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Dealership Sales Jobs

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An automotive salesperson doing his job at a car dealership.

Find automotive sales jobs with dealerships and automotive employers across the country.

 

Whether you are an experienced automotive sales consultant, internet sales professional, BDC representative, or someone considering a career in car sales, CarGuys Inc. connects automotive professionals with dealerships actively hiring sales talent.

 

Search current automotive sales jobs and find opportunities that match your experience, goals, and location.

Find Your Next Dealership Sales Job

Automotive dealerships depend on talented sales professionals who can build customer relationships, understand their needs, explain vehicle features, and guide buyers through one of their largest purchasing decisions.

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CarGuys focuses exclusively on the automotive industry, helping candidates connect with dealerships looking for sales professionals at different stages of their careers.

 

Opportunities may include positions for:​

  • Automotive Sales Consultants

  • Car Salespeople

  • New Vehicle Sales Consultants

  • Used Vehicle Sales Consultants

  • Internet Sales Consultants

  • BDC Representatives

  • Internet Sales Managers

  • Sales Managers

  • Used Car Managers

  • General Sales Managers

Availability varies by market, experience level, dealership, and current employer needs.

Automotive Sales Jobs at Car Dealerships

The responsibilities of an automotive salesperson can vary from one dealership to another, but the goal is generally the same: help customers find the right vehicle while creating a buying experience that earns their business.


Depending on the dealership and position, responsibilities may include:

  • Greeting showroom and internet customers

  • Identifying customer needs and vehicle preferences

  • Demonstrating vehicle features and technology

  • Conducting test drives

  • Following up with prospective buyers

  • Responding to internet leads

  • Maintaining customer relationships

  • Working with sales managers on vehicle pricing and deal structure

  • Coordinating with the finance department

  • Developing referral and repeat business

  • Maintaining knowledge of current inventory

  • Meeting individual and dealership sales goals

 

If you are new to the business and wondering what the work actually looks like, read Day in the Life of a Car Salesperson for a closer look at the daily responsibilities of dealership sales professionals.

Automotive salesperson presenting a vehicle to a customer.

What Dealerships Look For in Automotive Salespeople

Automotive sales can be different from many dealership careers because previous automotive experience is not always required.
 

Dealerships often place significant value on communication skills, motivation, professionalism, customer service, and the ability to build relationships.
 

Common qualities employers may look for include:

  • Strong communication and listening skills

  • Customer service experience

  • Confidence speaking with customers

  • Professional appearance and demeanor

  • Self-motivation

  • Follow-up skills

  • Comfort using phones, email, text, and CRM systems

  • Ability to learn vehicle features and technology

  • Goal-oriented mindset

  • Ability to work as part of a sales team

  • Willingness to work dealership retail hours

  • A valid driver’s license

 

Previous retail, hospitality, customer service, real estate, wireless, insurance, or other sales experience may also transfer well into automotive sales.
 

If you are considering entering the industry for the first time, How to Start Your Career in Car Sales explains what to expect and how to position yourself for your first dealership sales opportunity.

Can You Get a Dealership Car Sales Job Without Experience?

Yes. Automotive sales is one of the dealership career paths where candidates can sometimes enter the industry without previous dealership experience.


Many dealerships are willing to train motivated candidates who demonstrate strong communication skills, professionalism, reliability, and the ability to connect with customers.
 

Your previous experience may be particularly valuable if you have worked in:

  • Retail sales

  • Customer service

  • Hospitality

  • Restaurants

  • Wireless or electronics sales

  • Real estate

  • Insurance

  • Banking

  • Business-to-business sales

  • Other commission-based sales environment

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Your first dealership position can also become the beginning of a much longer automotive career. From Lot Porter to Sales Pro: Career Paths in Automotive explores how dealership employees can build their careers as they gain experience.

Automotive Sales Consultant Pay and Compensation

Automotive sales compensation varies considerably by dealership, market, experience, sales volume, pay plan, and individual performance.
Sales consultants may be compensated through a combination of:

  • Base salary or hourly pay

  • Commission

  • Unit bonuses

  • Gross-profit commissions

  • Volume bonuses

  • Manufacturer incentives

  • Customer satisfaction bonuses

  • Monthly or quarterly performance bonuses

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Because dealership pay plans can differ substantially, the advertised earning potential does not always tell you everything you need to know about an opportunity.
 

When comparing automotive sales jobs, consider factors such as:

  • How many vehicles the dealership sells each month

  • How many salespeople share those opportunities

  • How internet leads are distributed

  • Whether the dealership provides a salary or guarantee

  • Commission structure

  • Volume bonuses

  • Gross-profit bonuses

  • Minimum commissions

  • New versus used vehicle opportunities

  • Schedule and days off

  • Benefits and PTO

  • Training

  • Average salesperson tenure

  • Customer traffic

  • Marketing and lead generation

 

Before accepting an offer, review How to Evaluate an Automotive Sales Consultant Job Offer for a deeper look at dealership pay plans and the questions you should ask.

Questions to Ask Before Accepting an Automotive Sales Job

A dealership interview is not only an opportunity for the employer to evaluate you. It is also your opportunity to determine whether the dealership gives its salespeople a realistic chance to succeed.
Consider asking:

  • How many vehicles does the dealership sell in an average month?

  • How many sales consultants are currently on the floor?

  • How are internet leads distributed?

  • How does the pay plan work?

  • Is there a training guarantee?

  • What does the average salesperson sell each month?

  • How long has the average salesperson been with the dealership?

  • What percentage of the business comes from repeat and referral customers?

  • What CRM does the dealership use?

  • What is the expected work schedule?

  • How are days off handled?

  • What training is provided?

  • Why is this position currently open?

  • What opportunities are available for advancement?


It is also worth researching the employer before your interview. Researching Car Dealerships explains what job seekers should investigate before deciding whether a dealership is a good place to build their career.

Dealership sales manager interviewing a candidate for an automotive sales job.

Preparing for an Automotive Sales Interview

A dealership sales interview often focuses less on technical automotive knowledge and more on how you communicate, handle customers, respond to objections, and approach sales.
 

Be prepared to discuss:

  • Your previous sales or customer service experience

  • How you build rapport with customers

  • How you handle rejection

  • Your approach to follow-up

  • How you work toward goals

  • Examples of difficult customer situations

  • Why you want to work in automotive sales

  • Why you are interested in that particular dealership

  • Your availability and schedule expectations


Some managers may also ask you to demonstrate how you would greet a customer, handle an objection, or follow up with a prospect.
 

Before your interview, review How to Ace a Sales Interview at a Dealership and Sales Interview Questions That Separate Average from Great to prepare for the questions and scenarios you may encounter.

Automotive sales manager mentoring a sales consultant inside a car dealership showroom

Building a Career in Automotive Sales

A sales consultant position can be the starting point for several different dealership career paths.
 

Experienced sales professionals may advance into positions such as:
 

Senior Sales Consultant
Experienced producers may build substantial repeat and referral business while remaining in a customer-facing sales role.
 

Internet Sales or BDC
Sales professionals with strong phone, digital communication, and follow-up skills may move into internet-focused positions.
 

Internet Sales Manager
Experienced internet sales professionals may eventually oversee lead management, appointment setting, CRM processes, and digital sales operations.
 

Sales Manager
Sales managers coach the sales team, structure deals, manage inventory, monitor performance, and help the department reach its goals.
 

Used Car Manager
Used vehicle management adds responsibilities involving vehicle acquisition, inventory, appraisals, pricing, and merchandising.
 

General Sales Manager
A GSM typically oversees the dealership’s overall sales operation and may manage new vehicle, used vehicle, internet, and sales management teams.
 

General Manager
For some automotive professionals, sales leadership eventually provides a path toward overall dealership management.
 

If management is part of your long-term plan, understanding what those positions offer can help you prepare. See How to Evaluate Internet Sales Manager Job Offers and How to Evaluate General Sales Manager Job Offers for a closer look at two potential advancement opportunities.

Is Automotive Sales a Good Career?

Automotive sales can provide strong earning and advancement opportunities for people who enjoy working with customers and are comfortable in a performance-driven environment.
 

It can be particularly attractive for people who value:

  • Performance-based earning potential

  • Working directly with customers

  • A fast-paced environment

  • Opportunities to develop sales skills

  • Career advancement

  • The ability to build repeat and referral business

  • A career where individual performance can make a meaningful difference


However, automotive sales is not the right fit for everyone.
 

Retail schedules can include evenings and weekends. Income may fluctuate based on performance and dealership traffic. Sales goals can create pressure, and consistently following up with customers requires discipline.
 

Understanding both sides of the career before accepting a position can help you choose an environment where you can succeed long term.
 

For professionals already in the industry, How Salespeople Can Avoid Burnout offers strategies for managing the pressure that can come with a dealership sales career.

Finding the Right Dealership Matters

Two automotive sales jobs with similar titles can provide very different experiences.
 

Management style, dealership traffic, inventory, lead distribution, pay plans, training, reputation, schedule, and workplace culture can all influence your success.
 

A talented salesperson at the wrong dealership may struggle, while the same person in an environment with strong leadership, good processes, adequate inventory, and a competitive pay plan may thrive.
 

That is why finding your next automotive sales job should involve more than searching for the highest advertised income.
 

Look for the dealership that gives you the opportunity, resources, compensation structure, and environment you need to perform.
 

And remember that not every opportunity is advertised publicly. Why the Best Automotive Jobs Never Make It to Indeed explains why being visible to automotive recruiters can help you discover opportunities you might otherwise never see.

Why Automotive Sales Professionals Use CarGuys

CarGuys Inc. focuses exclusively on automotive careers.
 

We work with dealerships and automotive employers throughout the country looking for professionals across sales, service, parts, management, finance, collision, and other dealership departments.
 

Instead of searching through thousands of unrelated positions, automotive professionals can use CarGuys to explore opportunities specifically within the automotive industry.
 

Search current automotive sales openings or create an account so you can learn about relevant opportunities as they become available.

Frequently Asked Questions About Automotive Sales Jobs

Do I need previous car sales experience to work at a dealership?
Not always. Some dealerships prefer candidates with previous automotive sales experience, while others are willing to train candidates with strong communication, customer service, or sales skills. Retail, hospitality, real estate, insurance, wireless, and other sales backgrounds can provide transferable experience.
 

What does an automotive sales consultant do?
Automotive sales consultants help customers choose vehicles, explain features, conduct test drives, follow up with prospects, work with dealership managers during the purchasing process, and maintain relationships that can generate repeat and referral business.
 

How do car salespeople get paid?
Compensation varies by dealership. Pay plans may include salary, hourly pay, commissions, unit bonuses, gross-profit commissions, volume bonuses, manufacturer incentives, or combinations of these. Always review the complete pay plan before accepting a position.
 

Do car salespeople have to work weekends?
Many dealerships conduct significant business on weekends, so Saturday availability is common for automotive sales positions. Schedules vary by dealership, and some states or dealership groups operate differently. Ask about the expected schedule during your interview.
 

What skills do dealerships look for in salespeople?
Communication, listening, customer service, follow-up, professionalism, motivation, organization, and relationship-building skills are commonly valued. Previous automotive knowledge can help, but many vehicle and dealership processes can be learned through training.
 

Can automotive sales lead to dealership management?
Yes. Sales consultants may advance into internet sales, sales management, used car management, general sales management, and eventually general management. Advancement depends on performance, leadership ability, experience, and available opportunities.
 

What should I put on a resume for an automotive sales job?
Highlight sales performance, customer service experience, measurable results, CRM experience, awards, repeat or referral business, previous dealership experience, and other accomplishments that demonstrate your ability to work with customers and achieve goals.
For additional guidance, see Top Resume Tips for Automotive Job Seekers.
 

How should I prepare for a dealership sales interview?
Research the dealership, understand its brands and inventory, prepare examples of your sales or customer-service experience, and be ready to explain how you build relationships, handle objections, follow up, and work toward goals.
 

Are automotive sales jobs available nationwide?
CarGuys works with automotive dealerships and employers throughout the United States. Available sales positions vary by market and change as employers add new openings.
 

How can I find automotive sales jobs near me?
Search current automotive sales opportunities through CarGuys and look for openings in your location. Because opportunities change regularly, creating a candidate account can also help you learn about relevant positions when they become available.
 

How can I hear about automotive sales jobs that aren’t publicly advertised?
Create a CarGuys candidate account and keep your profile and resume current. Some employers work with recruiters before or instead of advertising opportunities broadly, so being searchable can help you hear about positions you may not find through a traditional job-board search.

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