• Automotive service professionals restore classic vehicles.a car in a car show image by Gary from Fotolia.com
  
  Automobile service associations are professional organizations made up of automotive mechanics, parts professionals and automotive engineers. These associations promote quality vehicle service practices; train, test and certify automotive service workers; lobby politicians and governments for new automotive service-related legislation; promote the profession of automobile service; and provide networking opportunities to car service professionals.
  
  

Automotive Service Association

• The Automotive Service Association, or ASA, is an international automobile service not-for-profit trade organization. ASA has chapters throughout the United States, as well as in several other countries, according to their website. The association also holds workshops and training sessions for automotive service workers, and promotes quality standards in the automobile service industry and customer retention--ASA claimed that 78 percent of its members' customers were repeat consumers, as of July 2010. ASA publishes AUTOINC Magazine, which is a monthly auto service trade magazine. The association promotes the development and progress of individual operators and family-owned businesses, with 94 percent of its mechanical members part of a family-owned business as of July 2010, according to ASA. The organization offers memberships to students, repair shops and automotive service professionals for $235 per year as of July 2010.
  
  

Alliance of Automotive Service Providers

• The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers, or AASP, is a trade organization for auto mechanics, shop owners and parts professionals. AASP primarily works with the aftermarket automotive service industry and had chapters in 22 states as of July 2010. The alliance sponsors continuing training for auto service workers. The organization promotes quality and ethical conduct within the automotive service industry. AASP promotes accuracy and truth in damage repair estimates, and co-founded the Database Enhancement Gateway, which is an innovative electronic program that improves the accuracy of estimates. According to AASP, the organization offers membership to individual service workers, automotive shops and state or local auto service associations. Individual or "Associate" membership costs $250 per year, shop membership costs $100 per year and association membership costs vary, as of July 2010, according to AASP.
  
  

National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence

• The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, or ASE, is a not-for-profit automotive service trade organization founded in 1972. ASE claims to cover all segments of the automotive service industry such as dealerships, independent mechanics and repair shops, as well as covering all highway vehicle types including cars, light trucks, semis and buses. The organization does not offer memberships, but acts as a certifying body for the automobile service industry. The Institute offers voluntary training, testing and certification for automotive service professionals such as mechanics, collision repair persons, auto manufacturing workers, parts specialists and engine machinists, among others. Written certification testing is conducted twice per year, and practical field testing is done at various times, according to ASE.