How To Become An Auto Inspector: What It Is and Career Path

What is an auto inspector and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

The government can't just let any vehicle out on the road. A jalopy that's falling apart on the highway is not only dangerous to the driver but also to other vehicles. That is where an auto inspector comes in. Auto inspectors, sometimes called motor vehicle inspectors, work for dealers or government agencies to make sure that all vehicles on the road meet safety standards.

Auto inspectors help inspect vehicles before they're sold or conduct the mandatory yearly inspections that all drivers need to get in order to stay on the road. They check the car for any issues with its mechanical parts and recommend necessary repairs. They also make sure that drivers have not installed any illegal devices, like exhaust pipes or dark window tints.

It goes without saying that an auto inspector needs to know a lot about cars in order to figure out whether a vehicle is really safe beneath its shiny surface. Many have previous experience as professional drivers or mechanics. On average, auto inspectors earn $52,549 a year.

ScoreAuto InspectorUS Average

Salary

3.4

Avg. Salary $43,511

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity

4.1

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.66%

Asian 7.75%

Black or African American 12.77%

Hispanic or Latino 15.98%

Unknown 7.32%

White 55.51%

Gender

female 22.03%

male 77.97%

Age - 50

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 50

Stress level

8.9

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.4

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

5.3

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become an auto inspector

Explore auto inspector education requirements

Most common auto inspector degrees

High School Diploma

47.6 %

Bachelor's

21.4 %

Diploma

14.3 %

Start to develop specific auto inspector skills

Skills	Percentages
Mechanical Problems	38.33%
Vehicle Inspections	23.64%
Mechanical Issues	15.05%
Applicable Safety	10.39%
Auto Damage	7.06%

Complete relevant auto inspector training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New auto inspectors learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an auto inspector based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real auto inspector resumes.

Research auto inspector duties and responsibilities

Perform preventive maintenance and complete all repairs on Marta buses by routinely maintaining and upgrading bus parts as they deteriorate.
Inspect certify pre own eligibility vehicles at Toyota and Lexus automotive dealers.
Inspect certify pre own eligibility vehicles at Toyota and Lexus automotive dealers.

Prepare your auto inspector resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your auto inspector resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an auto inspector resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable auto inspector resume templates

Build a professional auto inspector resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your auto inspector resume.