The auto shop class is thriving. Community college students fix your car for free

The workers’ uniforms are stained with stains found under the car, in the hand.

Their repair garage is filled with an array of junk cars and twisted metal. One car had its tires removed; another game is a smashed fender.

Here, the work is free — and mechanics get college credits.

Los Angeles Trade-Technical College offers the largest auto repair program at a community college in the region, preparing students to work in sales service centers, independent shops and municipal fleet departments, among other areas.

The college has provided training for decades, and its Automotive and Related Technology program has evolved with industrial changes – including the advent of fuel injection, airbags and the rise of electric vehicles.

Some local community colleges have automotive programs, including Santa Monica College and El Camino College. But with more than 1,000 students, the Trade-Tech program — which offers certificates and associate degrees — stands out for its size, said Jess Guerra, director of the college’s Transportation Workforce Institute, which includes the automotive program.

LA Trade-Tech student Virginia Morales, 22, works on the engine.

“One thing that sets us apart is the scale — we’re the biggest in Los Angeles by a long shot,” he said. “Many community colleges may have two degrees in automotive teaching, some have one, some don’t have it full time. In automotive, I have seven.”

As the rising cost of four-year universities has caused many to question the value of higher education, in-demand vocational training has grown. American Labor Assn. A survey conducted by Harris Poll and released in June found that 33% of US adults would recommend to high school seniors to study at a vocational or trade school.

By the end of 2024, Gov. Gavin Newsom introduced a plan to create better-paying jobs for Californians in part by strengthening access to work-based learning in high schools and colleges. And in April, President Trump issued an executive order to prepare Americans for the “high-paying trade jobs of the future.” Among its goals is to create more than one million apprentices.

The Trade-Tech automotive program is an example of the renewed interest in hands-on training. The program has grown in recent years, enrolling 1,134 students in fall 2024, a 34% increase from fall 2022, when it had 846 students.

Trade-tech students Kenny Rea-Cruz, 20, left, and Jonathan Sepulveda, 18, check out a car before working on it in automotive class.

In a unique offering, Trade-Tech automotive students work on privately owned vehicles. People interested in the service can fill out a form on Trade-Tech’s website — vehicles must be from the 2000 model year or older, and the requested work must be relevant to the subjects taught at the time, among other rules. The people who participate are not charged for the work – but they pay for the parts.

“The turnover is not as fast as you would get in a regular store, because this is done as part of the learning process,” Guerra said. “The work you can get in a day in a shop, it can take you two days.”

There are waiting lists for some of the more difficult jobs, such as transmission rebuilds.

Guerra said the teachers make sure that the work is done properly and that the cars are returned to the customers in good condition. “It’s really no different if you take it to a real repair shop,” he said.

Trade-Tech student Nelson Raymundo checks for leaks in his Infiniti’s engine.

Graduates work in the service departments of BMW, Volkswagen and Toyota dealerships, among other places. Another alumna, Andrea Corona, 39, said her time at Trade-Tech helped her land a job as a technician at Volkswagen in Downtown LA — a role she held for nearly a decade.

He said the experience of operating vehicles in the community helped him prepare for work in this area.

“It was really important,” said Corona, who grew up in South L.A. “That’s what got me here — taking advantage helps a lot.”

Changing with the times

There was a time when working in a car was an analog experience. Cars now have computers, full of electronics and other complex systems. When they break, repairs can quickly become difficult.

Trade-Tech has changed itself, offering certification in hybrid and EV technology – and the program has a fleet of such vehicles that students can work on.

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1. Students participate in the Auto Technician training program at the Los Angeles Trade Technical College in the city of Los Angeles on December 11, 2025. 2. Student Jose Quinonez, 32, seen in the side mirror, participates in the Auto Technician training program at the Los Angeles Trade Technical College in downtown Los Angeles on December 11, 2025. Quinonez hopes to follow in the footsteps of his father who has his own auto shop in Los Angeles. 3. Students complete the day after participating in the Auto Technician training program at the Los Angeles Trade Technical College in downtown Los Angeles on December 11, 2025.

“The school tries to keep up with that technology and teach you what to expect in the industry,” said former student Christopher Hernandez, 36. He graduated in 2012 with a certificate in automotive programming and has worked for 13 years at Volkswagen of Downtown LA.

Hernandez, who grew up in Lincoln Heights, said she considered several other community colleges, including Pasadena City College and Citrus College, before settling on Trade-Tech.

“We always had work opportunities to do [different] cars, so we can learn and get better skills,” Hernandez said. “If you’re willing to put in the effort … you can do anything.”

The automotive program is part of the school’s Advanced Transportation & Manufacturing. It offers several science-related degrees, including one in automotive and related technology, and another in collision repair. As a base, tuition is $46 per unit, and getting an associate’s degree can cost around $2,000 to $3,500, depending on the coursework. Students can apply for financial aid through programs and scholarships.

Guerra, who has worked at Trade-Tech for 20 years, said he has met students at retail stores and charity centers in LA. [they] the people in charge” at the automotive centers, he said: “That to me is the most rewarding part of this job.”

Collegial car vibes

For many students of this program, the school provides an opportunity to turn their passion into a profession. And, sometimes, they show their riding.

On one of the last days of the fall semester, students brought their cars to the dealership. They are allowed to do so when the schedule allows them and the work is in line with what is being taught. Some students – like the owner of a 1960 Chevrolet Impala – impressed the crowd of onlookers with their clean engine ports and paint jobs.

Others, like Nelson Raymundo, used some free time to work on their cars.

Raymundo, 21, got into cars when he was in middle school. During that time, his father sold his idle Dodge Dart. He wanted to work on a classic tour and was disappointed to see it go.

Raymundo, who grew up in West LA, decided to study auto mechanics: “I had no knowledge. I was sad.

He is enrolled in the Trade-Tech program in the fall of 2023 and has studied brakes, suspension and engine theory, among other topics. On one of the last days of the semester, Raymundo looked around his Infiniti J30 engine, looking for an issue that had plagued the car.

Students stand behind the diesel engines they are working on as part of the automotive program at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College.

It was one of his father’s old rides, and it had been in the family for over 30 years. Before long, he was confidently diagnosing the car’s problem: a loose body cable.

“It’s just a basic visual inspection,” he explained. “… I feel a little accomplished.”

Nearby, Ricardo Hernandez was working on his Audi S3. He was studying air systems, and his car’s AC needed to be recharged.

“I decided to take advantage of it,” he said.

As visitors looked at the cars – some working, some not – the shop felt more than just classy. Corona, a Volkswagen sales professional, remembered that kind of vibe from his time at Trade-Tech.

“It was like a family,” she said.