Turn Time Under the Hood Into a Career That Lasts
If you have ever taken something apart just to see how it works, a career in auto repair might already be calling. For anyone typing "mechanic school near me" into a search bar and hoping to find real training without a mountain of debt, Newgate School has spent five decades proving there is a better way.
- Every program is completely free, with no tuition, no fees, and no student loans to pay back.
- Training happens entirely in the shop on real cars, so you build skills the way the job actually demands.
- Nearly every graduate walks out with a job lined up and a set of tools to start their career.
Newgate School is a nonprofit automotive technical school, and our approach is simple. We take young adults who are ready to work with their hands and give them the training, the confidence, and the connections to build a lasting career in auto repair. There are no lectures to sit through and no textbooks to memorize. The cars are the classroom.
That model has worked since our founder started the school in 1975, funded not by tax dollars but by the sale of donated vehicles. It is a full-circle idea that still runs the school today, and it means students focus on learning instead of worrying about how to pay for it.
Apply to Our Mechanics Program
Career Training Without the Tuition Bill
Most auto programs come with a price tag that can take years to pay off. Ours does not. At Newgate School, students pay nothing to enroll, nothing for materials, and nothing for hidden fees. We are able to do this because every dollar comes from the sale of donated cars, which keeps our doors open and our mechanic school free for the people who need it most. For a lot of our students, that difference is what makes a career in the trade possible at all.
The Shop Is the Classroom
From the first day, you are working on real vehicles with real problems to solve. Students learn to diagnose and repair engines, brakes, suspensions, transmissions, and more, all under the guidance of master-level instructors who spent years in the trade before starting to teach. Some students work on as many as 50 projects before they finish. That kind of repetition is how skill becomes second nature, and it is something a lecture can never deliver. Come tour the shop and watch it happen for yourself.
Finding a Mechanic School Near Me in Minneapolis, MN
When you search for a mechanic school near me, you want one that is close, welcoming, and ready to meet you where you are. Newgate School sits in the Northeast neighborhood, and we open our doors to young adults across the seven-county metro area who are serious about a future in automotive work. A high school diploma is not required. What matters to us is ability and attitude. Demand for spots is high, so the best first step is to reach out, schedule a visit, and learn how to apply.
Graduation Day Comes with a Job and a Toolbox
Finishing at Newgate School is a real milestone. Every graduate earns a certificate of completion and receives a tool cabinet stocked with the equipment their career calls for. Better yet, nearly all of them have a job waiting before they even walk out the door. We have built relationships with dealerships, national brands, and small local shops across the metro, and those shops know our graduates show up ready to work.
Choosing where to train is a big decision, and it helps to see how the two paths at Newgate School line up side by side. Auto mechanics and auto body both run entirely on hands-on work, but they lead to different trades and different days in the shop. Here is how they compare.
| Program | Auto Mechanics | Auto Body |
| What You Do | Diagnose and fix how a car runs | Repair and refinish how a car looks |
| Skills You Build | Engines, brakes, suspension, transmissions, diagnostics, welding | Metal work, welding, painting, sanding, bodywork, cost estimating |
| Program Length | Up to 14 months | Up to 18 months |
| How You Learn | 100% hands-on, no classroom | 100% hands-on, no classroom |
| Cost to You | Free, no loans or fees | Free, no loans or fees |
| Where It Leads | Service technician at shops, dealerships, and service centers | Body shops, custom garages, and detailing centers |
Build Your Future with Newgate School in Minneapolis, MN
For five decades, Newgate School has helped young adults across the metro turn a genuine interest in cars into steady, skilled careers. When you train with us, you become part of a full-circle story: donated cars become your hands-on lessons, your lessons become a trade, and that trade becomes a stable life for you and your family. That is the heart of what we do here in Minneapolis, MN.
If you are ready to trade the search for a mechanic school near me for an actual first day in the shop, we would love to meet you. Reach out to schedule a visit, tour our facility, and find out how to get started. One conversation could be the beginning of a whole new career.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Newgate School located?
Newgate School is located in Minneapolis, MN, in the Northeast neighborhood, and we welcome students from across the seven-county metro area. If you have been searching for a mechanic school near me, our shop is easy to reach and worth the visit. Give us a call to schedule a tour, and we will show you around.
How much does mechanic school cost at Newgate?
The mechanic school at Newgate is completely free. Students pay no tuition, no fees, and take on no loans, because the program is funded entirely through the sale of donated vehicles. That means you can focus on learning the trade instead of worrying about how to pay for it.
Do I need a high school diploma to enroll?
No, a high school diploma is not required to enroll at Newgate School. We look at ability and attitude first, and we work with young adults who are serious about building a career in auto repair. If you are ready to show up and work hard, we would love to hear from you.
What will I actually learn in the auto mechanics program?
You will learn to diagnose and repair engines, brakes, suspensions, transmissions, and more, all through hands-on work on real cars. There are no lectures or textbooks, so every skill you build comes from doing the job under the guidance of experienced instructors. By the time you graduate, you are ready to work as a general service technician.
Will I have a job after finishing a mechanic school program?
Nearly all of our graduates have a job lined up before they finish. Newgate School has built strong relationships with dealerships, national brands, and local shops across the metro, and those employers actively seek out our graduates. Every student also leaves with a certificate of completion and a cabinet of tools to start their career.
How long does the training take to complete?
Most students finish within 12 to 18 months, and the pace is flexible to match your experience. The auto mechanics program runs up to 14 months, while the auto body program can take up to 18 months. Because training is individualized, your timeline depends on your starting point and how quickly you pick up each skill.