have passed their trade's certification test, akin to passing the Bar exam for a lawyer, for a strict 40-hour workweek with no overtime, with 50-weeks paid per year. (Vacation time for trades is so rare that I'm not including 2-weeks of paid vacation here.) Please also keep in mind the following professions are paid hourly, regardless of billable time. This means that from the time you "Clock-in" to the time you "Clock-out" you are being paid for your time as opposed to vehicle technicians who are paid "flat-rate (In the USA) meaning they are paid a a set amount to diagnose, a certain amount to repair, and a certain amount to perform general service that does not pay them for the time to "grab" a new job, find the vehicle, commonly not even test drive the vehicle, drive the "job" to their work area, test-drive "or quality-check" their work (this could mean not checking their brake repair that you're about to put your family in for a road trip), nor does it pay them to park the "job" and walk back to repeat the process over again. Opposed to the below trades that pay you from the time you "Clock-in" to the time you "Clock-out" even if you need 20-minutes to poo, these following trades pay you for that, but not automotive... HVAC - $30.00 to $50.00 per hour, HOURLY. $60,000- $100,000+ - Tool investment - $250.00 to $2,000 Plumber - $25.00 to $45.00 per hour, HOURLY. $55,000 - $90.000+ - Tool investment - $250.00 to $4,500 (PEX tooling is not cheap) Electrician - $30.00 to $60.00 per hour, HOURLY. $60,000 - $120,000+ - Tool investment - $250.00 to $1,500 An automotive technician must be competent in all of those trades to properly do their job. Automotive Technician - $18.00 to $40.00, FLAT-RATE. $25,000 to $100,000+* - Tool investment - $10,000 to $65,000+ (You are always buying tools because cars are always changing. It is common to spend $2,000 to $6,000 PER YEAR on new tools because they are required for you to keep working.) The other trades don't have the same liability nor responsibilities. "Oh, your toilet didn't flush? Well, did anyone die?" Oh, your kitchen lights don't work? Well, did anyone die?" "Oh, your brakes failed? How many died?" *Depending on quantity and type of job. E.G. Replacing brakes all day, everyday will pay more. Diagnosing complex electrical issues all day, every day while being the most skilled and educated technician in the shop will pay less due to more time spent on the job than you have been allotted. It's not difficult to see why automotive technicians are quitting.

I’ve been a mechanic for over 40 years I’m so happy my son is a electrician making a lot more than me being a mechanic sucks period

I left the industy to fix floor scrubbers pays 25$ a hour they provide tools 3 weeks vacation no bulkshit

I am a retired 65 year mechanic aka automotive technician. Everything you say is true. Technology is changing very fast. It used to be nuts and screws, now it's computers and high end scan tools. Modern cars are like BIC lighters, when they run out of gas, throw it away and buy a new one. It's all about the🤑

High risk, low reward. I think that sums it up.

IM GLAD TECHS ARE FINALLY STANDING UP FOR THEMSELVES. GO WHERE YOU'RE APPRECIATED FOR YOUR WORK AND EFFORTS!

I quit last year after 9 years and ive never been happier.

I was a 25 year dealership tech. Left for another career. The dealers And also independent shops that do not want to help techs. They are greedy and only care about themselves and their own profits. I know I can get into why and when and what but we all know the issues if you are an Auto Tech.

I call myself a petrol-head, untrained mechanic, with an interest in it, and as such, I've learned so much from youtube channels and how to do the basics to the more advanced head gasket, valve seals, injector seals, and timing belts jobs on my old Toyota, which is very well designed and durable, compared to the rest of the modern over-engineered rubbish that's out there. They shouldn't be this complex, and there's going to be a massive shortage and outrage as the majority are misinformed buying over-priced junk that needs too much work including transmissions, plastic timing chain guides, computers and now high voltage heavy high priced battery replacements and disposal, not to forget the added fire dangers of impact accidents, heavy tire wear and lengthy re-charging time frames. Mechanics are going to be swamped, are underpaid and over-stressed, and my old yota sitting pretty on 470k kms is still going strong. It shouldn't be this way, just corporate greed - corruption on all levels - sell them rubbish forcing them to buy new again in 5 to ten years.

Yes in deed. People have to learn to fix their own cars. It’s the only way. I learned how to fix my own cars and now I’m no longer afraid of buying cars that are on their last leg. That’s pretty much all I look for. Either that or one with high miles. Great deals to be had! I will say, and many won’t believe me but, bmws are the easiest cars by far to work on. Not only that but there are more RU-vid videos, forums and black market software to fix them.

Chrysler owes me 500K afrer 25 years of free warranty work !!

prison laborers will be working on your car in the future.

I've been a mechanic for many many years now and I'm actively seeking a new trade Mechanics have to be electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians all on top of being a mechanic, and most shops it takes threatening to put your toolbox in your truck before these filth rich, greedy shop owners will even consider giving you a raise and other trades start their low end salaries where mechanics top out For all the headache it's just not worth it, and besides, mechanics know they'll always be able to fix their own vehicles

Mechanics always tried to rip me off, so I started fixing my cars myself. I own two cars, so if one is down for a while, I can still get around. If you find an honest and quality mechanic, pay him/her. They're rare.

People have the right to leave a bad job that doesn’t work for them, even if it is making them money. Money ain’t everything and if a bad job becoming a detriment to your health and life, have no shame to close shop and move onto learning new job skills and better jobs.

Thats why i just rented my own space charge 50% less than almost every shop in my area and actually help people instead of charging people $1000 to still have a broken car haha

Mechanics over worked and under paid. Not appreciated and taken advantage of by suits.

Im a bodytech and im done. My body feels so tired and broken

I'm kind of thinking that planned obsolescence is key to the EV push. If an EV battery lasts 10 years, that's almost a guarantee that people will replace their car every 10 years, good news for manufacturers. Unless the cost of batteries end up coming down, it's going to be a hard decision to replace a $15,000 battery on a 10-year-old car that can be replaced with a new vehicle for $30,000.

I have been a DIYer past 10 years and fixed a lot on my 3.2l XC90 ‘07, Jeep and other cars I owned and absolutely love it. Huge satisfaction from the job done, tons of money saved over time and, most importantly, quality work I guarantee simply b/c I do it for myself: proper parts, all torque to spec, triple checked everything etc. I asked another day the Volvo dealership how often I need to change the tranny fluid, they said never b/c it’s designed to last for life, but define me what “life” means? For them it’s 5years which is the average time an average American household keeps a car before they buy a new one which is exactly what the car makers want … so 100% agree and support all you said. Awesome channel, love it!

My friend was a mechanic many years ago. He missed it a bit but did not want to change job fully. So he started a firm and put up some posters around his neighborhood. He recently built a fairly big garage with a lift and space for about 6 cars. He have 2 classics of his own. No electrical jobs because today you need company's expensive computers and codes, but he can change anything, just don't code it in. The jobs are poring in like crazy and his neighborhood is not even that big. He is a good mechanic and helped me alot of times when im at my wits end. He called me and said he just hoped he could get maybe a job a week or less. in 3 days he already is booked on 8 jobs. its crazy so he has paused for now he has a family and an ordinary job as well. If he likes it there is no shortage of jobs thats for sure. This weekend he have done 5 of the jobs, and he have looked up some prices and takes about half of an ordinary shop. It's good money and the customers are so happy because he is so cheap. So something is happening for sure.

I have 2 absolutely great, 100% trustworthy, A+ Mechanic shops that are very close to me!! Both independent "mom and pop" shops where the owners are there and helping to work on things!!! The one shop its just the owner and one helper!!! They can be a little backed up with work sometimes because of how absolutely solid both their reputations are. Though, i believe its definitely worth it to wait an extra day or two to get your car fixed. That way you know that the job is getting done properly and for the most reasonable price a mechanic can afford to offer!!! I'd rather go that route as opposed to being in a rush to get my car fixed, so i get it back at the end of that same day or the next day, but come to find out that it hadn't been done properly or I got charged a good bit more thsn what I should have/could have paid!!! Im so glad i don't have to worry about finding good mechanics and getting my vehicles worked on!!!

Shortage of paying mechanics is the problem

@bullitthead7853 how does that happen when the dealerships are pushing the mechanics to bring in more money changing more parts even if it's not necessary??? Plus you get a cut of every part you change. Plus by the book if a job says 3 hours and mechanic does the repair in 1 hour the dealership charges 3 hours. Criminal. We're becoming a nation of crooks.

Rais your prices. Be up front. don’t haggle. Own your own shop

32 years in the industry, you should seen the future with the shit auto technician job , I knew as a dealership job I day traded for the last 5 years preparing, and now I day trade Fore a living !

Auto industry went WAY TOO far with technology , do we really need a whole circuit boards for a tail light ? They passed the point of no return !!

I left the field after 15 years, I make more money in a entry level IT role then I did as an advanced level tech that could do diagnostics, engine rebuilds, axle rebuilds, transmission replacements, frame replacements etc.

Aaaaaaandd THAT, my friend is everything we’ve been saying for ten years. We fix things for a living, you better bet that gives us the esp to have been saying this for ten years at least.

Trickle down effect

The only reason I has to learn some mechanic stuff is because during covid mechanics at my shop quit and they did this new service writer plus maintenence stuff but gave bonuses if you could do fleet hours it was crazy

😂 warehouses pay more and buccs pays like $25 hr the problem is that the shop owners scam their workers and a mechanic buys and buys and buys and buys and buys and continues to buy 😂 while the owner cashes in

Got out of the trade a long time ago , and have never looked back . Lowest paid trade for getting dirty and greasy . Some of the cars you work on , you'll never be able to afford . Long warranty means Mechanics have to work for less .

You will never make any money working for someone else. Doesn’t matter what field you’re in.

It was time to get out of the business you get sued for not working on someone car. That's what happen to me

Haven't gone to a mechanic since before the pandemic... Shops have been putting themselves out of business slowly for decades with ridiculous labor rates and poor quality. The main reason that I have gone was because I either didn't have the tooling to do the job (like replacing the VGT actuator, which requires Cummins licensed software), or the vehicle was under warranty. I know my vehicles well, and I can't stand poor quality or lack of attention to details like when they don't put stuff back together properly - they leave panel screws out or break clips... dude, I brought it to you with all of them, go walk your axx over and get one from parts... I realize that's mostly the shop's doing/policy; but I don't care if its warranty or not - I still paid for the parts and labor as part of the terms of the purchase...

It’s not the end of world plus it’s alot more shop out here in California down the street where I live in bellflower California it’s over 8 shops down the street and another 7 here and there so places like Long Beach Lakewood bellflower California the shops not going anywhere

Facts Eddie

Being a mechanic isn't like other jobs. You can't be like the office worker who says shit like "people make mistakes, that's why they put erasers on pencils" or some other stupid stuff spewing from their mouths. When you are a mechanic, small mistakes make really expensive shit go bang, and if you are unlucky, seriously hurt somebody.

I am the warranty, so I haven't been to a shop outside of tires.

Because flat rate. That’s why I left. I would always get told by the shop owner and by the service advisor. Well, you know alldata says so-and-so for time. To which my response was well, how about let’s get all data over here and have them do the job Otherwise pay me the hours that I’m quoting. 😅

Be a mechanic and make a whole $50k a year if even that in my area.

i'm perfectly ok, since i know how to work on cars, ha ha ha, and lucky for my friends too since i always steer them away from what the pirates at the dealership tell them, i only had to work on my car 4 times in 5 years (88 volvo) i don't know how these people do this for a living, it's fun if it's your own car

Sorry but I’m not going to trust a RU-vid DYI mechanic to fix my 100k plus car

Looks like the 'ol Marquis must run forever. There is no way I can afford any of these new cars, let alone buy one and have major issues with it, especially with manufacturers that previously produced reliable cars that now have them grenade at very low mileages. Just a thought......

I absolutely know why people don't want a mechanic rip off it sucks I think they must pay them to say BS

Skilled,highly skilled mechanics AKA automotive techinicians are hard too find... Buying the tools and electrical automotive scanners are the easy part. The average mechanic with 5 yrs of experience get paid the same as somebody who has 10 too 15 yrs of provable experience and knowledge. Just cause a person works at a quick lube shop for a yr doesn't make you a skilled mechanic AKA auto technician . The highly skilled ones will not for for that pay after what they have put out for just tools,not including the tool box,the extra wire kits,etc and then theres the time away from being home or missing your family cause you are working 12hr shifts for 8 hrs of pay. Not right.

for all I care the guys in the front desks they can service the cars at the "stealerships"😂😂😂😂😂 I work on my own now.

Its decades or abuse neglect disrespect. Low pay..to all repair people who work with their hands back breaking work . ever tried to dig a ditch rebuild a v8 engine, put a wrecked truck on a cheif ezliner chain it down clamp it in place pull the frame into specs disassemble all smashed parts cut unibody off..clean prep weld body parts on clean prime paint .measure multiple spec points tweak frame unibody parts in perfect alignment...reassemble...on.and on then the shop owners say you're not working hard enough were forced to cut your repair hours 😂😂😅oh yea you have to by all your own tools. Frame and unibody tools. Mechanics tools, welding tools,electronics tools, sheet metal tools, paint guns ,heat guns, creepers , tool boxes , larger tool boxes for larger tools.....😅😮I guit in 2000 drove an 18 wheeler 2000 to 2024 I just retired now I only repair my friends and family vehicles. An I still have all of my c.d.l.endorsements my tools 😊😅😅😊 0:00

There making fixing a vehicle too complicated. If auto makers were really so smart. They would be making vehicles less complicated. Make and keep them simple.

😊 broh, you also are not taking into account the younger generation, of Z kids, they are a sad crop, very metro and soft, so of course theres gonna be a shortage if thats the generation, and thats happening acroos the continente for any blue collar jobs, if its not gravy then its not gonna happen

I have always repaired my own 1994 Ford e250 5.8 and have reached over 498000 and is still going strong!

Plus mechanics don't fix cars anymore. They just change shoddy expensive cheap parts. They're part changers.

😒 back to shadetree diy mechanics so stick with cars u can work on urself, also pickup a basic motorcycle and lots of bicycles

if there Oldé Thann I'm ANCIÊNŤ 😲😲😨😨😨😱😱

Sounds like you don't have a clue about the automotive industry. Did you play this video back and listen to what you are saying?

Flare Rate. Somebody else decides what something will cost…. Getting paid 50% of what a job actually takes gets old really fast. Then there is Technology. I spent the first 2 1/2 hours today to get my computer to allow a connection to the Internet. Once it allowed a Connection, there were multiple glitches and more downtime. Next was Compliance and Safety Requirements. Then came Certifications I had to sign off on while I working through making an estimate. I picked up two wrenches the entire day! Who are we supposed to bill all that to???

OLD DOESN'T MATTER MY MECHANIC IS 75 KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING//PEOPLE QUIT AT 40 CAN SWEEP AND MOP//FLIP BURGERS//PARK CARS //PAN HANDLE//PICK UP CANS //THERE ALOT OF BEDEN SKI JOBS TO BE FILLED //KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK //