Best Automotive Repair Courses

Automotive repair is one of the most rewarding skills. You can diagnose issues with your vehicle, save money at the shop, and fix issues with your car. While automotive repair is one of the best skills to have, even on a basic level, it’s also hard to learn. It’s not as simple as watching videos or sitting in a classroom because you have to learn by doing. For this reason, we always recommend taking the time to put in the manual work on a car after taking any automotive courses. It’s a hands-on skill and should always be treated as such.

That said, there are tons of great automotive courses you can take online. While you won’t learn everything about cars, you can learn about different parts of your vehicle in different classes. Plus, educating yourself about cars and how they work online is a great place to get started. So, without further ado, we’ll take you through some of the best automotive repair courses available. Then, we’ll break down key concepts and make course recommendations based on your needs.

Orientation

Before we jump into the best automotive repair courses, we need to pump the brakes a little bit. Automobiles are complicated machines, so you need to treat them with care. This is why many courses focus on specific areas of the car. That said, there are some things you can look for in a course to see if it’s a good fit.

Instructor

First and foremost, take a look at who’s instructing the course. You don’t want someone who has never used a wrench before to teach you about cars. Therefore, make sure the instructor has experience modifying vehicles, working on cars, or working in a mechanical setting. This increases the course’s value.

You should also look for instructors that combine their skills with a background in teaching. Learning about engines is complicated, so having an instructor with a teaching background to help you break things down goes a long way. This part isn’t a necessity, but it can make the course easier to understand.

Skill Level

The next thing to focus on is skill level. Cars are hard, but they can also be easy; it depends on what you’re repairing. For this reason, we have broken down each course into one of three skill categories: beginner, intermediate, and advanced.

Beginner

Beginner-level courses are simple and easy to understand. These courses will also be more general than advanced courses because they don’t get too specific: with specificity comes complexity. For this reason, most beginner courses focus on a few simple topics and some of the most common automotive repairs like oil changes, brakes, fluid flushes, bleeding brakes, air intake cleaning, and more.

Intermediate

Intermediate-level courses take things to the next level. These courses get more specific and focus on many other variables like valves, gaskets, intake manifolds, and other important engine components. Intermediate courses will also focus on electrical components and show you how internal combustion engines work.

Advanced

Advanced-level courses contain challenging information, but they give you the most knowledge. These courses focus on advanced topics, like transmissions or electric cars, and spend a lot of time on other specific areas of the engine. Advanced courses are made for people with a background in automotive repair.

While there are three skill levels, you can start wherever you feel comfortable. That said, you might not get a lot of value from advanced courses if you have to spend hours on them.

Topic

Automotive repair contains dozens of topics. There are about as many topics as there are parts of the motor. For this reason, each course on our list gets assigned a main topic to help you know what kind of information it contains.

Some common topics include:

  • Basic maintenance
  • Oil changes
  • Electrical areas
  • Transmissions
  • Brakes
  • Bodywork

These are only a few examples, and there are many more. So, make sure you pick a course that’s relevant to your needs and the topic you’re interested in.

Price

When you’re shopping for courses online, you’ll notice some interesting differences in price. Platforms like SkillShare and LinkedIn Learning focus on monthly subscriptions, while websites like Udemy charge you once for each class, but you get lifetime access. Ultimately, the platform you choose depends on what you’re looking to get out of your automotive education.

For example, say someone wants to learn about the entire car. In this case, it makes sense to use an option like SkillShare or LinkedIn Learning because you’ll have access to multiple courses for the monthly cost of $19.99 (SkillShare) or $29.99 (LinkedIn Learning).

Another example: someone just wants to learn the basics in one course. In this case, using Udemy to pay a one-time fee of $15.99 (as an example) is the better alternative. Therefore, make sure you choose a course based on your budget and educational needs.

Course Breakdown

Now that you know what to look for, read on to learn about the seven best online automotive courses.

Top 7 Best Automotive Repair Courses 2023


1. Best for Overall Basics: Automotive 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Automotive Repair

  • 3 hours $29.99 Our rating  
  • Course Highlights
  • Instructor: Scott Greene
  • Skill Level: Beginner
  • Topic: Basic repairs

Why we like it

This course is our favorite because it gives you a general breakdown that helps beginners get started. Instead of one specific area, you’ll learn about the crucial components spread out around your vehicle.

Automotive 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Automotive Repair is a straightforward automobile course. The course is taught by an instructor with decades of experience, and they know how to manage each part of the vehicle. You’ll learn about where things are, the tools you need, how long repairs take, and how to finish your work properly.

This course also teaches you about basic engine maintenance and how you must monitor and manage your fluid levels. The course goes over coolant, oil, brake fluid, transmission fluid, and other fluids you’ll need. Overall, it’s a comprehensive course designed to get you started.

What Sets It Apart

Automotive 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Automotive Repair is unique because it covers almost everything you need to get started. Moreover, it’s affordable and comes with a solid amount of content. While it’s not perfect, the combination of good value and good content makes it one of the best places to start your automotive learning journey.

Things to Consider

While this course is good, it has a few flaws. The primary one is that it doesn’t cover intermediate or advanced concepts. For example, the course comes up short when it comes to electronics, fuel systems, and the drivetrain.

If you’re looking for a course that goes more in-depth in these areas, [ANCHOR #Car Repair – Auto Repair & Tuning]Car Repair – Auto Repair & Tuning[END ANCHOR] is a great choice. It has 7 hours of lecture content, additional downloads for you to look at, and it covers more information in general.

Who It’s For

If you’re looking to see if automotive repair is right for you, this course is a great choice. While it only covers the basics, it will give you an idea of whether you should pursue the field. It’s also a great course for average vehicle owners to sit through because you’ll be able to maintain your car and diagnose simple issues. Plus, who doesn’t want to save money on an oil change?

Pros

  • Covers almost all the basic concepts
  • Inexpensive
  • Great for beginners
  • Also covers engine and vehicle maintenance

Cons

  • Doesn’t go in-depth or address intermediate/advanced concepts


2. Best for Transmission: The Automatic Transmission

  • 3.5 hours $34.99 Our rating  
  • Course Highlights
  • Instructor: Scott Greene
  • Skill Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
  • Topic: Transmissions

Why we like it

We love The Automatic Transmission because it mixes engineering with vehicle repair. When people think of a car needing repairs, they almost always think it’s the engine. But what about when it’s not?

The Automatic Transmission is a simple course that teaches you about the car’s transmission. The car’s transmission is responsible for changing gears and transferring power from the engine to the drive train. This makes it one of the most important components of your vehicle, and most courses fail to cover this crucial part. If your transmission fails, it can be as bad as your motor failing.

This course also teaches you about most parts related to the transmission. You’ll learn about its fluid, the harness, the gears, and how the internal components work together. Moreover, the course shows you how to take apart most automatic transmissions found in cars today.

What Sets It Apart

This course is unique because of its dedication to transmission education. Instead of focusing on the engine, as most courses do, it focuses on the transmission – how it works, its parts, and how to repair one. For online courses, it’s hard to find a better one for your transmission.

Things to Consider

The Automatic Transmission is a good course for your transmission, but that’s about it. While it does have some content about other parts of the car, it only focuses on repairing the transmission. If you don’t need your transmission fixed, you should consider a more general alternative.

Who It’s For

If you’re looking into transmission repair, this course is a great choice. It will take you through the process from start to finish and works for most automatic cars. The course is also great for experienced mechanics that aren’t too familiar with transmission components. This makes it a more intermediate and advanced-friendly course.

Pros

  • Excellent for covering the transmission
  • Excellent value
  • Taught by a transmission professional

Cons

  • Only focuses on one part of the car


3. Best for Maintenance: Maintenance Anyone Can Do

  • 3 hours $24.99 Our rating  
  • Course Highlights
  • Instructor: Barry Bertollini
  • Skill Level: Beginner
  • Topic: Maintenance

Why we like it

We love this course because it shows you how to prevent mechanical problems from occurring. Learning basic engine maintenance is the first step in learning automotive repair.

Taking care of your car is the best way to prevent damage and the need to repair it. While this is the case, most schools don’t teach you basic automotive maintenance, which leaves many people clueless. The good news is that courses like this were made for this exact reason. The course is designed to help you with engine maintenance and takes you through the basics.

In the course, you’ll learn about oil levels, how to change oil, fluid levels, changing brakes, brake wear, and more. For engine maintenance, no course comes close to the content and value that this course adds. In fact, it shows you how to diagnose issues, change tires, and make small repairs at home.

What Sets It Apart

Maintenance Anyone Can Do is a unique course because it focuses on maintenance. Therefore, it’s a course designed to show you how to prevent the need to repair a vehicle. While all engines will malfunction eventually, a course like this can save you money and boost the lifespan of your vehicle.

Things to Consider

Maintenance Anyone Can Do is a good course, but it only teaches you the basics. It’s not the best course for automotive repair aside from showing you how to perform small and simple tasks. Maintenance Anyone Can Do is also very general and doesn’t focus on any specific topics.

If you’re looking for a more automotive repair-focused course, Automotive 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Automotive Repair is a great choice. While it also teaches you about maintaining your engine, it also takes things further and teaches you how to make repairs.

Who It’s For

This is a solid course for people that want to be more proactive with maintenance. If you don’t want to pursue a career in automotive repair or just want your vehicle to last longer, this course is one of the best options. You won’t be bored with what you learn, and you can apply the knowledge almost instantly.

Pros

  • Focuses on engine maintenance
  • Covers a wide variety of topics
  • Good value
  • Can help you diagnose issues

Cons

  • Fails to show you about more advanced automotive repairs


4. Best for Electrical Systems: Do It Yourself: Automotive Electrical Diagnosis

  • 2 hours $49.99 Our rating  
  • Course Highlights
  • Instructor: Steven Liguori
  • Skill Level: Intermediate, Advanced
  • Topic: Electrical systems

Why we like it

Do it Yourself: Automotive Electrical Diagnosis is one of our top choices because it teaches you how to handle electrical problems. Unfortunately, this is one of the most under-taught areas of automotive repair.

Many people end up seeing the ‘check engine’ light on the car because of a simple electrical problem. When this happens and the engine is running well, it can be stressful and difficult to diagnose the issue. This is where this course comes in. It is made for people who want to learn more about a car’s electrical system and how to repair it.

Do it Yourself: Automotive Electrical Diagnosis covers most of the car’s electrical system and even comes with schematics for you to look at. The course covers most of what you need to know, and it’s good value for what it teaches. By the end of the course, you’ll know what to do when you look at your fuse box next time.

What Sets It Apart

This course is unique because of how it’s structured. First and foremost, it comes with schematics that most courses don’t come with. Moreover, it’s one of the few courses that teaches you about a car’s electrical system. Overall, it’s one of the best courses you can take for electrical problems, diagnosis, and repairs.

Things to Consider

Do it Yourself: Automotive Electrical Diagnosis is a solid course, but it’s not perfect. One of the biggest problems is that it gives you a general assessment of the car’s electrical system, and that’s it. You won’t learn about other automotive repair topics, which makes it a limited course. Plus, it doesn’t get too in-depth.

Who It’s For

This course is a great choice if you’re looking to work on your car’s electrical problems. While it doesn’t cover the rest of the car, it does show you how to diagnose and repair electrical issues. This course is also a good fit for mechanics that want to expand their electrical knowledge.

Pros

  • Focuses on the car’s electrical system
  • Good for working mechanics
  • Comes with intermediate and advanced information

Cons

  • Only focuses on the car’s electrical system


5. Best for Starting Systems: Automotive Starting System Operation and Design Schematics

  • 1.5 hours $29.99 Our rating  
  • Course Highlights
  • Instructor: Steven Liguori
  • Skill Level: Intermediate
  • Topic: Starter and electrical system

Why we like it

When a car fails to start, it’s one of the worst feelings ever. This is why we love this course – it shows you everything you need to know about the starting system.

Automotive Starting System Operation and Design Schematics is a simple course that focuses specifically on the starter system of your vehicle. The course follows the process of starting from turning the key to the spark plug to the fuel injectors and more. It’s one of the few courses that focuses on starting systems and does a good job covering the topics.

This course also comes with advanced schematics that give you a visual representation of how the system works. This is great for people who are just starting out and who are not familiar with the system. Overall, it’s one of the few courses that focuses on issues with the starting system of your vehicle. Some more topics you’ll learn about are how it sparks, what the cranking sound is, how to avoid flooding your engine, and how to repair small issues.

What Sets It Apart

This course is unique because it comes with schematics of the starter system and shows you how it functions from start to finish. Moreover, it shows you how to be comfortable working on electrical systems in your vehicle. This makes it the best course for starters.

Things to Consider

While this is a great course, it has a few flaws, especially when it comes to the cost. You don’t get that much content, and it is expensive compared to other courses. The next thing to note is that it only focuses on part of your car’s electrical system.

If you’re looking for a course that focuses more on the entire electrical system, Do it Yourself: Automotive Electrical Diagnosis is a great choice. It comes with everything you need to start with your car’s electrical system, and it covers the starter.

Who It’s For

If you’re having starter problems or want to brush up on how your vehicle’s starter works, this course is the best option. The detailed schematics make it easy to learn the system, and the lecture content is informative and easy to understand. That said, we still recommend this course for more intermediate and advanced students.

Pros

  • Focuses on the starting system
  • Comes with schematics
  • Good for more advanced learners

Cons

  • Doesn’t focus on the entire electrical system


6. Best for Automotive Engineering: Introduction to Automotive Engineering

  • 5 hours $34.99 Our rating  
  • Course Highlights
  • Instructor: Mufaddal Rasheed
  • Skill Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
  • Topic: Engineering

Why we like it

This is one of our favorite courses because it focuses on the engineering side of cars. If you’re interested in learning why things work the way they do, this is the course for you.

Introduction to Automotive Engineering is an interesting course that teaches you how to understand the engineering aspects of automobiles. The course also teaches you about finer things like ABS braking, fuel economy, handling, and more. Overall, the course will leave you with a good range of knowledge for vehicle performance and optimum function.

This course also teaches you about automotive durability and how to make parts last longer. This is great for prevention because you won’t have to be at the shop as often if you know more about your vehicle.

What Sets It Apart

This course is unique because it focuses on the engineering aspect of cars. This is an area that many courses fail to address. The course also shows you how things work and why they might break, so it’s not bad for automotive incident prevention.

Things to Consider

While Introduction to Automotive Engineering is a great course, it doesn’t focus on the repair parts of cars. It works well for people who want to focus on the engineering parts of automotive repair, but it fails to teach anything about fixing cars. While you can learn what an issue is from the course, it won’t show you how to solve the issue.

If you’re looking for a course that focuses more on basic automotive repair, Automotive 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Automotive Repair is a great choice. It covers the basics well and sets you up with rudimentary repair skills.

Who It’s For

If you want to work on cars to boost their performance and enhance their bodies, this course is a great choice. While it doesn’t focus on repairing the vehicle, it shows you how it works, how to improve things, and why things fail when they do. If you’re someone with more of an engineering mindset, this course is a great option.

Pros

  • Focuses on the how and why of auto repair
  • Great for all skill levels
  • Great value

Cons

  • Doesn’t teach you how to fix anything


7. Best for Beginners: Internal Combustion Engine Basics

  • 1 hour, 45 minutes $19.99 Our rating  
  • Course Highlights
  • Instructor: saVRee
  • Skill Level: Beginner, Intermediate
  • Topic: Engineering

Why we like it

We’re big fans of this course because it gives you a general understanding of how an engine works. How are you going to repair an engine if you don’t know how it works?

This course focuses on the basics of internal combustion engines. While the course does not focus on repairing the engine, it’s a great place for beginners to start. This is because the course teaches you everything you need to know about engines and why they act the way they do. This is useful when it comes time to work on them.

The course will teach you about the strokes of engines, why it needs fluids, how power is made, where power gets transferred to, and more. Overall, it’s one of the most comprehensive online courses for covering the entire engine. The course also approaches the topic from an engineering perspective, so it’s great for engineers or people that want to get into automotive engineering.

What Sets It Apart

This course is unique because it shows you what an engine is, how it works, and what you should look for. The course also covers topics that other courses fail to like the difference between petrol and diesel vehicles. This is useful information for anyone who wants to start working on vehicles at some point.

Things to Consider

Internal Combustion Engine Basics is a great course for learning about engines and how they function. That said, the course fails to teach you how to fix an engine. If you’re looking for a course to teach you about automotive repair, any of the other courses we list are a better alternative.

Who It’s For

If you’ve never looked at an engine or attempted to work on one, this course is a great place to start. Learning about how an engine works before you start working on it will improve the experience and shorten the learning curve. That said, it’s not the best choice for people who know the basics and want to repair engines.

Pros

  • Best place to learn about engines online
  • Shows you how an engine works
  • Beginner-friendly
  • Highlights the difference between petrol and diesel

Cons

  • Doesn’t show you how to fix anything


FAQ

Man under the hood of a carAutomotive repair comes with a ton of questions. Below we’ll answer some of the most common ones.

You can 100% learn automotive repair online – even before you touch a car. In fact, we recommend starting online so that you’re prepared when you open the hood. That said, you need to get hands-on experience to maximize your education.

If you want to become a certified mechanic, you need to complete an apprenticeship or take a vocational program. The process tends to take between 2 and 3 years to complete.

Becoming a mechanic is a rewarding and interesting career. People always need mechanics, and the field continues to evolve. Moreover, mechanics can make good money – well over six figures after enough time has been spent in the field.



Extra Credit

Woman fixing a car in an auto body shop

Having the best automotive repair course in front of you is a great place to start. While that’s the case, it doesn’t always narrow down your options. If you’re not sure what course you need or even what your needs are, you’re in the right place. Below we’ll take you through some situations and make recommendations along the way.

Getting Started

Getting ready to start repairing cars is easier said than done. There is a lot of information to learn, and a lot of it comes with experience. This is why it takes a long time to become a mechanic. Furthermore, connecting symptoms to causes is even more challenging. Still, if you want to work on cars and trucks, you have to start somewhere.

One of our favorite choices for starting out is Automotive 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Automotive Repair. It’s a simple course that shows you how to make simple repairs. The course also shows you how to manage engine maintenance and work on methods to prevent damage.

Another great course is Internal Combustion Engine Basics. We love this course for beginners because it’s one of the few courses that shows you how an engine works. If you don’t know how an engine works, diagnosing and fixing one is almost impossible.

If you’re just getting started, these beginner-level courses have what you need to get started.

Getting the Most Value

When it comes to fixing cars, value is everything. If you’re just getting started, learning the most you can is always a good choice. The more you know, the better you’ll be able to apply it to hands-on experience. That said, courses that offer the most value will cost some extra money.

For value, our favorite choice is The Automatic Transmission. While the course focuses mainly on the car’s transmission, it provides really good value for money. With over 3.5 hours dedicated to this part of the car, it leaves you with a foundation of knowledge you can take with you when it comes to knowing about the transmission.

Understanding Proper Maintenance

Maintaining your vehicle is the best way to prevent it from breaking down. To do so, you’ll have to learn about oil, fluids, and normal wear and tear. The good news is that maintenance is one of the best things to learn online because it doesn’t require a high level of skill. Instead, all you need is a commitment to your vehicle.

Our favorite choice for maintenance is Car Maintenance Anyone Can Do. It’s the perfect maintenance course for beginners and covers everything you need to know. This includes brakes, oil changes, transmission fluid, coolant, and more.

Dealing With Electrical Systems

Electrical systems are the most complicated part of your vehicle. This is because they connect to a computer (ECU), which handles temperature readings, performance, valve timing, and more. For this reason, electrical systems require a more advanced touch unless you’re working with the fuse box.

The good news is that Do it Yourself: Automotive Electrical Diagnosis is a great course to start with for electrical issues. It will show you what to look for, with visuals, and how to diagnose simple issues.

Automotive Engineering

If you want to repair cars, it helps to understand engineering. This can help you get a better grip on what engines do, why they break, and how well they perform. Furthermore, automotive engineering can help you maintain your vehicle and spot issues before they start. It’s always good to know how things work before you put a wrench to them.

If you’re looking for a great course to help with engineering, Introduction to Automotive Engineering is a great choice. It covers the engine, suspension, handling, and other aspects of automotive engineering.

Let’s Get Fixin’

With these online automotive repair courses, you’ll learn how to handle basic and even complicated, automotive repairs. There are many choices and many topics to learn, so we always recommend shopping based on your needs. In fact, you can always leverage a combination of automotive repair courses to learn as much as possible. When it comes to cars and how they work, more often than not, it’s going to take more than one course.

We also recommend getting some hands-on experience. When working on cars, things don’t always work like a cookie cutter. For example, a bolt can get stuck, or you might be missing a tool. This is why you have to learn on the computer and also get those hands greasy and under the hood.