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Certificate III · national qualification

Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology

This course trains you to service and repair cars and other light vehicles, from routine maintenance through to tracking down faults that are hard to find.

Compare 32 providers
Illustration of a person working as motor Mechanic
How long it takes
1 to 3 years
full time at TAFE NSW
What it costs
From $2,410
Subsidised at TAFE NSW, full fee up to $22,840
How you can study
On campus or on the job
Main job
Motor Mechanic
$84,300 median pay, In demand
Taught by
32 providers
Every state and territory

Is this course right for you?

What the Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology asks of you, and what you might want to check first.

It helps to have

  • a hands-on interest in how cars work
  • an enjoyment of practical workshop work
  • patience for tracking down faults
  • care with safety and the environment

Before you start

The qualification has no set entry requirements, but each provider can add its own.

Where this course can take you

Jobs this qualification is a recognised route into, and the study that can follow it.

Jobs you can do with it

  • Motor Mechanic

    Motor mechanics find out what has gone wrong with a vehicle and repair it, from a routine service to an engine rebuild.

    What else you need

    Complete recognised light-vehicle trade training and the required workplace or apprenticeship arrangements; check local motor-repair licensing requirements. This catalogue groups awards: verify the chosen provider, programme and intake; the family-level link is not confirmation that every offering is approved.

    Median pay$84,300

    In demand

Pay is the median for everyone in the job, and “In demand” means the job is on the national shortage list.

What it costs

Subsidised place

From $2,410

at TAFE NSW. Whether you get a subsidised place depends on your state, residency, age and earlier study.

Paying the full fee

$18,060 to $22,840

across the TAFEs listed below. Private providers set their own fees.

  • TAFE NSWNSW

    Subsidised
    $2,410
    Concession
    $240
    Full fee
    $18,060
    How long
    1 to 3 years

  • Chisholm InstituteVIC

    Subsidised
    $4,983
    Concession
    $997
    Full fee
    $21,955

  • GOTAFEVIC

    Full fee
    $22,656

  • The GordonVIC

    Subsidised
    $3,923
    Concession
    $785
    Full fee
    $22,840

Fees as each TAFE shows them on its website, read 20 September 2026. Private providers set their own fees.

Where you can study this course

There are 32 places you can study this course. When you compare them, check they teach it the way you want to study, how far you'd be from a campus, what it will cost you and what past students say about the teaching and support. They're listed by how often people search for them, and none of them pays to be here or to move up.

What you’ll learn

36 units: 20 that everyone takes and 16 you choose.

  • Engine servicing and repair
  • Brake and hydraulic systems
  • Steering and suspension
  • Auto electrical circuits
  • Batteries and charging systems
  • Fault diagnosis and testing
See all 20 core units

Core units

Everyone completes these. Select a unit to see what it covers.

  • Loading the details for AURAEA002…

Questions to ask before you enrol

Providers run this course differently, so the answers change from one to the next.

  1. When is the next intake, and how many are there each year?
  2. What is the total cost, including materials, checks and any placement costs?
  3. Can I study part time or online, and how does that change the length?
  4. Do the units count towards a higher qualification if I go on to study further?

Questions people ask

Who is this qualification for?

It suits someone who wants a hands-on job servicing and repairing cars and other light vehicles. You will learn to work on engines, brakes, steering, suspension, cooling, exhaust and electrical systems in a workshop. It can lead to roles like motor mechanic, electric vehicle technician or tyre fitter.

Do I need experience or other qualifications first?

The qualification itself has no entry requirements. Individual providers can set their own conditions, so check with the provider you choose.

Related courses

The national training register, training.gov.au. TAFE course pages, read 20 September 2026. Google reviews. Pay and shortage status from Jobs and Skills Australia.