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Installation & Repair · Updated Aug 2026

Automotive Body and Related Repairers

Repair and refinish automotive vehicle bodies and straighten vehicle frames.

JVS 2.0.0-phase4b
AI Exposure
36/100
Low

How much of this occupation’s work can be materially affected by current AI systems.

Replacement Risk
38/100
Low

How likely exposure is to translate into reduced human demand.

Includes provisional estimates for AI adoption pressure and labour-market resilience. How this is measured

Evidence quality
Confidence81/100
Task coverage85%

Confidence reflects task coverage, mapping and capability-evidence quality, and how much of the score rests on provisional inputs.

Task-level evidence

What is driving the score?

Occupation scores are built from the task mix—not a single prediction about a job title.

JVS 2.0.0-phase4b
TaskImportanceAI impactExposure
Sand body areas to be painted and cover bumpers, windows, and trim with masking tape or paper to protect them from the paint.High
68
Follow supervisors' instructions as to which parts to restore or replace and how much time the job should take.High
69
Fill small dents that cannot be worked out with plastic or solder.High
69
Mix polyester resins and hardeners to be used in restoring damaged areas.High
69
Fit and secure windows, vinyl roofs, and metal trim to vehicle bodies, using caulking guns, adhesive brushes, and mallets.High
69
Review damage reports, prepare or review repair cost estimates, and plan work to be performed.High
50
Chain or clamp frames and sections to alignment machines that use hydraulic pressure to align damaged components.High
66
File, grind, sand, and smooth filled or repaired surfaces, using power tools and hand tools.High
23
Inspect repaired vehicles for proper functioning, completion of work, dimensional accuracy, and overall appearance of paint job, and test-drive vehicles to ensure proper alignment and handling.High
23
Fit and weld replacement parts into place, using wrenches and welding equipment, and grind down welds to smooth them, using power grinders and other tools.High
21
Remove upholstery, accessories, electrical window-and-seat-operating equipment, and trim to gain access to vehicle bodies and fenders.High
23
Prime and paint repaired surfaces, using paint sprayguns and motorized sanders.High
17
Position dolly blocks against surfaces of dented areas and beat opposite surfaces to remove dents, using hammers.High
17
Cut and tape plastic separating film to outside repair areas to avoid damaging surrounding surfaces during repair procedure and remove tape and wash surfaces after repairs are complete.High
16
Remove small pits and dimples in body metal, using pick hammers and punches.High
17
Remove damaged sections of vehicles using metal-cutting guns, air grinders and wrenches, and install replacement parts using wrenches or welding equipment.High
17
Remove damaged panels, and identify the family and properties of the plastic used on a vehicle.Medium
17
Clean work areas, using air hoses, to remove damaged material and discarded fiberglass strips used in repair procedures.Medium
16
Apply heat to plastic panels, using hot-air welding guns or immersion in hot water, and press the softened panels back into shape by hand.Medium
15
Most exposed

Where AI can do more

Routine, digitized, and highly repeatable tasks face the greatest pressure.

  1. Follow supervisors' instructions as to which parts to restore or replace and how much time the job should take.69
  2. Fill small dents that cannot be worked out with plastic or solder.69
  3. Mix polyester resins and hardeners to be used in restoring damaged areas.69
  4. Fit and secure windows, vinyl roofs, and metal trim to vehicle bodies, using caulking guns, adhesive brushes, and mallets.69
Hardest to automate

Where people still matter

These tasks score lowest on automation feasibility—physical presence, judgement, accountability and real-world variability all resist end-to-end automation.

  1. Apply heat to plastic panels, using hot-air welding guns or immersion in hot water, and press the softened panels back into shape by hand.01
  2. Cut and tape plastic separating film to outside repair areas to avoid damaging surrounding surfaces during repair procedure and remove tape and wash surfaces after repairs are complete.02
  3. Position dolly blocks against surfaces of dented areas and beat opposite surfaces to remove dents, using hammers.03
  4. Remove small pits and dimples in body metal, using pick hammers and punches.04
  5. Remove damaged sections of vehicles using metal-cutting guns, air grinders and wrenches, and install replacement parts using wrenches or welding equipment.05
Where else this work leads

Related occupations

Occupations O*NET links to this one. Relatedness reflects shared work, not a claim that these roles are safer.

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Beyond AI capability

Adoption and labour-market outlook

Structural factors are kept separate from raw capability so you can see what actually resists automation. Adoption pressure and labour-market resilience are still provisional models—25% of this occupation’s replacement-risk weight rests on them.

Human dependency58
Physical dependency60
Adoption pressure37
Labour-market resilience67
Methodology & sources

O*NET 30.3 occupational data interpreted through the JobsVsAI capability, automation and structural-constraint models.

Confidence81/100
CalculatedAug 21, 2026
Read methodology →