A Day in the Life of a SMART Repair Technician
Ever wondered what it’s really like being on the road as a mobile car repair specialist? At The SMART Repair People, our technicians are out there every day, their vans packed with equipment, fixing everything from scuffed bumpers to damaged alloys – all on your doorstep. Let me introduce you to Chris, one of our South Manchester techs, and walk you through his typical workday.
7:00 AM – Rise and Shine
Chris is an early starter. By 7am, he’s already checking over his mobile workshop – a van kitted out with compressors, spray equipment, and his precious colour-matching system. Coffee in hand, he scrolls through today’s bookings on his phone: a bumper repair in Stockport, an alloy refurb in Altrincham, and a panel respray in Wilmslow. Better get moving.
8:00 AM – First Call: Silver Audi, Stockport
“Morning! Let’s take a look at that bumper, shall we?”
The Audi owner had reversed into a wall, leaving an ugly scrape across the rear bumper. Chris gets straight to work – cleaning, sanding, applying filler to the deeper gouges. After careful preparation, he mixes the exact silver shade using his colour-matching kit.
Two hours later, you’d never know the damage happened. The customer can’t stop grinning as Chris shows her the finished job, saving her a day at the bodyshop and a much bigger bill.
11:00 AM – Wheel Rescue in Altrincham
Next up is a BMW with a kerbed alloy – the front wheel looking sorry for itself after a parking mishap.
Chris jacks up the car, removes the wheel, and gets to work. The damage is pretty typical: gouges along the rim that need reshaping before he can prime and paint. Using his portable heat lamp to cure the finish, he has the wheel looking factory-fresh and back on the car within two hours.
“Bloody hell, that’s impressive,” the owner says, running his hand over the restored wheel. “The dealer wanted nearly three times what you’ve charged.”
1:30 PM – Quick Lunch Break
Chris finds a quiet spot to park up and eat his sandwich. This job isn’t for everyone – you need to enjoy the independence and variety – but he wouldn’t swap it. Between bites, he dictates a few notes about the morning’s jobs into the company app and checks his afternoon schedule.
2:30 PM – The Challenge: Black VW in Wilmslow
The final job is trickier – a black Golf with dents and scratches along the passenger door after being sideswiped in a car park.
Black paint is notoriously fussy to match, especially in changing daylight. Chris takes his time with this one, first using a dent puller to ease out the shallow dents, then meticulously preparing, priming and painting the area. Layer by layer, he builds up the finish and blends it with the surrounding panels.
Three hours later, in the fading afternoon light, he runs his hand over the seamless repair. The customer whistles in appreciation when Chris shows him the result. “That would’ve been in the bodyshop all week,” Chris tells him. “And probably cost three times as much.”
6:00 PM – Home Time
Back at his house, Chris spends twenty minutes cleaning his equipment and restocking supplies in the van. He logs into the company system to upload photos and complete his job reports (thankfully, the admin team handles invoicing and payments). Before calling it a day, he checks tomorrow’s schedule and makes a note to pick up more clear coat from the supplier.
What Makes a Great SMART Technician?
It’s not just about technical skills – though you certainly need those. Our best techs are independent problem-solvers who genuinely enjoy the customer interaction and take real pride in transforming damaged vehicles. They’re the kind of people who get satisfaction from seeing a job through from start to finish, often working alone but feeling part of the wider team.
Why Customers Choose SMART Repairs
SMART (Small to Medium Area Repair Technique) is designed to fix cosmetic damage without the expense and hassle of traditional bodyshops. Most of our repairs take just 2-3 hours, right where your car’s parked.
We handle:
All completed at your convenience – whether that’s home, work, or anywhere in between.
Fancy Joining Our Team?
As we expand across the UK, we’re looking for skilled technicians who want flexibility, good earnings, and more control over their working day. If you’ve got bodywork and painting experience and fancy a new challenge, drop us a line here.
Need a Repair?
Don’t live with that scuffed bumper or scratched door any longer. Book a mobile repair with us and we’ll sort it professionally, quickly and at a fraction of bodyshop prices.
