What does a Car Salesperson do?
A Car Salesperson typically works for a car dealership, helping customers find a vehicle that suits their driving needs and price range. They stay up-to-date on popular car models and perform test drives so they can accurately describe a vehicle’s capabilities to a customer. Their job is to use their sales skills and knowledge of cars to maintain vehicle sales at their dealership. They may also be responsible for issuing loan contracts between the buyer and the dealership.
Car Salesperson skills and qualifications
A Car Salesperson uses a variety of soft skills and industry knowledge to provide the most rewarding customer service experience they can. Common skills and qualifications for a Car Salesperson include:
- Exceptional customer service skills, including interpersonal communication and rapport building
- In-depth knowledge of the dealership’s vehicles, finance options and sales process
- Intuition to anticipate which cars will appeal to different customers
- Active listening to best determine a customer’s wants and needs
- Persuasiveness to convince customers to make a purchase
- Confidence to create a positive impression on customers
- Negotiation skills to offer deals that satisfy customers while ensuring profit for the dealership
- Organization and time management to handle many different customers, including past customers, at once
- Teamwork and collaboration skills to coordinate sales with the financing department and/or other Salespeople
- A welcoming and friendly demeanor
- Knowledge and passion for vehicles
Car Salesperson education and training requirements
Entry-level candidates are likely to have at least a high school diploma or GED, though some may have an associate or bachelor’s degree in business administration, marketing, communication or another related field. Those with completed undergraduate education may be suitable for leadership roles. In addition, some candidates may have a sales management certification from the National Automobile Dealers Association. Depending on the state, candidates could have or be working toward attaining a vehicle sales license.
Car Salesperson experience requirements
Entry-level candidates should have previous experience in customer service or sales and/or relevant education or training. These candidates can also complete a dealership’s on-the-job training program. Familiarity with the dealership’s vehicle types and brands is also necessary for this role. Candidates with more than 5 years of experience likely have keen sales abilities, familiarity with selling particular vehicles and a network of previous customers. For luxury or specialized dealerships, candidates should have previous sales experience, either with those vehicles, other vehicles or in other environments.
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