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Facts checked against official sources on October 12, 2026

NYC open-competitive exams

NYC Auto Mechanic exams: 7010, 7011, and 7012

NYC DCAS opened three open-competitive Auto Mechanic exams on October 7, 2026, plus two promotion exams for current City employees. They share a filing window, fee, and pay rate, but they are separate exams with separate applications. This page summarizes the official Notices of Examination.

Filing window: October 7 to October 27, 2026

The filing period closes October 27, 2026, in 14 days. Applying is only the first step. You must also final submit the Education and Experience Exam in OASys by midnight Eastern time on the last day, or the application is incomplete and the fee is not refunded.

Which exam is which

NYC Auto Mechanic exams 7010, 7011, and 7012 compared
ExamFor jobs withMultiple-choice test expectedExperience required
7010 Auto MechanicCity agencies under the DCAS Commissioner (not CUNY)Thursday, January 21, 2027Five years as an auto mechanic, or 2.5 years plus helper, apprentice, or education credit
7011 Auto Mechanic (CUNY)The City University of New York onlyThursday, January 21, 2027Five years as an auto mechanic, or three years plus relevant education credit
7012 Auto Mechanic (Diesel)Diesel-powered vehicles and enginesFriday, January 15, 2027Five years as an auto mechanic specializing in automotive diesel engine repair, or 2.5 years of that plus helper, apprentice, or education credit

The 7010 and 7011 notices each say that applying to the other exam requires a separate application and fee. Test dates are listed as "expected" and may change.

Promotion versions for current City employees

DCAS lists two promotion exams for the same title, with the same October 7 to October 27, 2026 filing window, $96.00 fee, and $43.32 per hour minimum salary.

  • 7513 Promotion to Auto Mechanic, multiple-choice test expected Thursday, January 21, 2027.
  • 7512 Promotion to Auto Mechanic (Diesel), multiple-choice test expected Friday, January 15, 2027.

Both are open to employees of agencies under the DCAS Commissioner who hold a permanent competitive appointment, or are on a Preferred List, as Automotive Service Worker or Machinist's Helper (including 55-a employees who meet the other requirements). To be promoted you must have completed probation and served permanently in the eligible title for at least one year, unless probation was waived.

Scoring differs from the open-competitive exams: the multiple-choice test counts for 85% of the final score and seniority for 15%. The seniority score is 70 plus half a point for each three months of completed permanent continuous service, up to 15 years, and it is credited only if you pass the multiple-choice test. A score of at least 70% is required to pass, and there is a qualifying practical test.

Dates, fee, and pay

Filing period (all three)
October 7 to October 27, 2026
Application fee (each exam)
$96.00
Minimum salary
$43.32 per hour, 40-hour week
Passing score, multiple-choice
At least 70%
Passing score, practical test
At least 70%
Eligible list
Usually active four years

The fee may be waived for NYC high school students, first-time test takers, veterans, unemployed individuals, and people receiving public assistance or supplementary security income. Paying by credit, debit, or gift card adds a nonrefundable 2.00% service fee. The salary rate is subject to change.

How to qualify

  • The experience requirement must be met by the last day of the filing period, October 27, 2026. For 7010 and 7011 the education requirement must be met by October 27, 2027.
  • Part-time experience is converted to full-time on the Education and Experience Exam. You can be given the test before your qualifications are verified. If you are found not qualified, the fee is not refunded.
  • On 7010 and 7012, helper or apprentice experience, or relevant full-time education, is credited at six months for each year (prorated for less than a year). On 7011, six months is credited for each year of relevant full-time education.
  • At appointment you need a Class B Commercial Driver License valid in New York, or a New York driver license plus a Class B learner's permit, in which case you must obtain the Class B license within six months of appointment.
  • You must pass a drug screening to be appointed and must be able to understand and be understood in English.

A date error in the 7012 notice

The Diesel notice (7012) prints April 21, 2026 and April 21, 2027 as its experience and education dates. Those are the dates from DCAS's earlier Auto Mechanic notice (Exam 6025, whose filing period ended April 21, 2026), so they look carried over by mistake. The same sentence says the experience requirement must be met by the last day of the application period, which for 7012 is October 27, 2026, and the 7010 and 7011 notices published with it set the education date at October 27, 2027. Plan around October 27, 2026 for experience, and confirm the education date with DCAS before you rely on it.

The tests

Multiple-choice test. Given at a computer terminal. Your score determines your place on the eligible list, and you need at least 70% to pass. The notices list these task areas: repair work, basic principles and research, diagnostics, safety and ethics, reports, supervision and training, driving, and other related areas.

Topics the test may include: operating principles of internal combustion engines and automotive components, electrical and electronic principles and systems, repair, maintenance and troubleshooting of transmissions, steering and suspension, brakes, cooling and heating, ignition, fuel, and hydraulic systems, tool and equipment selection and use, safety practices, automotive inspections and emissions testing, New York State DMV operating rules, and standards of employee ethical conduct.

Abilities the test may require: Deductive Reasoning, Inductive Reasoning, Information Ordering, Mathematical Reasoning, Number Facility, Problem Sensitivity, Written Comprehension, Written Expression. Some questions may be answered from documents supplied on test day.

Qualifying practical test. Candidates who pass the multiple-choice test and meet the education and experience requirements are scheduled for a practical test that may assess troubleshooting, adjusting, diagnosing, repairing, and replacing faulty automotive components, using automotive test equipment, and related tasks. You need at least 70% to pass.

A wording inconsistency in the 7010 notice

The 7010 results paragraph says your name is placed on the eligible list if you pass the Education and Experience Exam. The same sentence appeared in DCAS's April 2026 Auto Mechanic notice (Exam 6025), so it looks like template wording. The 7011 and 7012 notices, and the 2025 Auto Mechanic (Diesel) notice (Exam 5151), say you must meet the requirements and pass both the multiple-choice test and the qualifying practical test, and the 7010 test section describes the same two tests. Expect both tests, and confirm with DCAS if you need certainty.

How to apply

  1. Apply through the Online Application System (OASys) at nyc.gov/examsforjobs. A valid email address is required.
  2. Complete the Education and Experience Exam and click Final Submit by midnight Eastern time on October 27, 2026. No changes are possible after final submit.
  3. Your Admission Notice appears on your OASys dashboard 14 days before the first expected test date.

Electronic devices are prohibited at the test site, and only basic four-function calculators are allowed. Using a prohibited device can nullify your score and bar you from civil service tests for up to five years.

Preparing (general guidance)

General guidance from CivilServiceExam.org, not official

This is advice that may help candidates. The notices do not publish a question count, a time limit, or a reading list for these exams.
  • Spend the filing window on the application. A missed final submit cannot be fixed.
  • Because this is an experience-based trade exam, the multiple-choice test rewards what you already do daily. Review areas you touch less, such as electrical and electronic systems, emissions inspection, and DMV rules.
  • Practice the reasoning abilities the notice lists. Our free civil service practice test covers reading, math, and logic. It is general practice and is not drawn from these exams.

Official sources and last verification

Facts on this page about dates, eligibility, and exam components come from the official sources below. We last checked them on October 12, 2026. Exam details change between cycles, so confirm with the administering authority before you act.

Related

CivilServiceExam.org is an independent preparation resource. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by NYC DCAS, the City of New York, or CUNY. Information labeled official comes from that authority's published pages. General preparation guidance is ours and may not match a specific examination. Always follow the current official notice.