The Institute of the Motor Industry · RQF Level 3
IMI Level 3 Diploma in Heavy Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Competence
You don’t just earn this. You learn to use it, one-to-one, on your own real work.
- LevelRQF Level 3
- Total credits102
- Guided learning820 hours
- Units in this qualification26
Awarded by The Institute of the Motor Industry · on the Ofqual register
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See how this course maps onto your role
Ten quick questions, one per Future Fluency, asked against this qualification rather than a generic one.
About 5 minutes · No card · Nothing to commit to
What you’ll learn
What each unit actually teaches you to do
This qualification develops competence in heavy vehicle maintenance and repair. It covers diagnosis, health and safety, and transmission overhauling. It is aimed at individuals working with heavy vehicles in the transportation sector.
These are the units The Institute of the Motor Industry registers against this qualification. It is a catalogue, not a syllabus. Which of them you take depends on the combination the qualification requires, and that is set by the awarding body rather than by us. Every unit here is regulated, and every one you earn is yours to keep.
Competency Required to Inspect Heavy Vehicles to Comply with Legal RequirementsReal unit · The Institute of the Motor Industry
What you'll be able to do
- Apply safe working practices and procedures when carrying out inspections on heavy vehicles.
- Interpret and utilise relevant information, including legal requirements, vehicle specifications, and inspection schedules, to effectively carry out heavy vehicle inspections.
- Select and use appropriate tools and equipment, including inspection lamps, measuring devices, and recording equipment, safely and effectively for heavy vehicle inspections.
- Conduct thorough inspections of heavy vehicles to identify any defects or non-compliance issues in accordance with legal requirements and industry standards.
- Accurately record all inspection findings, including any defects identified, and make suitable recommendations for necessary repairs or maintenance to ensure legal compliance.
Competency in Diagnosing and Rectifying Heavy Vehicle Chassis System FaultsReal unit · The Institute of the Motor Industry
What you'll be able to do
- Apply safe working practices and procedures when undertaking diagnostic and rectification activities on heavy vehicle chassis systems.
- Interpret and utilise relevant technical information, such as vehicle specifications, diagnostic charts, and repair manuals, to effectively carry out heavy vehicle chassis system tasks.
- Select and use appropriate tools and equipment, including diagnostic equipment, hand tools, and power tools, safely and effectively for heavy vehicle chassis system diagnosis and rectification.
- Perform accurate and efficient diagnosis of faults within heavy vehicle chassis systems, followed by the correct rectification and thorough testing of the repaired systems.
- Accurately record all relevant information related to the diagnosis, rectification, and testing processes, and formulate suitable recommendations for further action or preventative maintenance.
Competency in Diagnosing and Rectifying Heavy Vehicle Engine FaultsReal unit · The Institute of the Motor Industry
What you'll be able to do
- Apply safe working practices and procedures when undertaking diagnostic and rectification activities on heavy vehicle engines.
- Interpret and utilise relevant technical information, such as engine specifications, diagnostic charts, and repair manuals, to effectively carry out heavy vehicle engine tasks.
- Select and use appropriate tools and equipment, including diagnostic equipment, hand tools, and power tools, safely and effectively for heavy vehicle engine diagnosis and rectification.
- Perform accurate and efficient diagnosis of faults within heavy vehicle engines, followed by the correct rectification and thorough testing of the repaired engines.
- Accurately record all relevant information related to the diagnosis, rectification, and testing processes, and formulate suitable recommendations for further action or preventative maintenance.
Competency in Diagnosing and Rectifying Heavy Vehicle Transmission and Driveline FaultsReal unit · The Institute of the Motor Industry
What you'll be able to do
- Apply safe working practices and procedures when undertaking diagnostic and rectification activities on heavy vehicle transmission and driveline systems.
- Interpret and utilise relevant technical information, such as vehicle specifications, diagnostic charts, and repair manuals, to effectively carry out heavy vehicle transmission and driveline tasks.
- Select and use appropriate tools and equipment, including diagnostic equipment, hand tools, and power tools, safely and effectively for heavy vehicle transmission and driveline diagnosis and rectification.
- Perform accurate and efficient diagnosis of faults within heavy vehicle transmission and driveline systems, followed by the correct rectification and thorough testing of the repaired systems.
- Accurately record all relevant information related to the diagnosis, rectification, and testing processes, and formulate suitable recommendations for further action or preventative maintenance.
Competency in Diagnosing and Rectifying Vehicle Auxiliary Electrical FaultsReal unit · The Institute of the Motor Industry
What you'll be able to do
- Work safely when carrying out diagnostic and rectification activities on automotive vehicle auxiliary electrical systems, adhering to health and safety regulations and workplace procedures.
- Use relevant vehicle and equipment information, including wiring diagrams, diagnostic codes, and repair manuals, to effectively carry out diagnostic and rectification tasks.
- Use appropriate tools and equipment, including diagnostic equipment, multimeters, and hand tools, safely and effectively during the diagnostic and rectification process.
- Carry out automotive vehicle auxiliary electrical diagnosis to identify faults, rectify identified faults, and test the system to ensure correct operation after repair.
- Record information accurately, including diagnostic findings, rectification procedures, and parts replaced, and make suitable recommendations for further action or preventative maintenance.
Competency in Health, Safety and Good Housekeeping in the Automotive EnvironmentReal unit · The Institute of the Motor Industry
What you'll be able to do
- Use correct personal and vehicle protection within the automotive environment, adhering to safety regulations and guidelines.
- Carry out effective housekeeping practices in the automotive environment, maintaining a clean and organised workspace.
- Recognise and deal with dangers in order to work safely within the automotive workplace, identifying and mitigating potential hazards.
- Conduct themselves responsibly in the automotive environment, demonstrating professionalism and adherence to safety protocols.
Competency in Identifying and Agreeing Motor Vehicle Customer Service NeedsReal unit · The Institute of the Motor Industry
What you'll be able to do
- Obtain relevant information from the customer regarding their motor vehicle service needs, using effective communication techniques.
- Provide relevant information to the customer regarding the diagnosis, repair options, and associated costs in a clear and understandable manner.
- Agree on the scope of work to be undertaken with the customer, ensuring their understanding and consent.
- Ensure that recording systems are implemented correctly to accurately document customer interactions, vehicle information, and agreed work.
Competency in Making Learning Possible through Demonstrations and InstructionReal unit · The Institute of the Motor Industry
What you'll be able to do
- Effectively demonstrate relevant skills and methods to learners in a clear and understandable manner.
- Instruct learners using appropriate teaching techniques and resources to facilitate their learning.
Competency in Overhauling Heavy Vehicle Engine Mechanical UnitsReal unit · The Institute of the Motor Industry
What you'll be able to do
- Apply safe working practices and procedures when overhauling heavy vehicle engine mechanical units.
- Interpret and utilise relevant technical information, such as engine specifications, workshop manuals, and component data sheets, to effectively carry out the overhaul of heavy vehicle engine mechanical units.
- Select and use appropriate tools and equipment, including measuring instruments, specialist tools, and lifting equipment, safely and effectively for the overhaul of heavy vehicle engine mechanical units.
- Carry out the complete overhaul of heavy vehicle engine mechanical units, adhering to manufacturer's specifications and industry best practices.
- Accurately record all relevant information related to the overhaul process, including measurements, component replacements, and any deviations from specifications, and make suitable recommendations for future maintenance.
Competency in Overhauling Heavy Vehicle Steering and Suspension UnitsReal unit · The Institute of the Motor Industry
What you'll be able to do
- Work safely when overhauling heavy vehicle steering and suspension units, adhering to health and safety regulations and workplace procedures
- Use relevant information, such as technical manuals and diagrams, to carry out the task of overhauling heavy vehicle steering and suspension units
- Use appropriate tools and equipment safely and effectively when overhauling heavy vehicle steering and suspension units
- Carry out the overhauling of heavy vehicle steering and suspension units, following established procedures and quality standards
- Record information accurately regarding the overhauling of heavy vehicle steering and suspension units, and make suitable recommendations for further action
Competency in Overhauling Heavy Vehicle Transmission UnitsReal unit · The Institute of the Motor Industry
What you'll be able to do
- Work safely when overhauling heavy vehicle transmission units, adhering to health and safety regulations and workplace procedures
- Use relevant information, such as technical manuals and diagrams, to carry out the task of overhauling heavy vehicle transmission units
- Use appropriate tools and equipment safely and effectively when overhauling heavy vehicle transmission units
- Carry out the overhauling of heavy vehicle transmission units, following established procedures and quality standards
- Record information accurately regarding the overhauling of heavy vehicle transmission units, and make suitable recommendations for further action
Competency in Supporting Job Roles in the Automotive Work EnvironmentReal unit · The Institute of the Motor Industry
What you'll be able to do
- Work effectively within the organisational structure of the automotive work environment
- Obtain and use information in order to support their job role within the automotive work environment
- Communicate with and support colleagues effectively within the automotive work environment
- Develop and maintain good working relationships in the automotive work environment
Knowledge of Diagnosis and Rectification of Heavy Transmission and Driveline FaultsReal unit · The Institute of the Motor Industry
What you'll be able to do
- Understand how heavy vehicle transmission and driveline systems operate, including the function and interaction of various components
- Understand how to diagnose faults in heavy vehicle transmission and driveline systems using appropriate diagnostic techniques and equipment, and how to rectify these faults effectively
Knowledge of Diagnosis and Rectification of Heavy Vehicle Chassis FaultsReal unit · The Institute of the Motor Industry
What you'll be able to do
- Understand how the heavy vehicle chassis systems operate, including their components, functions, and interrelationships
- Understand how to diagnose faults in heavy vehicle chassis systems using appropriate diagnostic techniques and equipment
- Understand how to rectify faults in heavy vehicle chassis systems, following manufacturer's specifications and industry best practices
Knowledge of Diagnosis and Rectification of Heavy Vehicle Engine FaultsReal unit · The Institute of the Motor Industry
What you'll be able to do
- Understand how heavy vehicle engine systems operate, including the function and interaction of various components
- Understand how to diagnose faults in heavy vehicle engine systems using appropriate diagnostic techniques and equipment, and how to rectify these faults effectively
Knowledge of Diagnosis and Rectification of Vehicle Auxiliary Electrical FaultsReal unit · The Institute of the Motor Industry
What you'll be able to do
- Understand fundamental vehicle electrical and electronic principles, including voltage, current, resistance, and circuits.
- Understand how light vehicle auxiliary electrical systems operate, including lighting, heating, air conditioning, and security systems.
- Understand the components and functions of auxiliary electrical systems in light vehicles.
- Understand how to diagnose faults in auxiliary electrical systems using appropriate diagnostic tools and techniques.
- Understand how to rectify faults in auxiliary electrical systems by repairing or replacing faulty components.
Knowledge of Health, Safety and Good Housekeeping in the Automotive EnvironmentReal unit · The Institute of the Motor Industry
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the correct personal and vehicle protective equipment to be used within the automotive environment, and the reasons for their use.
- Understand effective housekeeping practices in the automotive environment, including waste disposal, cleaning procedures, and organisation of the workspace.
- Understand key health and safety requirements relevant to the automotive environment, including COSHH regulations, manual handling procedures, and fire safety.
- Understand about hazards and potential risks relevant to the automotive environment, including electrical hazards, chemical hazards, and mechanical hazards.
- Understand personal responsibilities for maintaining a safe and healthy working environment, and the importance of reporting hazards and incidents.
Knowledge of Inspecting Heavy VehiclesReal unit · The Institute of the Motor Industry
What you'll be able to do
- Understand how to prepare for heavy vehicle inspections, including gathering necessary documentation and equipment
- Understand how to carry out visual inspections of heavy vehicle components, such as tyres, brakes, and lights, according to prescribed methods
- Understand how to use diagnostic equipment to inspect heavy vehicle systems, such as engine management and braking systems, according to prescribed methods
- Understand how to document inspection findings accurately and completely
- Understand the legal requirements related to heavy vehicle inspections
Knowledge of Materials, Fabrication, Tools and Measuring Devices used in the Automotive EnvironmentReal unit · The Institute of the Motor Industry
What you'll be able to do
- Understand how to select, use and care for hand tools and measuring devices in the automotive environment, ensuring they are appropriate for the task and maintained in good working order.
- Understand how to prepare and use common workshop equipment, including lifting equipment, welding equipment, and diagnostic equipment, following safety procedures and manufacturer's guidelines.
- Understand how to select materials when fabricating, modifying and repairing vehicles and fitting components, considering their properties, suitability, and compatibility.
- Understand how to apply automotive engineering, fabrication and fitting principles when modifying and repairing vehicles and components, ensuring structural integrity and functionality.
Knowledge of Overhauling Heavy Vehicle Engine Mechanical UnitsReal unit · The Institute of the Motor Industry
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the procedures for overhauling heavy vehicle engine mechanical units, including disassembly, inspection, repair, and reassembly
- Understand the safety precautions required when overhauling heavy vehicle engine mechanical units
- Understand the documentation requirements when overhauling heavy vehicle engine mechanical units
- Understand the types of heavy vehicle engine mechanical units and their functions
Knowledge of Overhauling Heavy Vehicle Steering and Suspension UnitsReal unit · The Institute of the Motor Industry
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the procedures for overhauling heavy vehicle steering units
- Understand the procedures for overhauling heavy vehicle suspension units
- Understand the safety precautions required when overhauling heavy vehicle steering and suspension units
- Understand the documentation requirements when overhauling heavy vehicle steering and suspension units
Knowledge of Overhauling Heavy Vehicle Transmission UnitsReal unit · The Institute of the Motor Industry
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the procedures involved in overhauling heavy vehicle gearbox units
- Understand the procedures involved in overhauling heavy vehicle final drive units
Knowledge of Support for Job Roles in the Automotive Work EnvironmentReal unit · The Institute of the Motor Industry
What you'll be able to do
- Explain key organisational structures within the automotive work environment.
- Explain key functions within the automotive work environment.
- Explain key roles within the automotive work environment.
- Explain the importance of obtaining information to support their job role within the automotive work environment.
- Explain the importance of interpreting information to support their job role within the automotive work environment.
- Explain the importance of using information to support their job role within the automotive work environment.
- Explain the importance of different types of communication within the automotive work environment.
- Explain communication requirements when carrying out vehicle repairs in the automotive work environment.
- Explain how to develop good working relationships with colleagues in the automotive workplace.
- Explain how to develop good working relationships with customers in the automotive workplace.
Knowledge of how to Identify and Agree Motor Vehicle Customer Service NeedsReal unit · The Institute of the Motor Industry
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the relevant legislative requirements relating to customer service in a motor vehicle environment.
- Understand organisational requirements and procedures for providing effective customer service.
- Understand how to communicate effectively with customers, demonstrating empathy and care.
- Understand the range of company products and services available to customers.
- Understand how to identify and agree customer service needs.
Knowledge of how to Make Learning Possible through Demonstrations and InstructionReal unit · The Institute of the Motor Industry
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the nature and role of demonstrations and instruction in facilitating learning.
- Understand the principles and concepts underpinning effective demonstration and instruction techniques.
- Understand the external factors, such as organisational culture and learner needs, that influence human resource development.
Skills in Materials, Fabrication, Tools and Measuring Devices used in the Automotive EnvironmentReal unit · The Institute of the Motor Industry
What you'll be able to do
- Select, maintain and use hand tools and measuring devices safely and effectively in the automotive environment
- Prepare and use common workshop equipment correctly and safely
- Select appropriate materials when fabricating, modifying and repairing vehicles and fitting components
- Apply automotive engineering, fabrication and fitting principles when modifying and repairing vehicles and components
The honest bit
You’ve started things before
Most courses were built for a room full of people who aren’t you. A cohort moves on whether or not your week allowed it, and by the third week the thing you’re behind on becomes the reason you stop opening it.
There’s no cohort here, and no timetable to fall behind. Before anything starts, Zavmo asks when you’re sharpest and how long you can realistically sit down for, then builds the sessions around those answers. A bad fortnight changes your pace. It doesn’t put you behind.
And you only pay once you start learning. Searching and planning are free, and you can cancel any time — so the cost of finding out is an afternoon, not a year.
Your passport
Every credit is a stamp you keep
Level 3 credits are regulated. They don’t vanish when a subscription ends or a website closes. They travel to any employer, and Zavmo keeps the map of what you’ve earned and what’s next.
Each stamp is a real unit registered against this qualification.
Who’d teach you this

The Evidence Evaluator
Assessor
Helps you show what you can actually do, gathering the evidence that proves it as you learn.
Meet all twelve tutorsWhere this connects
Where these credits take you
A qualification is never a dead end here. See the jobs its credits open, the national occupational standards its units map to, and the future skills they quietly build.
- Assist workshop operations by providing technical support in heavy goods and public service vehicle environments
- Diagnose and rectify caravan chassis system faults
- Diagnose and rectify heavy goods and public service vehicle chassis system faults
- Diagnose and rectify heavy goods and public service vehicle combustion engine and component faults
- Diagnose and rectify heavy goods and public service vehicle transmission and driveline system faults
- Diagnose and rectify motor vehicle drivetrain electrical faults Legacy
- Diagnose faults and remove and replace light electric vehicle e-system units and components
- Diagnosing and rectifying faults in vehicle electrical and electronic systems
Skills it covers
What the job actually needs. These are the standards the units are built against, in the words employers and awarding bodies already use for the work itself.
How you’ll actually learn this
One-to-one, on your own real work
A qualification is usually something done to you: sit the class, sit the exam, hope it sticks. Here it’s the opposite. You learn it one-to-one with a companion, on your own real work, and you keep going until you can use it, not just recall it.
Applied to your own work
Learners will develop the competency to inspect heavy vehicles in compliance with legal requirements. This includes safe working practices, use of personal protective equipment, hazard identification, and accurate recording of inspection findings.
- Remember
- Understand
- Apply
- Analyse
- Evaluate
- Create
Built for IMI Level 3 Diploma in Heavy Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Competence
26 units in this credential, in the order it lists them, awarded by The Institute of the Motor Industry.
- Competency Required to Inspect Heavy Vehicles to Comply with Legal Requirements
- Competency in Diagnosing and Rectifying Heavy Vehicle Chassis System Faults
- Competency in Diagnosing and Rectifying Heavy Vehicle Engine Faults
- Competency in Diagnosing and Rectifying Heavy Vehicle Transmission and Driveline Faults
- Competency in Diagnosing and Rectifying Vehicle Auxiliary Electrical Faults
- Competency in Health, Safety and Good Housekeeping in the Automotive Environment
and 20 more in the full unit list below.
One to one, not one to many
No two people run this the same way
A course is written once and handed to everyone. This is assembled around you, and keeps changing as it learns you. Five things it reads, and what each one changes.
- Your actual work Every unit is taught against a live piece of your own work, not a worked example from a textbook.
- What you already know The first conversation finds your starting point, so you skip what you can already do and spend the time on what you cannot.
- The conditions you learn under Not a learning-styles quiz. The evidence does not support those. The dimensions the research does back, read once and used to shape the plan.
- How far you got last time It picks up mid-thought. The tutor knows what you said, what you struggled with, and what it asked you to try.
- Which tutor suits the moment Twelve of them, each for a different kind of thinking. The one who walks you through a first idea is not the one who stress-tests it.
See how you learn, free. Eight questions, no sign-up. A directional taster; the diagnostic inside Zavmo goes deeper and keeps adapting.
Why it sticks
Most courses stop at remembering
There’s a well-known ladder of how deeply you learn something, called Bloom’s Taxonomy. Most courses get you up the first two rungs: you remember some facts, you pass a test, you forget it. Real skill lives at the top. Judging, deciding, creating. And this isn’t a generic ladder: every rung has a named Zavmo tutor who walks you up it.
- 6CreateThe Creative Catalyst
- 5EvaluateThe Evidence Evaluator
- 4AnalyseThe Analyst
- 3ApplyThe Coach
- 2UnderstandThe Connector
- 1RememberThe Builder
Where most courses leave you Where Zavmo takes you
The value
Why the companion is worth £70 a month
You’re not paying for the units. They’re regulated, and the same wherever you earn them. You’re paying for the one thing that decides whether you actually get there: a companion that makes them stick, on your real work.
That is one-to-one on this qualification, every day, on the work you already do, for £70 a month. Your first module is free, so you can see the teaching before you pay for any of it. Billed monthly, cancel any time and billing stops.
Earned on your own work, taught to the top.
Everything you just read, learned one-to-one on the job you already do. Your first module is free, so you can see the teaching before you pay for any of it.
Build my plan, freeNo card. See how this qualification maps onto your role and meet the tutors who’d teach it, free. The learning begins when you subscribe. It’s £70 a month, billed monthly. Cancel any time and billing stops.