Will AI replace Vehicle body builders and repairers?

Not as a job, but it is already doing parts of the work. Across the 50 official task statements scored for Vehicle body builders and repairers (United Kingdom, SOC 5232), 4% of the importance-weighted core work is made of tasks today's AI could already do most of. The overall exposure score is 7 out of 100 (range 6–12, band: minimal). That is a statement about tasks, not about headcount: this measures what AI could do, not whether any employer adopts it, whether the law allows it, or whether doing the routine parts faster creates more demand for the human parts. Figures are from release 2026-q4.1.

Which tasks in “Vehicle body builders and repairers” can AI already do?

The highest-scoring tasks in release 2026-q4.1 are: “Plan work tasks and timelines to meet deadlines” (75/100, high); “Read specifications to determine the desired custom modifications for altering the appearance of vehicles” (64/100, high); “Interpret technical data to ensure correct joining techniques and replacement panels” (56/100, partial). Each score comes from five published 0–4 ratings turned into a number by a published formula, and each carries the model's one-sentence reason on the page.

Which tasks in “Vehicle body builders and repairers” stay human?

About 94% of this job's task weight sits in work that scores low for AI exposure. The lowest-scoring tasks in release 2026-q4.1 are: “Saturate cloth and mats with the resin mixtures using brushes” (0/100, minimal); “Pat or press layers of saturated mat or cloth into place on moulds using brushes or hands” (0/100, minimal); “Measure and mark vinyl material for roof installation, using rulers, straightedges” (0/100, minimal). Low scores usually mean the task needs a body in a room, a legally accountable human, or trust built in real time. Those are the three things the scoring rubric treats as gates rather than obstacles.

What should someone working in “Vehicle body builders and repairers” do about AI?

Start from the ledger rather than the headline: 4% of this job's weighted core work is exposed, and roughly 94% is not. The practical move is to spend more of your week on the tasks that score low, the ones above, and to get fluent at directing AI through the tasks that score high, because those are the parts that change whether or not you are ready for them. This page does not predict your job, and nothing here is career advice tailored to you: the score describes the occupation, not the person.

How is the AI exposure score for Vehicle body builders and repairers calculated?

Each official task statement for the occupation is rated on five published 0–4 dimensions (output replicability, physical embodiment, licensed accountability, real-time human trust, and data availability) by claude-opus-5 using scoring prompt task_scoring_v1.0. The model never writes the score; a published formula turns the five ratings into a 0–100 number, so every score can be recomputed by hand. The occupation figure is the importance-weighted mean across 50 scored tasks. The prompt, the rubric, the formula and the full dataset are published at https://futureproof.collab365.com/method and https://futureproof.collab365.com/data/2026-q4.1 under CC BY 4.0.

UK dataswitch to US

Vehicle body builders and repairers

adhering to health and safety requirements in the workplace, inspecting repairs to transport vehicles or equipment to ensure that repair work was performed properly and aligning wheels. If that's your week, this page is about your job.

The honest answer

AI changes the edges of this job, not the middle: adjusting or aligning headlights is work software can't reach.

Your move: what you can actually do about this ↓

Where the work sits, by task weight

shifting to AI: 4%
changing shape: 2%
staying human: 94%

These bars are tasks changing hands, not people being counted out. The ledger below shows which.

Whole-job exposure score 7 out of 100 (6–12 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, across 50 scored tasks. The number is the support for the sentence above it, not a headline about anyone’s future.

How we know this

What is measured: Every published task statement for vehicle body builders and repairers is rated on five dimensions: can a model produce the output, does the work need a body in a room, does it need a legally accountable person, does it depend on a person being trusted in the moment, and how much data exists. A published formula turns those five ratings into the score; the model never writes the number.

How the bar is built: Each task’s share of the bar is its published importance weight, so a task you do all day counts for more than one you do twice a year.

Release: 2026-q4.1, scores computed 2026-08-04. Read the full method.

What shifts is planning work tasks and timelines to meet deadlines: the overhead at the edges, not the middle you trained for.

Your week, as this page understands it

Vehicle body builders and repairers construct and repair the bodies of road vehicles, and fit interior and exterior fittings to vehicle bodies. The job title says “vehicle body builders” or “repairers”: officially one job, two names. The real job is the part underneath: adjusting or aligning headlights. That is the thing someone has to be right about.

The exposed part of this job is specific, and we won’t pretend it is coming back. But vehicle body builders and repairers is not one task. It is 50 scored ones, and they are nowhere near equally exposed. The most durable of them, on this evidence, is adjusting or aligning headlights, and the ledger below shows exactly why.

Where the work sits, by task weight

shifting to AI: 4%
changing shape: 2%
staying human: 94%

These bars are tasks changing hands, not people being counted out. The ledger below shows which.

How we know this

How the bar is built: Each task’s share of the bar is its published importance weight, so a task you do all day counts for more than one you do twice a year.

Release: 2026-q4.1, scores computed 2026-08-04. Read the full method.

Your job, task by task

These are the official task statements for this occupation, in plain English, sorted by what the evidence says is happening to each one. The official wording sits under every line so you can check the rewrite against it.

14 of this occupation's scored task statements carry a score that was measured under a different occupation's context, because the statement is shared between jobs and has only been scored once so far. Each one names the occupation it was measured under in the free routes below; none is presented as a measurement for this job.
Task clusters are not derived in this release, so the task-cluster field is empty and no Collab365 Space routing is attached to this occupation yet.

Shifting to AI

2 tasks

Tasks today’s tools can already do most of. This is the part we will not soften: where these rows are the bulk of your week, the week changes.

Planning work tasks and timelines to meet deadlines
This is reading one thing and writing another: work tasks in, a record out. That is the shape today's tools are built for.
importance 70 · 5232/00
Source: “Plan work tasks and timelines to meet deadlines.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 75 out of 100 (68–82 allowing for uncertainty): high exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Planning tasks and timelines is well suited to these tools, though realistic dates depend on knowing the team.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 0/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Reading specifications to determine the desired custom modifications for altering the appearance of vehicles
This is reading one thing and writing another: specifications in, a record out. That is the shape today's tools are built for.
importance 70 · 5232/00
Source: “Read specifications to determine the desired custom modifications for altering the appearance of vehicles.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 64 out of 100 (57–71 allowing for uncertainty): high exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Working out what modifications a written specification calls for is reading and interpretation software does well.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 0/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 3/4.

Changing shape

1 task

Tasks where the machine takes the producing and a person keeps the checking, the deciding, or the answering-for-it. For most jobs this is the biggest group, and it is where "transformation, not termination" is literally visible.

Interpreting technical data to ensure correct joining techniques and replacement panels
The software now makes the first pass at technical data, but the deciding part still needs a person. So the job becomes checking and deciding rather than producing.
importance 75 · 5232/00
Source: “Interpret technical data to ensure correct joining techniques and replacement panels.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 56 out of 100 (49–63 allowing for uncertainty): partial exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Looking up the manufacturer's approved repair method is document work software searches and explains quickly.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.

Staying human

47 tasks

Tasks that stay with a person, because they happen in the physical world, because the rules need someone accountable, or because the value is that a specific person does them.

Adhering to health and safety requirements in the workplace
This work happens in the physical world: health, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 90 · 5232/00
Source: “Adhere to health and safety requirements in the workplace.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 10 out of 100 (6–14 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: The rules can be written out, but working safely in a body shop is a person doing it.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Following health and safety regulations in the bodyshop industry
This work happens in the physical world: health, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 90 · 5232/00
Source: “Follow health and safety regulations in the bodyshop industry.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 10 out of 100 (3–17 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Software can set out the rules, but following them safely happens in the bodyshop with tools in your hands.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Adjusting or aligning headlights
This work happens in the physical world: headlights, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 5232/00
Source: “Adjust or align headlights.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Aligning headlights is done at the vehicle with the adjusters.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Applying paint, primer and basecoat to vehicles
This work happens in the physical world: paint, primer and basecoat, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 5232/00
Source: “Apply paint, primer, and basecoat to vehicles.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Spraying a vehicle is skilled physical work in a paint booth.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Filling small dents or scratches with body fillers and smooth surfaces to prepare for painting
This work happens in the physical world: small dents, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 5232/00
Source: “Fill small dents or scratches with body fillers and smooth surfaces to prepare for painting.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Filling and smoothing bodywork is done by hand on the panel.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Filling small holes or rusted areas with filler
This work happens in the physical world: small holes, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 5232/00
Source: “Fill small holes or rusted areas with filler.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Filling rust holes means working directly on the metal.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Fitting and welding replacement parts into place
This work happens in the physical world: replacement parts, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 5232/00
Source: “Fit and weld replacement parts into place, using spanners and welding equipment.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Fitting and welding parts onto a vehicle is hands-on workshop work.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.

Show the other 40 tasks

Investigating and assessing damage to vehicles to plan repair work
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: damage, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 5232/00
Source: “Investigate and assess damage to vehicles to plan repair work.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 38 out of 100 (31–45 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Estimating systems already draft repair plans from damage photos, though someone must still look over the vehicle.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Assessing hard structures for damage and determining repair requirements
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: hard structures, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 5232/00
Source: “Assess hard structures for damage and determine repair requirements.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 29 out of 100 (22–36 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Photos and manufacturer data help judge damage, but a proper assessment still needs someone measuring the vehicle.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Identifying the family and properties of the plastic used on a vehicle
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: the family and properties of the plastic, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 5232/00
Source: “Identify the family and properties of the plastic used on a vehicle.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 29 out of 100 (22–36 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Marking codes and reference charts make identification easy, but someone has to find and read the marking on the part.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Deciding on the best methods to repair damage
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: the best methods, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 5232/00
Source: “Decide on the best methods to repair damage.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 25 out of 100 (18–32 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: mistakes that are cheap to catch; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Choosing a repair method depends on handling the object and on experience that is rarely written down.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Inspecting repairs to transport vehicles or equipment to ensure that repair work was performed properly
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: repairs, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 5232/00
Source: “Inspect repairs to transport vehicles or equipment to ensure that repair work was performed properly.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 18 out of 100 (14–22 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Checking repair quality means examining the finished vehicle, with the insurer's approval handled separately.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Diagnosing and rectifying basic vehicle electrical faults
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: basic vehicle electrical faults, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 5232/00
Source: “Diagnose and rectify basic vehicle electrical faults.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 14 out of 100 (7–21 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Finding the fault is partly desk work, but putting it right happens at the vehicle.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Identifying and rectifying paint or preparation defects
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: paint, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 75 · 5232/00
Source: “Identify and rectify paint or preparation defects.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 8 out of 100 (1–15 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Spotting a paint fault can be helped by cameras, but putting it right means sanding and respraying.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Completing job within the time frame specified by supervisors
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: job within the time frame, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 5232/00
Source: “Complete job within the time frame specified by supervisors.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 7 out of 100 (0–14 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Scheduling can be planned automatically, but finishing the repair on time still depends on someone doing the physical work.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Grinding, sanding and smooth filled or repaired surfaces using power tools and hand tools
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: smooth, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 5232/00
Source: “Grind, sand, and smooth filled or repaired surfaces using power tools and hand tools.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Grinding and sanding a repair is physical work with power tools.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Manufacturing body panels and sections
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: body panels, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 5232/00
Source: “Manufacture body panels and sections.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Making panels and sections means forming metal by hand and machine.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Removing all damaged and associated components from a vehicle
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: all damaged and associated components, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 5232/00
Source: “Remove all damaged and associated components from a vehicle.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Stripping damaged parts off a vehicle is manual work.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Removing and refiting all types of vehicle body panels and trimming components
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: all types of vehicle body panels, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 5232/00
Source: “Remove and refit all types of vehicle body panels and trim components.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Taking panels and trim off and putting them back on is done by hand at the vehicle.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Removing, repairing and replacing structural body panels
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: structural body panels, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 5232/00
Source: “Remove, repair, and replace structural body panels.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Structural panel work means cutting, fitting and welding on the car itself.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Repairing vehicle body panels using the appropriate joining techniques and tools
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: vehicle body panels, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 85 · 5232/00
Source: “Repair vehicle body panels using the appropriate joining techniques and tools.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Repairing panels is skilled physical work with welding and bonding tools.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Aligning wheels
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: wheels, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 5232/00
Source: “Align wheels.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Truing a wheel is delicate hands-on work with a spoke wrench.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Chaining frames and sections to alignment machines to align damaged components
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: frames, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 5232/00
Source: “Chain frames and sections to alignment machines to align damaged components.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Chaining a vehicle onto an alignment jig is heavy manual work.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Fitting and securing windows, vinyl roofs and metal trim to vehicle bodies
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: windows, vinyl roofs and metal trim, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 5232/00
Source: “Fit and secure windows, vinyl roofs, and metal trim to vehicle bodies, using caulking guns, adhesive brushes, and mallets.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Fitting glass, roofs and trim is done by hand with adhesives and tools.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Grinding down welds to smooth them
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: welds, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 5232/00
Source: “Grind down welds to smooth them, using power grinders and other tools.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Smoothing welds requires a grinder held against the metal.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Preparing and refinishing metal, plastic and pre-painted surfaces
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: metal, plastic and pre-painted surfaces, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 5232/00
Source: “Prepare and refinish metal, plastic, and pre-painted surfaces.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Preparing and refinishing surfaces is hands-on preparation and spraying.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Refinishing repaired surfaces to match the appearance of surrounding areas
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: repaired surfaces, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 5232/00
Source: “Refinish repaired surfaces to match the appearance of surrounding areas.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Matching a repair to the surrounding paint is skilled work done at the vehicle.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Removing damaged panels from vehicles for repair
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: damaged panels, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 5232/00
Source: “Remove damaged panels from vehicles for repair.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Taking damaged panels off is physical stripping work.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Replacing damaged glass components on vehicle bodies
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: damaged glass components, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 5232/00
Source: “Replace damaged glass components on vehicle bodies.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Removing and fitting vehicle glass is done by hand.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Smoothing out minor dents in panels
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: minor dents, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 80 · 5232/00
Source: “Smooth out minor dents in panels.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Working small dents out of a panel is done by hand with tools.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Carrying out quality checks on component parts and completed assemblies
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: quality checks, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 75 · 5232/00
Source: “Carry out quality checks on component parts and completed assemblies.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Checking parts and finished assemblies means handling them and measuring them by hand.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Covering surfaces with dust sheets or masking tape and paper to protect during painting
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: surfaces, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 75 · 5232/00
Source: “Cover surfaces with dust sheets or masking tape and paper to protect during painting.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Masking up and laying protective sheets is entirely hands-on work in the room.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Positioning dolly blocks against surfaces of dented areas and beat opposite surfaces to remove dents
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: blocks against surfaces of dented areas, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 75 · 5232/00
Source: “Position dolly blocks against surfaces of dented areas and beat opposite surfaces to remove dents, using hammers.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Beating out dents with hammers and dollies is pure hand skill.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Priming repaired surfaces using paint spray guns
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: repaired surfaces, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 75 · 5232/00
Source: “Prime repaired surfaces using paint spray guns.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Priming a repair means holding a spray gun to the panel.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Removing small pits and dimples in body metal
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: small pits, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 75 · 5232/00
Source: “Remove small pits and dimples in body metal, using pick hammers and punches.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Working out small pits with pick hammers is delicate hand work.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Sanding down areas in preparation for painting and decorating
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: areas, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 75 · 5232/00
Source: “Sand down areas in preparation for painting and decorating.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Sanding a surface smooth before decorating is manual work.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Testdriving vehicles to ensure proper alignment and handling
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: vehicles, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 75 · 5232/00
Source: “Test-drive vehicles to ensure proper alignment and handling.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Test-driving a vehicle to feel how it handles means someone behind the wheel.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Cutting and taping plastic separating film to repair areas to protect surrounding surfaces
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: plastic separating film, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 5232/00
Source: “Cut and tape plastic separating film to repair areas to protect surrounding surfaces.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Masking a repair area is done by hand around the panel.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Making repairs to peripheral equipment
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: repairs, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 5232/00
Source: “Make repairs to peripheral equipment, including replacement of defective parts.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Repairing equipment and swapping defective parts is physical work.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Mixing polyester resins and hardeners for use in restoring damaged areas
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: polyester resins, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 5232/00
Source: “Mix polyester resins and hardeners for use in restoring damaged areas.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Mixing resins and hardeners is done by hand at the bench.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Removing excess materials or impurities from objects
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: excess materials, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 5232/00
Source: “Remove excess materials or impurities from objects, using air hoses or grinding machines.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Cleaning up parts with air lines or grinders is hands-on work.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Removing tape and washing surfaces after repair completion
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: tape, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 5232/00
Source: “Remove tape and wash surfaces after repair completion.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Unmasking and washing down a finished repair is manual work.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Removing upholstery and accessories to gain access to vehicle bodies and wings
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: upholstery, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 70 · 5232/00
Source: “Remove upholstery and accessories to gain access to vehicle bodies and wings.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Stripping out trim to reach the bodywork is physical work.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Cutting openings in vehicle bodies for customised windows using templates and chisels
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: openings, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 60 · 5232/00
Source: “Cut openings in vehicle bodies for customised windows using templates and chisels.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Cutting openings in a vehicle body is done by hand with templates and tools.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Measuring and marking vinyl material for roof installation
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: vinyl material, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 60 · 5232/00
Source: “Measure and mark vinyl material for roof installation, using rulers, straightedges.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Measuring and marking material for a roof is done at the bench by hand.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Patting or pressing layers of saturated mat or cloth into place on moulds using brushes or hands
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: layers of saturated mat, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 60 · 5232/00
Source: “Pat or press layers of saturated mat or cloth into place on moulds using brushes or hands.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Laying wet mat into a mould is done with brushes and hands.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Saturating cloth and mats with the resin mixtures using brushes
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: cloth, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 60 · 5232/00
Source: “Saturate cloth and mats with the resin mixtures using brushes.” (UK task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Wetting out cloth and mat with resin is manual workshop work.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.

What this job pays, and how many people do it

Median pay: £35,000a year, before tax, the middle of the range, so half earn more and half earn less.ashe-t14, 2025 · ASHE 2025 provisional (reference April 2025)Provisional, because the ONS revises this figure in the autumn.
How we know this
Source: ashe-t14
Reference period: ASHE 2025 provisional (reference April 2025)
Rounding: Shown to the nearest £100. The exact published figure is in the downloadable dataset. We do not render pounds the survey cannot support.
People doing this job: 22,700in the UK, 2026.nomis-aps · Apr 2025-Mar 2026 (latest APS 12-month period)This headcount comes from a survey, not a census, so treat it as a good estimate rather than an exact count.

What is deliberately not here: a forecast of how many of these jobs exist in ten years. Where an official projection exists for a market we publish it with its vintage; where it does not, we leave the space empty rather than borrow the other country’s number.

Why this is shifting

The reason is boringly specific. Most of what is shifting here is reading one thing and writing another: work tasks in, a record out. The rows above are exactly that shape: planning work tasks and timelines to meet deadlines and reading specifications to determine the desired custom modifications for altering the appearance of vehicles. What it cannot do is be there in the room, and that is still where headlights get done. Which is why this page talks about your tasks changing, not your job ending.

Your move

Over a pint: what I’d tell you if you were my friend

Start with what does not change: adjusting or aligning headlights is the middle of this job, and the evidence on this page says it stays with a person.

So, given all that: 4% of this job's task weight sits in rows the software is already learning, 2% in rows that change shape rather than disappear, and 94% in rows it is nowhere near. That is the position, measured across 50 scored tasks. It is not a forecast about you.

So the thing worth your attention is not the job going away. It is the layer around it. Planning work tasks and timelines to meet deadlines is the part turning into software, and being the person who understands that layer is worth money.

This week: one thing

Ask the one question. Find whoever is bringing new software into your workplace (the manager, the office, whoever runs the system) and ask them what it is meant to do to work tasks, and what it is not meant to touch. Ten minutes, this week, before anyone decides it for you.

What you end up holding: a straight answer about what is actually being rolled out, and when
How long it takes: ten minutes

If there’s nobody obvious to ask, or you’d rather not ask your manager: Put the same question to your union rep, your shift lead or the person who has been there longest, in person, over a break. Same ten minutes, same answer, and you will usually get a straighter one. Write down what they say. The note is the artifact, and it tells you whether headlights are in scope or not. Nothing to log into, no licence needed.

Over the next 90 days

Get inside the tool rollout rather than waiting for it. Over the next ninety days, ask to be in the group that tests, checks or signs off whatever new system arrives near interpreting technical data to ensure correct joining techniques and replacement panels. It is usually an unglamorous seat that nobody fights for, and it is the one that decides how the software is used on your job rather than to it.

Over the next 12 months

On this evidence I would not retrain out of this job, and I will say that plainly rather than hedge it. The task list here is dominated by work that stays with a person. What I would do with a year is get formally recognised for the layer around it (the systems, the compliance, the planning), so you are the one who understands the software instead of the one it is done to. Before you pay for anything, spend an hour with National Careers Service. It is free and government-funded, and it is listed below with the rest of the free routes.

The roads out of here, and why I am not sending you down them

I looked at the obvious moves out of this job, and here is what I found.

I checked the 12 nearest UK occupations to vehicle body builders and repairers (nearest by the work that AI is not taking, not by job title), and none of them survived. The closest was sheet metal workers: only about 15% of its durable work is work you already do. And on the numbers you do not need one. This job scores 7/100 here, with only 4% of the task list in the top band, and “adhere to health and safety requirements in the workplace” is not work that hands over cleanly. None of them beats deepening what you already have.

How that was checked: this job was compared against all 412 UK occupations in this release on their official task statements, and the 12 nearest were examined one by one. A move that turns on an industry, an employer or a qualification rather than on the work itself will not show up in a check like that. And this release carries no licence register, so anything you are weighing needs that looked up separately.

3 moves I checked and rejected

These are the obvious-looking jumps. They are here with their reasons rather than quietly dropped, because the ones that fail are worth knowing about. It is one less thing to turn over at night.

Sheet metal workers
Why it looked obvious: It came up as a near neighbour because one of your tasks is on their list in the same words: “grind, sand, and smooth filled or repaired surfaces using power tools and hand tools”. Across the whole of both lists that adds up to about 15% of the work in that job the software is not taking.
Why I am not recommending it: You would be starting most of it from nothing: about 15% of the durable work in that job is work you do today, and the rest you would be learning while the bills carried on.
Look at that job’s page anyway →
Vehicle paint technicians
Why it looked obvious: It came up as a near neighbour because one of your tasks is on their list in the same words: “apply paint, primer, and basecoat to vehicles”. Across the whole of both lists that adds up to about 12% of the work in that job the software is not taking.
Why I am not recommending it: You would be starting most of it from nothing: about 12% of the durable work in that job is work you do today, and the rest you would be learning while the bills carried on.
Look at that job’s page anyway →
Aircraft maintenance and related trades
Why it looked obvious: It came up as a near neighbour because one of your tasks is on their list in the same words: “fit and weld replacement parts into place, using spanners and welding equipment”. Across the whole of both lists that adds up to about 8% of the work in that job the software is not taking.
Why I am not recommending it: Almost none of it is work you already do: about 8% of the durable side of that job. That is a different job, not a next step.
Look at that job’s page anyway →

What I’d stop worrying about

A friend tells you what not to spend fear on. This is that list.

The headline number you read somewhere
The big “X% of jobs” figures are about the whole economy, not about you. The number that describes your job is on this page: 4% of its task weight, across 50 scored tasks. Every row behind it is printed above with the source. Check ours; ignore theirs.
The headlines about your trade disappearing
They are usually about the technology, not the timetable. Changes to work like adjusting or aligning headlights arrive through rules, insurance and money, slowly and visibly. This page tracks the task evidence and will move when it moves.
Retraining out of a job that is holding up
On this evidence I would not spend money leaving. Spend it on the layer around the job instead: the tools, the paperwork, the planning. That is where the change actually is.
The “obvious” next job everyone suggests
I checked the obvious moves and most of them did not survive. The reasons are printed with the routes above, including the pay and the gate. A move that fails on the numbers is worth knowing about so you can stop turning it over at night.

You are reading the United Kingdom figures

The United States splits this work across more than one official group, of which Boilermakers is the closest. The pay and employment figures are not directly comparable, and we do not average them together.

Switch to the United States page →partial match

The other groups this work is counted across:

In US official statistics this job is counted as Boilermakers, Sheet Metal Workers, Automotive Body and Related Repairers, Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics, Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists, Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians, Motorcycle Mechanics, Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics, Recreational Vehicle Service Technicians, Tire Repairers and Changers and Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic. Pay is shown separately for each of those groups (medians cannot be averaged together), while the task list and the scores on this page are for this group only.

Your route through this

Where to go next, and what it costs

Free, and complete

The moves above cost nothing. These are the real services that go with them: public, government-funded, and free at the point of use. Nothing on this page is behind an email address or a payment.

In England:
National Careers Service
A free hour with a government-funded careers adviser is worth more than another evening of reading. In England that's the National Careers Service.
Free, government-funded
- Discover your skills and careers (the skills assessment)
In England:
National Careers Service - Find a course
Search what's actually running near you before you spend anything.
Free to search; individual courses vary
In England:
Free courses for jobs (Level 3 qualifications)
A free Level 3 qualification you already qualify for beats a paid course you don't need.
Free for eligible adults
In England:
Skills Bootcamps
Free, up to 16 weeks, and you get a job interview at the end. In England these are Skills Bootcamps - search what's running near you.
Free for eligible adults in England
- Skills Bootcamps - what they are and who can do them (DfE, Skills for Careers)
- Skills Bootcamps - JobHelp (DWP)
In Scotland:
My World of Work (Skills Development Scotland)
In Scotland it's My World of Work, from Skills Development Scotland.
Free, publicly funded
- Skills Development Scotland
In Wales:
Careers Wales
In Wales it's Careers Wales.
Free, Welsh Government-funded
In Northern Ireland:
Careers Service Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland it's the Careers Service on nidirect.
Free, Department for the Economy-funded

Why there is no community here

Collab365, who build this site, run paid Spaces for a small number of subjects, and none of them is built for this job. We are not going to point you at the nearest one and call it a fit.

So the free services listed on this page are the whole answer, and it is the same answer we would give a friend.

Noted, and thank you. We’ll email you if a Space for vehicle body builders / repairers launches. Nothing else.

That did not look like an email address, so nothing was saved. Have another go below.

We could not save that. The fault is ours, not yours, and your address was not stored. Please try again later.

No Space for vehicle body builders / repairers yet. Should there be one?

Collab365 Spaces is built by the same people as this site. We find the problems that AI and automation are creating inside one kind of work, then solve them as short courses, briefings and Blueprints. Each Space is the community too, so the research and the people doing your job are in the same place.

What a Space actually is, in full

Collab365 launches new communities where the need is real. If one for vehicle body builders / repairers existed, with researched problems, courses and people in the same boat, would you want in?

Your email

We use your email address for one thing: to tell you if a Space for vehicle body builders / repairers launches. We never sell it, never use it for unrelated marketing, and every email has a one-click unsubscribe. Our privacy policy has the full version.

This unlocks nothing. Every figure, every row and every step on this page is already yours, whether you fill this in or not.

No deadline on any of this. The page will still be here, and the data is refreshed on a published schedule rather than when someone wants a headline.

Questions people ask about this job

Will AI replace Vehicle body builders and repairers?: Not as a job, but it is already doing parts of the work. Across the 50 official task statements scored for Vehicle body builders and repairers (United Kingdom, SOC 5232), 4% of the importance-weighted core work is made of tasks today's AI could already do most of. The overall exposure score is 7 out of 100 (range 6–12, band: minimal). That is a statement about tasks, not about headcount: this measures what AI could do, not whether any employer adopts it, whether the law allows it, or whether doing the routine parts faster creates more demand for the human parts. Figures are from release 2026-q4.1.
Which tasks in “Vehicle body builders and repairers” can AI already do?: The highest-scoring tasks in release 2026-q4.1 are: “Plan work tasks and timelines to meet deadlines” (75/100, high); “Read specifications to determine the desired custom modifications for altering the appearance of vehicles” (64/100, high); “Interpret technical data to ensure correct joining techniques and replacement panels” (56/100, partial). Each score comes from five published 0–4 ratings turned into a number by a published formula, and each carries the model's one-sentence reason on the page.
Which tasks in “Vehicle body builders and repairers” stay human?: About 94% of this job's task weight sits in work that scores low for AI exposure. The lowest-scoring tasks in release 2026-q4.1 are: “Saturate cloth and mats with the resin mixtures using brushes” (0/100, minimal); “Pat or press layers of saturated mat or cloth into place on moulds using brushes or hands” (0/100, minimal); “Measure and mark vinyl material for roof installation, using rulers, straightedges” (0/100, minimal). Low scores usually mean the task needs a body in a room, a legally accountable human, or trust built in real time. Those are the three things the scoring rubric treats as gates rather than obstacles.
What should someone working in “Vehicle body builders and repairers” do about AI?: Start from the ledger rather than the headline: 4% of this job's weighted core work is exposed, and roughly 94% is not. The practical move is to spend more of your week on the tasks that score low, the ones above, and to get fluent at directing AI through the tasks that score high, because those are the parts that change whether or not you are ready for them. This page does not predict your job, and nothing here is career advice tailored to you: the score describes the occupation, not the person.
How is the AI exposure score for Vehicle body builders and repairers calculated?: Each official task statement for the occupation is rated on five published 0–4 dimensions (output replicability, physical embodiment, licensed accountability, real-time human trust, and data availability) by claude-opus-5 using scoring prompt task_scoring_v1.0. The model never writes the score; a published formula turns the five ratings into a 0–100 number, so every score can be recomputed by hand. The occupation figure is the importance-weighted mean across 50 scored tasks. The prompt, the rubric, the formula and the full dataset are published at https://futureproof.collab365.com/method and https://futureproof.collab365.com/data/2026-q4.1 under CC BY 4.0.

Where these numbers come from

About the data on this page

Provisional, because the ONS revises this figure in the autumn.
This headcount comes from a survey, not a census, so treat it as a good estimate rather than an exact count.
The match between this job and its counterpart in the other country is partial, so the two pages count slightly different groups of people.
14 of this occupation's scored task statements carry a score that was measured under a different occupation's context, because the statement is shared between jobs and has only been scored once so far. Each one names the occupation it was measured under in the free routes below; none is presented as a measurement for this job.
Task clusters are not derived in this release, so the task-cluster field is empty and no Collab365 Space routing is attached to this occupation yet.

Task statements: gaisi-indexProcessing: catalogue-bridge → ssc-relatedness-weighting → task-scoring → score-aggregation
Task weights: gaisi-index (relatedness)
Scores: Rubric task_scoring_v1.0, model claude-opus-5, computed 2026-08-05.
Pay and employment: ashe-t14 (ASHE 2025 provisional (reference April 2025))nomis-aps (Apr 2025-Mar 2026 (latest APS 12-month period))

Figures on this page come from release 2026-q4.1, published 2026-08-05. Every release keeps its own permanent address, so a figure you cite in March is still there, unchanged, in November.

The plain-English wording on this page is assembled directly from the task statements and the published ratings, not written by hand for this occupation. That is why it is specific, and it is also why we say so.

The routes and free resources further up are today’s, not the release’s (last reviewed 2026-08-05). A route is an offer, not a historical fact, so it moves on its own clock.

How we score a job Download this release Look up another job

Using these figures?

Cite this

Everything on this site is published under CC BY 4.0. Quote it, chart it, sell something built on it. Just say where it came from, and cite the dated release rather than the site, so the figure you quote stays checkable.

Plain text

Collab365 (2026). Collab365 Futureproof: task-level AI exposure for US and UK occupations, release 2026-q4.1 (methodVersion 2.0.0, promptVersion task_scoring_v1.0). https://futureproof.collab365.com/data/2026-q4.1. Licensed CC BY 4.0. Built with O*NET data (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0); ONS data (Open Government Licence v3.0); GAISI task framework (arXiv:2507.22748, MIT); BLS data (public domain).

BibTeX

@misc{collab365futureproof2026q41,
  title        = {Collab365 Futureproof: task-level AI exposure for US and UK occupations, release 2026-q4.1},
  author       = {{Collab365}},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://futureproof.collab365.com/data/2026-q4.1},
  note         = {Release 2026-q4.1, methodVersion 2.0.0, promptVersion task_scoring_v1.0, CC BY 4.0}
}

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https://futureproof.collab365.com/data/2026-q4.1

Data as of release 2026-q4.1, published 2026-08-05. Releases never change after publication; when the figures move, a new dated release is published beside this one and this one stays exactly where it is.