Apprentice mechanic insurance status

Damien360

Young lad has started as a apprentice mechanic and loves it.

He tells me he had to test drive a customer car with another mechanic and he was driving on the road. Around the garage is fine as he has to bring in customer cars. He has a learner permit only, half way through his lessons, confirmed he is on garage (main dealer) insurance. So my question is how would a Garda look at this at a checkpoint if he has no L plates up, is technically insured, has a full license driver beside him. He is actually a competent driver as he drives mine on closed roads and his lessons seem quite good. Would he get in trouble?

Other than that he is building his tools up. Why do mechanics have to supply every single one of their own tools and gloves etc ? Next up is torque wrench and a impact wrench 1/2” on air. Draper in each case seems to be best in budget for him.

Any other recommendations from the mechanics in here for a young apprentice.

Del2005

Get him to buy a set of magnetic L plates and stick them on customers cars. While he's legal if he met the wrong Garda he could have a bit of hassle so no point in doing anything.

The reason why mechanics have to buy their tools is because other mechanics steal tools, not really though. These are the tools he'll be using for the rest of his career, he'll bring them with him as he changes jobs so he can keep a decent set of tools and build up over time, same way a chippy or plumber need their own tools. PPE should be supplied by the company, they can get in big trouble if he gets injured and they aren't supplying PPE.

No comments about insurance... Northern and Eastern Europe countries mechanics does not need own toolboxes. There company gives all tools what necessary. Here is everything personal. He does not need expensive tools. Halfords have a lifetime warranty and relative good tools if he do not use the tools as hammer.

PsychoPete

Some garages will supply tools and if something is broke or lost you pay for it. When I started out I bought a teng set, it cost around €4000 and I paid it off every so often but it seen me through my time in the garage before leaving. Over the years I added tools to it. When it comes to tools it can be a bit of a rabbit hole. I've worked with lads that had tool boxes worth 40 or 50k. As for gloves,ppe etc I always bought my own because I knew what brand I liked.

Dirty Nails

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058219404/apprentice-mechanic-insurance-status

For his own sake he should question the insurance further. Unless the dealer principal confirms it - it's not true.

Garages seldom insure first years,never mind ones without a licence.

He has no reason to test drive cars,he has no experience of fault finding & allowing him to do so means bringing a qualified mechanic with him-service manager /foreman must be sleeping to allow it :)

Don't think I'd be too happy seeing someone that can't drive testing my car.

Other than that I wish him well,it's not an easy job anymore & not the best paying trade either.

Dirty Nails

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118213295#Comment_118213295

I don't know about garages supplying PPE - branded overalls maybe. If you turn up in a pair of runners you should be sent home.

Damien360

Cheers folks. He got a nice Halfords advanced tool set in a Black Friday deal. Toolbox is a bit debatable from same crew.

He has met some really helpful friendly people giving him loads of good luck once he mentions what he is doing. Advice from retailers with absolutely no whims about dismissing some of the tools out there including what’s on their shelf and telling him what to look for.

The snap-on guy has turned up at his work and he has been warned not to go into Aladdin’s cave. Some mad prices on that gear regardless of its warranty.

I’ll try find some magnetic L plates. At least that covers him for insurance issues on the road.

Damien360

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118213582#Comment_118213582

He has 100% been told he is on the garage insurance. Not sure if that normally extends from the forecourt to the road.

Dirty Nails

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118213647#Comment_118213647

So long as it's not from some bucko on the floor. Common misperception - ahh garage insurance - everyone & their grannies are covered

Hellrazer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118213582#Comment_118213582

I have to agree - none of my apprentices are insured to drive customers cars. Our insurance policy is 25+ and a full licence for at least 2 years after getting it - ie no N plates allowed.

I find it very hard to believe that hes insured with only a learner permit...Id actually go as far as saying he needs to get the name of the insurance company and call them himself as if he was stopped at a checkpoint without insurance his future policies could be severely affected - he could even get a driving ban which would only kick in when he got his full licence.

Regarding the tools - he shouldnt even be working on a car until at least year 2 - none of mine are even allowed take a spanner to a car until at least a year in - they arent capable of working on a customers car and it could cost the dealer a lot of money if they messed up ie leave wheel nuts loose, a brake caliper bolt etc - tell him to forget about the tools and learn the trade first with a good qualified mechanic by just watching what they do.

But do make sure that insurance issue is addressed tomorrow and not leave it until he is stopped.

Trust me on this one. In 27 years Ive never seen a policy cover a learner driver in a garages or customers car.

Del2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118213606#Comment_118213606

PPE is more than overalls and boots.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118214061#Comment_118214061

You do not teach them anything if you do not let them sink or swim. I understand if you are big boss, but that is humiliation! Better fire them, than that crappy education. Almost every garage have older and cheaper customer vehicles where to practice. Sure they must have respect about customer and customer vehicle. But no touching policy, really f... that. That is why Irish car owners complain about bad mechanics, bad service etc. No wonder why....not allowed to touch customer vehicle... You really think 2 years watching teach to them something?

Hellrazer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118214114#Comment_118214114

Thats your opinion but its how most dealers do it over here and its not 2 years - Its after their first year.

Ive heard of so many stories where an apprentice has worked on a car only to have something fail. Also most manufacturers insist on warranty work being carried out by qualified staff. If you have the Garda contract the same is true.

PsychoPete

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118214061#Comment_118214061

We had an apprentice who was there a week and he was doing test drives, full services, 6 months later he was doing timing belts. If anything broke or made a balls of something another mechanic would cover up for him. It was absolute madness!

bucketybuck

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118214061#Comment_118214061

25+ is the same for our insurance policy. We can request to add younger lads to it, with an increase in cost of course.

A first year apprentice who doesn't even have a full license yet? If he is covered by insurance I will eat my hat.

The owner might be saying he is covered, but it wouldn't be the first workshop manager just ploughing on and worrying about the details later...

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118214266#Comment_118214266

Ok you heard stories about apprentice fails, but I seen by my own eyes how these "qualified" mechanics ruins the cars. You want the story, I tell to you.

It is from W.... garage. One up on time the "qualified" mechanic lift the car engine by floor jack. He did not use anything to spread the load and aluminum oil pan cracks. Ok, need the new oil pan. When he was removing the oil pan, he damages the oil filter housing cooler. Ok, need new oil filter housing cooler. Unnecessary parts and work hours, all caused by "qualified" mechanic. You want more? Ok, I give to you something very common problem - too high torque wheel nuts/bolts. They use impact to tighten the wheel nuts/bolts and make a clicky-click show after that. Only thing what they do not release is the wheel bolts/nuts is already way over torqued. Over torqued wheel bolts/nuts is same dangerous than no torqued bolts/nuts. Actually the wrong torque problem is almost for every parts. The company do not provide the technical specification sheets and "qualified" mechanics never learned to ask it. Yes, you can use common sense and industry standard torque specs. Some manufacturers even mark the torque information (dots, lines or other markers) directly to the bolts/nuts. One of that good manufacturer is Toyota.

And now comes the S...storm... Let it rain, let it rain, rain, rain.....

Dirty Nails

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118214114#Comment_118214114

That's total nonsense. There is a sequence to apprentice training & it's there for a reason.

Dirty Nails

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118214108#Comment_118214108

Opps. My mistake. I forgot about the Vaseline.

PsychoPete

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118214114#Comment_118214114

There's a program for training mechanics for a reason. Would you let an untrained electrician wire your house? Let an untrained dentist pull a tooth?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118218938#Comment_118218938

I have zero papers but some reason I am the guy who must fix "highly educated" mechanics jobs. It could be much easier to do the job on first time properly, not try to fix somebody bad job. I seriously planning to start roasting these jobs and companies because enough is enough. Can not directly but trough the flowers can show everything. That watching and moping the floors does not teach to them anything. The apprentice should make everything from the first day and supervisor should teach and check the progress. Watching... my a.s... That is the way how you make a mor.ns. I have nothing against you or anyone else, until the job is done properly.