Student Auto Shop services
Enjoy affordable vehicle repairs and support student success. Students from the VIU Automotive Service Technician program work on customers’ vehicles under the supervision of Red Seal certified automotive instructors.
We work on vehicles that are no more than 15 years old (based on the current model year) and only accept work that supports the curriculum of our programs. We don't offer autobody repair services.
Service list
Service availability is based on the student curriculum and some repairs may not be available. Please contact us for availability.
To book an appointment, call 250.740.6453, 8 am to 12 pm, 1 to 3:30 pm, Monday to Thursday, and speak to a Service Advisor.
Have the make, model and year of your vehicle at hand and be ready to describe the type of work you require, or the symptoms of the malfunction. If the program curriculum needs your vehicle for student training, you will be given an appointment date. By booking an appointment, you are agreeing to the customer service agreement listed below.
The labour rate is $40 per hour based on book times and parts are sold at a discounted rate.
Some of the repairs available are:
Vehicle Service and Maintenance
- engine oil
- transmission
- coolant
- differential
Brakes
- disc and drum brakes
- hydraulic problems
- anti-lock brakes
Steering and Suspension
- ball joints
- steering components
- alignments
Tires
- tire repair
- balancing
- installing new and winter tires
Car diagnostic scans
Air conditioning repairs
Customer service agreement
- I understand that I will be providing my vehicle for student training purposes
- I understand that the job may take considerably longer than it would at a regular automotive repair facility
- I will not hold VIU Auto shop to any verbal time estimate that may be made at the start of a job.
- I realize that only work that meets requirements for curriculum will be done on my vehicle. An instructor or shop technician will decide what work will be performed.
- I am aware that my vehicle may be used for an instructor led demonstration of a particular component, system or diagnostic routine.
- My vehicle will be repaired as a result of diagnoses performed at VIU Auto shop. I understand that I cannot order repairs that are based on my own diagnoses.
- My vehicle is privately owned, not commercially licensed, and not a fleet vehicle. I am not selling this vehicle or component for profit.
- I will not hold the VIU Auto shop responsible for any theft or damage that occurs outside of scheduled classes.
- I will not hold VIU Auto shop to any verbal cost estimate.
- I understand that VIU Auto shop is not responsible for storing my vehicle after work has been completed, and that my vehicle may be disposed of if left without permission for more than 30 days after the work is completed.
- All vehicles brought in for service must have valid and up-to-date insurance, decals, and registration.
Warranty information
- Like any automotive repair facility, the VIU Auto shop occasionally fails to fully repair a vehicle.
- The VIU Auto shop is a non-profit educational repair facility:
- If the warranty request fits into our current program curriculum, we may "short list" you into that program.
- If the curriculum does not address the needed repair, we will priorize your repair to a future class.
- If the vehicle must be repaired immediately, you should have it repaired at your own cost at a commercial repair facility.
Billing
- When picking up a vehicle, after servicing, payment is required in full using either:
- Debit card
- MasterCard / Visa
- Parts needed for vehicle servicing will be ordered from local auto parts stores. No used parts will be ordered or supplied by the VIU Auto shop.
Good work assurance
- All work is inspected by an instructor
- Any safety related work (for example, brakes or steering) will be road tested by the student or students who worked on the vehicle, and an instructor or shop technician.
- Your feedback helps us evaluate our students. Please let us know how we did, while servicing your vehicle.
VIU Student Auto Shop
Vancouver Island University
Building 150, 900 Fifth Street
Nanaimo, BC
V9R 5S5