Vehicle Accident Repair (VRQs) (4291)

Last Updated: 26 Apr 2022
These qualifications are for anyone interested in starting or developing a career in the motor industry in accident repair, whether you want to maintain and repair the paint and bodywork of a vehicle or become a Mechanical and Electrical Trim Technician.
The VRQs in Vehicle Accident Repair are aimed at anyone interested in starting or developing a career in the motor industry. You do not need any previous experience or need to be in a current work placement. Most of the time these qualifications are taught in a college or training provider and learning is by doing rather than writing lots of notes.
Available to deliver in the following:
  • England
  • Wales – please check QiW website for available funding
  • Northern Ireland

Interested in delivering this qualification?

Find out more about how to become an approved City & Guilds centre or fill out our online customer application form. 

General Information

What Is Involved In Studying This Course?
These qualifications are taught in a college or training provider, but it’s not like school: you learn by doing rather than writing lots of notes.

The qualifications combine essential underpinning knowledge with practical learning. Assessment combines practical tasks, oral/written questioning and online tests.

You will develop skills such as how to:

  • Carry Out Minor Repairs to Motor Vehicle Exterior Body Panels
  • Remove and Replace Exterior Motor Vehicle Body Panels Including Permanently Fixed Components
  • Carry Out Vehicle Body Panel Major Repairs 
  • Establish Paint Defects
What Careers Can This Lead To?
On completion of these qualifications you would be able to progress in employment onto the following job roles:

Panel or Paint or Mechanical and Electrical Trim Technician (level 2)

Senior Panel or Paint or Mechanical and Electrical Trim Technician (level 3)

Run your own body workshop.

What Is Involved With Delivering This Course?
To deliver these qualifications you will need suitably qualified staff to carry out training and assessment.

You will also need suitable facilities to carry out the required training to enable learners to achieve industry standards.

For some options you'll need to simulate a workplace where learners can demonstrate skills to diagnose faults and repair vehicles.

For centres already approved to offer the VRQs in Automotive Body and Paint (4101), no further steps are needed.

Automatic approval will be given to offer the VRQs in Vehicle Accident Repair at the same level and area of their current 4101 provision and you will be able to register immediately.

Anyone can take this qualification, but you must make sure all your learners can access the resources they need to complete it.

To find all the resource requirements, download the qualification handbook from the centre documents section to your right. If  you can't see the handbook here, please navigate to the centre documents section under the 'General information' tab at the top of this page. This is where we store the handbooks for qualifications that cover multiple levels. 

Level 1

Level 1 is ideal for those at school or for school leavers considering a career in the automotive industry. It will provide a basic understanding of engineering principles. The qualifications available at this level are:

  • Diploma in Accident Repair Body
  • Diploma in Accident Repair Paint

For a full list of units, download the qualification handbook from the centre documents section.

What Careers Can This Lead To?

These qualifications will give you the knowledge and skills to progress into a variety of roles, including specialist repair or specialist finishing in a car bodywork workshop.

Level 1 Diploma in Accident Repair Body (4291-11)
Last Registration Date: 31 Aug 2026

Level 1 Diploma in Accident Repair Body

  • Accreditation No: 501/1104/8 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: 44 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 375 - 381 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: Data unavailable The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/08/2027 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: £107.00 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.
Level 1 Accident Repair Paint (4291-21)
Last Registration Date: 31 Aug 2026

Level 1 Diploma in Accident Repair Paint

  • Accreditation No: 501/1107/3 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: 44 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 365 - 379 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 440 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/08/2027 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: £100.00 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Level 2

Level 2 will suit you if you are preparing for or just starting out a career in automotive accident repair and looking to gain or develop relevant knowledge and practical skills. The qualifications available at this level are:

  • Diploma in Accident Repair Body Principles
  • Diploma in Accident Repair Paint Principles
  • Diploma in Accident Repair MET Principles

For a full list of units, download the qualification handbook from the centre documents section.

What Careers Can This Lead To?
  • Panel Technician 
  • Paint Technician 
  • Mechanical and Electrical Trim Technician
Level 2 Diploma Accident Repair Body Repair Principles (4291-12)
Last Registration Date: 31 Aug 2026

Level 2 Diploma Accident Repair Body Repair Principles

  • Accreditation No: 501/0016/6 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Technical This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: 81 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 710 - 760 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 810 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/08/2028 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: £107.00 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.
Level 2 Accident Repair Paint Principles (4291-22)
Last Registration Date: 31 Aug 2026

Level 2 Diploma in Accident Repair Paint Principles

  • Accreditation No: 500/9985/1 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Technical This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: 65 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 550 - 600 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 650 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/08/2028 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: £104.00 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.
Level 2 Diploma in Accident Repair MET Principles (4291-32)
Last Registration Date: 31 Aug 2026

Level 2 Diploma in Accident Repair MET Principles

  • Accreditation No: 501/0124/9 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: 52 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 445 - 445 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: Data unavailable The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/08/2028 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: £104.00 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Level 3

Level 3 is ideal if you are looking to build on your existing knowledge of automotive accident repair and further develop your practical skills. The qualifications available at this level are:

  • Diploma in Accident Repair Body Principles
  • Diploma in Accident Repair Paint Principles
  • Diploma in Accident Repair MET Principles

For a full list of units, download the qualification handbook from the centre documents section.

What Careers Can This Lead To?
  • Senior Panel Technician
  • Senior Paint Technician
  • Senior Mechanical and Electrical Trim Technician 
  • Run your own business
Level 3 Diploma in Accident Repair Body Principles (4291-13)
Last Registration Date: 31 Aug 2026

Level 3 Diploma in Accident Repair Body Principles

  • Accreditation No: 501/0618/1 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: 77 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 660 - 710 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 770 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/08/2029 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: £129.00 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.
Level 3 Accident Repair Paint Principles (4291-23)
Last Registration Date: 31 Aug 2026

Level 3 Diploma in Accident Repair Paint Principles

  • Accreditation No: 500/9989/9 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: 83 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 690 - 690 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: Data unavailable The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/08/2029 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: £125.00 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.
Level 3 Diploma in Accident Repair MET Principles (4291-33)
Last Registration Date: 31 Aug 2026

Level 3 Diploma in Accident Repair MET Principles

  • Accreditation No: 501/1106/1 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: 43 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 380 - 380 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 430 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/08/2029 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: £125.00 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Here you can find all documents related to this suite of qualifications.

By clicking on the section headings below, you can access a variety of documents such as the qualification handbooks and assessment materials, Statements of Purpose, and recognition letters from industry and employers.

Some documents may be password protected. Passwords can be retrieved by logging in to Walled Garden and visiting the Administration section of the relevant qualification catalogue page.

Interested in delivering this qualification?

Find out more about how to become an approved City & Guilds centre or fill out our online customer application form. 

4291 Level 1

Assessment materials

Accident repair Body

Accident repair Paint

Centre documents

4291 Level 2

Assessment materials

Accident repair Body

Accident repair MET

Accident repair Paint

Centre documents

4291 Level 3

Assessment materials

Accident repair Body

Accident repair MET

Accident repair Paint

Centre documents

Assessment materials

Body sample questions

Paint sample questions

Centre documents

Purpose and Recognition

16-19

Purpose

Recognition

19 Plus

Purpose

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