The Automotive Technician

Find answers to common questions about The Automotive Technician's services or if you cannot find the answer in the list you can ask the Chatbot in the bottom right corner anything you need to know about TaT.

General Information

What is The Automotive Technician (TaT)?

The Automotive Technician (TaT) is a subscription-based service that gives automotive repair professionals a wide range of technical resources and databases, including Repair Solutions, known-good scan and scope data, online Technical Assistance, Smart Search, AI support from Tech Tina, the TaT digital magazine and technical training. TaT is also a data provider: HaynesPro wiring diagrams, component and fuse locations and electronic procedures are available in the Wiring Diagrams section, paid for separately with diagram tokens.

Who can become a TaT member?

TaT membership is open to automotive technicians, apprentices, workshop owners, and anyone involved in the automotive repair industry.

How can I subscribe to TaT?

Subscribing and becoming a member of TaT is quick and easy. You can subscribe to TaT by filling out a simple form via this link: https://www.tat.net.au/7day-trial.html

What is included in TaT membership?

TaT membership includes access to technical resources, expert support and training for automotive professionals. Members have access to:

Smart Search and the rego (number plate) vehicle lookup
Repair Solutions database
Known-good scan tool & oscilloscope data
Online Technical Assistance
AI support from Tech Tony (case-based solutions) and Tech Tina (real-time technical guidance)
Smart Intake (the customer’s details and complaint before the car arrives)
AutoCheck Pro (digital vehicle inspections)
Fault Codes and Acronyms databases
OEM Info Resource
The TaT digital magazine: six issues a year, plus every past issue
Technical Videos and Equipment Reviews
Member Rewards program

HaynesPro wiring diagrams are not included in the membership fee. They are an optional extra, paid for with diagram tokens (see Wiring Diagrams below).

How long is the membership period?

TaT membership Licence Agreements are for a period of 12 months and no pro-rata refunds will be payable for any membership cancellation requests prior to your annual renewal date.

Will my membership automatically renew after 12 months?

Prior to the ending of your 12-month membership you will be emailed a renewal reminder, and if not cancelled membership will automatically renew for a further 12 months.

Do you offer a free trial?

Yes. One 7-day free trial is available to new members only, and it does not include Technical Assistance. Start a free trial here: https://www.tat.net.au/7day-trial.html. Past members will need to restart their membership to regain access: https://www.tat.net.au/join-up-now.html

Smart Search & Vehicle Lookup

What is Smart Search?

Smart Search is the best search on TaT for a fault on a car in the bay. Start it on the homepage: enter the rego (or find the vehicle by make and model), describe the fault in your own words – the symptoms, any fault codes and what you have checked so far – pick the system, then answer a few quick follow-up questions.

Tech Tina writes a diagnostic summary for that vehicle, and TaT lists the matching Repair Solutions, Technical Assistance cases, scan and scope data, videos and magazine articles, plus the wiring diagrams for the job where HaynesPro has them. Every Smart Search is saved in Tech Tina so you can come back to it.

For a quick question, use Ask Tech Tina. To look something up without a vehicle, use Keyword Search.

Can I look up a vehicle by its rego?

Yes. Type the rego into the lookup on the homepage, choose the state (or NZ), and TaT finds the make, model, year and engine. No rego? Choose Find the vehicle manually and pick it by make, model and engine. Every vehicle you look up is kept under Recent jobs, so you can pick it up again without retyping the rego, and mark it Job done when you have finished. The same rego lookup fills in the vehicle in Smart Intake, AutoCheck Pro and Wiring Diagrams.

Wiring Diagrams

Can I access wiring diagrams through TaT?

Yes. Interactive HaynesPro wiring diagrams are available to TaT members as an additional paid service, using diagram tokens purchased separately from membership. Alongside the diagrams, the service includes component locations, fuse and relay information, pin information, guided component tests and electronic procedures. Coverage varies by vehicle and system. For electric and hybrid vehicles, evidence of suitable qualifications is required: complete the EV Credentials page (a short form, your qualification uploaded and the declaration ticked) before high-voltage information will open.

One token unlocks the wiring diagrams, electronic procedures and fuse & engine locations HaynesPro has for your selected vehicle for 24 hours. You can return throughout that period without using another token – you do not need a separate token for each diagram. A different vehicle uses another token, and you are always asked before a token is used.

Current introductory token packs are:

10 tokens for $110
25 tokens for $220

Australian and New Zealand members pay the same prices. Card payments are charged in AUD; New Zealand members paying through Capricorn are charged in NZD. Token packs are valid for 12 months. Packs can be bought in the Wiring Diagrams section – by card or, if you pay TaT through Capricorn, on your Capricorn account – or by calling TaT on 1300 828 000 (Australia) or +61 2 9907 1332 (New Zealand).

How do diagram tokens work?

Looking through what HaynesPro has for a vehicle is free. The first time you open something for that vehicle – a wiring diagram, a component’s details, fuse and relay information or an electronic procedure – TaT asks you to confirm, then uses one token. What HaynesPro has for that vehicle then stays open for 24 hours, and a different vehicle uses another token.

Your balance is on the token button at the top of Wiring Diagrams: click it to see your packs and when each one expires, or to buy more. The pack that expires first is used first, and packs are valid for 12 months from purchase.

Why am I asked for EV credentials?

High-voltage information for electric and hybrid vehicles is safety information, so it is only for members who have declared suitable EV / high-voltage qualifications. The first time you open an electric or hybrid vehicle, TaT sends you to the EV Credentials page: fill in the short form, upload your qualification and tick the declaration (all three are needed), and it opens for you straight away. TaT may ask you to verify your credentials or provide further evidence at any time. No token is used when you are asked for credentials.

Workshop Tools

What is Smart Intake, and how does it work?

Smart Intake gathers the customer’s vehicle details and complaint before the car arrives at the workshop. On the Smart Intake page, type the rego and click Look up to fill in the vehicle, then send the customer a link by email or SMS. The customer fills in a short online form, and Tech Tina’s AI adds follow-up questions tailored to that complaint. The finished report appears on the member’s Smart Intake dashboard, ready to review, print, save as a PDF or hand to Tech Tina for a diagnostic plan. Once the job is done, the case can be turned into a Share your Solution, which earns Reward Points when the TaT team publishes it as a Repair Solution.

How does my customer receive and complete a Smart Intake form?

The customer receives an email, an SMS, or both, containing a private link that works for 7 days (resending the notification restarts the 7 days). The form takes about 5 minutes on a phone or computer and needs no login or password. As soon as it is submitted the member is emailed and the customer receives a confirmation. A reminder goes out automatically if the form is still waiting after 3 days.

What is AutoCheck Pro?

AutoCheck Pro is TaT’s digital vehicle inspection (DVI) tool, included in membership. Look the vehicle up by its rego, work through the inspection with a photo or video and notes for each item, and let TaT’s AI write a plain-English summary for the customer. Email the report to your customer: they view it online, approve the recommended work and sign for it. Reports can also be saved or printed as a PDF.

Technical Assistance & AI Assistants

How does the Technical Assistance service work?

All paid members have access to Technical Assistance (it is not part of the 7-day free trial). Members submit diagnostic or repair-related queries through the Technical Assistance portal, and the TaT team and community experts provide troubleshooting steps and repair recommendations.

What is Tech Tony, and how does it work?

Tech Tony is an AI assistant that provides solutions based on a database of successfully resolved cases. It acts as our first responder when a new technical assistance case is submitted. It is only accessible when a member submits a technical assistance request.

What is Tech Tina, and how does it work?

Tech Tina is TaT’s AI assistant for automotive technical support in real time. Ask a quick question for a quick answer, or add the rego and Tina answers for that exact car. Tina also writes the diagnostic summary in Smart Search, and her AI Workspace keeps your past conversations, Smart Searches and Smart Intake reports so you can pick them up again.

Are the responses from Tech Tony and Tech Tina accurate?

While both AIs are trained on a large database of automotive knowledge, users are advised to verify AI responses with other sources before making repair decisions.

Repair Solutions Database

What is the Repair Solutions Database?

The repair solutions database is a collection of real-world vehicle repair case studies that document faults, testing methods, and verified fixes.

Who contributes to the Repair Solutions Database?

Solutions are contributed by TaT members and verified by TaT’s expert team before being published.

How do I search for a repair solution?

For a fault on a car in the bay, use Smart Search on the homepage: enter the rego and describe the fault, and TaT lists the Repair Solutions for that vehicle, closest match first. To look something up without a vehicle, use Keyword Search, which searches every TaT database by make, model, fault code or symptom.

Scan Tool & Scope Data

What is the good scope/scan data resource?

This resource provides members with known-good oscilloscope waveforms and scantool data, including live sensor values and expected readings for various vehicles.

How often is the scan and scope data updated?

TaT continuously collects and updates data from verified sources, including member contributions.

Fault Codes & Acronyms Database

What does the Fault Code Database contain?

A comprehensive collection of diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) along with their potential causes and recommended testing procedures.

How do I search for a fault code?

Members can enter a specific P-code, B-code, C-code, or U-code into the search bar to retrieve relevant information.

What is the Acronyms Database?

A reference tool explaining common automotive abbreviations and acronyms, helping technicians understand industry terminology.

OE Info Resource

What is the OEM Info Resource page?

The OEM Info Resource shows how to reach each vehicle manufacturer’s own service portal: login requirements, access fees, the service information available and the scan tool it needs. Factory information such as repair procedures, diagnostic flowcharts and programming comes from those portals. For wiring diagrams, component and fuse locations and electronic procedures, TaT supplies HaynesPro data in the Wiring Diagrams section (see above).

TaT Magazine

What type of content is included in the TaT Magazine?

The magazine features technical articles, repair case studies, tool reviews, industry news, and contributions from automotive experts.

How often is the magazine published?

The TaT digital magazine is published bi-monthly, meaning there are six issues per year.

Can I access past issues of the TaT Magazine?

Yes. Every issue of The Automotive Technician magazine, including all past issues, is available to members on the TaT Magazine page of the website.

Is the TaT Magazine available in print?

No. The TaT Magazine is digital only: every issue is available to members on the website, and there are no printed copies.

Equipment Reviews

What type of tools and equipment are reviewed?

Equipment Reviews cover diagnostic tools, scan tools, oscilloscopes, specialty automotive tools, workshop equipment, and software.

Who writes the reviews?

Reviews are contributed by both TaT staff and members who have used the equipment in real-world workshop environments.

Can I submit my own review?

Yes, members are encouraged to submit reviews and share their experiences with automotive tools.

Technical Videos

What kind of technical videos does TaT provide?

Each month, TaT releases two video tutorials, covering diagnostic procedures, tool demonstrations, and real-world repair case studies.

Where can I watch the technical videos?

Videos are available on Facebook, YouTube, and the TaT website.

Are old videos archived?

Yes, members can access past videos from the Technical Videos section on the website.

Technical Training

What kind of training does TaT offer?

TaT offers in-person training at workshops, live-streamed training, and on-demand training that members can purchase and watch any time. Courses cover modern automotive diagnostics, EVs, hybrids, and emerging technologies.

How can I attend live training?

Members receive notifications of upcoming live training by email and can register through the Technical Training page on the TaT website.

Can I watch past training sessions?

Yes. Recorded training is available on demand: members can purchase a course and watch it any time from the Technical Training page.

Member Directory

What is the Members Directory?

The Members Directory is a map-based listing of workshops and technicians who are part of the TaT community that displays services that they offer and details about their businesses.

How do I add my business to the directory?

Members can choose to be listed in the Member Directory when they sign up to TaT.

I don’t want to be listed, can I be removed from the Member Directory?

Yes. Members can hide their listing at any time: open Member Settings (under your username on the navigation bar) and set Directory visibility to Hidden.

My business directory address is incorrect, how do I fix this?

The members directory details, including the address, can be edited by going to the directory home page and logging in and editing your business listing contact details. Go here to edit your details. To watch a video explaining how to edit the business directory details click here.

Rewards Program

How does the TaT Rewards Program work?

Members earn points by referring a new member, sharing a Repair Solution (including one written up from a Smart Intake job), leaving TaT a Google review, commenting on Technical Assistance cases, uploading known-good scope or scan data, and submitting Equipment Reviews. The Member Rewards page shows how many points each one earns.

Why does a Repair Solution now earn 50 points?

On the new TaT website a Repair Solution earns 50 points. Every Repair Solution you shared before the new website went live was paid at the old rate of 100 points: those points were added to your balance when the site changed over, so your total did not drop. The Member Rewards page lists them as Repair Solutions shared before the new site went live.

What can I do with my points?

Once a member reaches 1,500 points, they receive an additional six months of membership for free.

Are there any limits on earning reward points?

There are no limitations on the number of times a member can earn six months free membership.

How do I check my rewards balance?

Members can view their points balance by visiting the Member Rewards page here https://www.tat.net.au/scandata/rewards/member_rewards.php

TaT Website & Membership

How do I reset my password for the TaT website?

Your password can be reset by going to the Change Password link under your username on the navigation bar or by following this link: https://www.tat.net.au/change-password.html

How do I update my personal or business details?

Personal and business details can be updated by going to the Member Details link under your username on the navigation bar or by following this link: https://www.tat.net.au/change-details.html

How do I update my payment details?

Payment details can be updated by going to the Update Payment Details link under your username on the navigation bar or by following this link: https://www.tat.net.au/change-payment.html

How do I cancel my subscription?

Membership can be cancelled by contacting the TaT head office at [email protected] or by calling 1300 828 000 (Australia) or +61 2 9907 1332 (New Zealand). No pro-rata refunds will be payable for any membership cancellation requests prior to your annual renewal date.

How do I obtain a copy of my tax invoice?

Tax invoices will be emailed to you within 48 hours of processing your payment. Please email [email protected] or call 1300 828 000 (Australia) or +61 2 9907 1332 (New Zealand) if you need it sent again.

What type of payments do you accept?

Capricorn and credit card are our payment options for membership. Diagram tokens for Wiring Diagrams can be bought by credit card or, if you pay TaT through Capricorn, on your Capricorn account.

Can I use my membership on more than one device?

Yes. A TaT login can be in use on up to three devices – computers, tablets or phones – at the same time. A device counts as in use for 30 minutes after it was last used. If a fourth device starts being used, the one that has been idle the longest is signed out (never the one being used right now), and it shows a message explaining why the next time it opens a page.

What is the Guide tab?

Key pages on TaT have a Guide tab at the edge of the screen. Click it any time for a quick tour of the page, or to be walked through a job one step at a time. You will find it on the homepage, Wiring Diagrams, Smart Intake, AutoCheck Pro and other key pages.

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