Heather Mullinix is an award-winning journalist and writer living in Tennessee. She writes about education, government, healthcare, and the outdoors. She graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a bachelor's degree in journalism....
Heather Mullinix is an award-winning journalist and writer living in Tennessee. She writes about education, government, healthcare, and the outdoors. She graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a bachelor's degree in journalism....
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Owning a car requires upkeep and maintenance. In April 2021, Consumer Reports found that the average car owner spent about $205 per year on upkeep for five-year-old models.
Auto mechanics take on routine maintenance tasks, such as oil changes, along with more complex repairs involving multiple car systems. The right tools allow mechanics to complete repairs efficiently.
Tools represent a significant investment in your new career as an auto mechanic or technician. You'll likely need tools for your training and your first job. In a 2011 interview with WCTI News Channel 12 in North Carolina, industry training manager Mark Larsen estimated mechanics keep about $25,000 worth of tools in their garages. Wards Auto estimated the figure was closer to $50,000.
Community colleges and trade schools often require students to purchase auto mechanic tools before starting their program. These costs vary according to the length/depth of the program and a student's specialty. Schools with auto mechanic programs, such as Butler Community College and Chattanooga State Community college, estimate the cost of these tools to be $1,000-$4,000.
Make the most of your budget by focusing on essential tools. The auto mechanic tools list below covers the equipment you need to start your automotive mechanic career. Check with your school or vendors for student discounts. Discount programs can help you stock your toolbox with high-quality tools you will use for years to come.
Air compressors can fill up tires and run power tools in your garage. Air compressors come in both large industrial models and small, compact, and portable designs. These devices run pneumatic tools, including impact wrenches.
Sometimes, you need to lift a vehicle off the ground to diagnose problems or make repairs. Car jacks lift a car, but you cannot depend on them to keep you safe while working. Stands provide additional help in keeping a vehicle off the ground so that you do not need to rely solely on a car jack.
You need a good light source to diagnose problems and make repairs correctly. Many mechanics prefer small flashlights, such as penlights, that they can keep in their pockets. These tools allow mechanics to quickly inspect areas underneath hoods and cars. Penlights are lightweight and usually offer long battery life.
Funnels help mechanics top off fluids during vehicle maintenance. Funnels ensure that oil, transmission fluid, and windshield cleaner find their way to the proper reservoir. Some funnels may include a hose you can use to better reach small or obstructed openings.
Auto mechanics' hammers include ball-pein, cross-pein, and straight-pein versions. These tools can shape metal and aid in part removal and installation. Take care in how hard you strike your target. Most mechanics use hammers for precision work, not brute force.
An essential for any roadside safety kit, jumper cables can connect one car battery to another, helping boost its power to start a motor. Look for cables that can handle six-volt, 12-volt, and 24-volt batteries.
Many vehicle systems rely on electronics. A multimeter, or volt-ohm meter, measures electrical voltage and amperage. This handheld tool helps diagnose issues with wiring systems, power supply, and circuits.
Oil changes are one of the most common tasks for auto mechanics. An oil drain pan collects used oil from the engine. Keep in mind that you must follow local rules for disposing of used oil. Make sure the pan meets the capacity of the engine. Engines may require as much as an eight-quart pan.
Mechanics use different types of pliers for various tasks. Needle-nose pliers, duckbill jaw pliers, and wire strippers perform essential functions. Some jobs require specially designed pliers, such as piston ring installers and brake spring pliers. Check with your instructor to determine which pliers you need for your studies.
These steel bars serve a variety of functions in an auto mechanic shop. They lift, provide leverage, remove nails, and help line up holes. You may hear a pry bar called by other names, including crowbar, pinch bar, and "jimmy."
Ratchet wrenches connect to a socket, making loosening and tightening bolts easier and faster. The socket completely covers the connector. Socket extensions can help mechanics reach nuts and bolts they could not get to with a conventional wrench. Consider purchasing a set in both U.S. and metric sizes.
Find a set of Phillips and flathead screwdrivers with different size tips. Some screwdrivers boast magnetic heads that can help you maintain contact with screws. This feature can come in handy when working with screws in locations that are hard to reach.
Driving on overinflated or underinflated tires can result in damage to the tire or vehicle. A tire gauge checks the air pressure in tires. Choose from stick-type gauges (about the size of a pen), dial gauges, or digital gauges.
These locking pliers provide adjustable pressure for holding parts together and clamping off hoses during automotive repairs. They usually have a quick release feature for when the work is complete. Like pliers, these tools come in a variety of styles.
Mechanics use wrenches to turn nuts and bolts, either tightening them to secure a part or loosening these connectors to remove a part. Early-career mechanics need a quality set of hand wrenches in both U.S. and metric measurements.
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Working on vehicles involves risk. In addition to the auto mechanics tools listed above, make sure your toolbox includes safety glasses and gloves. Neither of these items costs much, but they can help prevent serious injuries. Gloves should allow a mechanic to grip and maneuver materials and parts quickly. Other safety items include hearing protection, masks, and respirators.
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Mechanics may have $25,000-$50,000 worth of tools in their shop. However, they usually do not buy all these tools at once. Beginners often invest $1,000-$4,000 in auto mechanic tools. Over time, they can add to their toolkit as they see the need for specialized items and as technology changes. Check with your school for a list of tools and available student discounts.
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Many mechanic shops require apprentices or new mechanics to supply certain essential tools. Additionally, auto mechanics often prefer to use tools they have grown comfortable with and trust. A shop may provide some tools, particularly specialized items or diagnostic equipment. However, you should arrive with essentials like wrenches, ratchets, and pliers.
Feature Image: Vasily Pindyurin / Getty Images
Mechanics have two professional calling cards: their toolbox and their training. A dealership's service center does not usually provide all the tools their mechanics use. While the profession has evolved, and the term "technician" has replaced "mechanic," tools still remain a required investment.
Most mechanics acquire a tool set while attending school and add to it over the course of their careers. Buying the best quality you can afford pays off in the long run; doing so over time eases your cash flow. Asking how much do mechanics spend on tools is an important question when talking to admissions offices about their automotive technician programs.
Trade schools and community colleges usually require prospective mechanics to have a basic set of hand tools, in addition to purchasing books, safety gear and uniforms. Your cost for tools depends on the length of your school's tool list, auto or diesel emphasis, and the brands you select.
Some schools estimate tool expense for their entire program, which varies by school. For example, tools for your program of study would cost you $2,250 at Hudson Valley Community College and $3,500 at Honolulu Community College.
Schools with two-year programs often have a tool list for each year of study, which helps soften the hit your wallet takes when just starting your program. For example, Walla Walla Community College students should budget between $491 to $4,772 their first year and another $491 to $1561 in year two. However, your tool budget could range from $3,000 to $8,000 as a diesel mechanic at Alfred State SUNY College of Technology in New York depending on the supplier and quality of tools purchased.
Although school tool lists may vary, you can expect to purchase small, medium and large socket and ratchet sets in long and shallow sizes, an assortment of screwdrivers in different lengths, gauges and heads, pliers, vise grips, hammers and mallets, pry bars, punches and wrenches, plus a tool box.
Your list may include tools for specific uses such as a tire gauge, multimeter and brake spoon. You may need metric and U.S. standard versions. Your starter set can help you get your foot into the door: Applying for an entry-level position, or apprenticeship, with tools in hand demonstrates your dedication to your career. Once you're accepted into an apprenticeship program, you may also be eligible for an apprentice mechanic tool allowance.
A tool budget remains part of your professional life. The value of tools a technician keeps around is somewhere around $7,500 to $11,000, while specialists might spend around $27,000 on their tool inventory, according to the LendingTree.
Portland Community College estimates that automotive service technology students can expect to pay from $2,500 to $2,800 for tools that will last them through the PCC program and their first job. Mechanics add to their tool collection throughout their careers to accommodate changes in technology and improve productivity.
As a student, you can save by purchasing items for your tool kit through student discount programs offered by major tool manufacturers such as Sears, Snap-on and Matco. Once you graduate, you may get tool-budget help from private and public employers that include a tool stipend in their benefit package.
An accountant can advise you on the tax implications of your tool allowance as possible taxable income. Insure your investment against theft and loss, especially if your employer's business policy doesn't cover employees' personal property and your homeowner's coverage excludes tools used at work.