A Day in the Life of a Car Salesperson

Have you ever thought about what it’s like to be a car salesperson? Let us give you a peek behind the curtains and take you through a day in the life of a car salesperson to see what it takes to excel in this in-demand career track.

Start Times

Car salespeople operate under normal business hours, usually between 8 am and 6 pm, depending on the dealership. Dealerships want to remain active when most customers are active, so it is rare to see a dealership open much later than 6 pm.

Throughout the week, car salespeople will work on average of about 40 hours per week with the opportunity for overtime. Most of this time is spent indoors at the office, but car sales people do need to show cars to customers on the lot and may take the vehicles for short test drives if necessary.

A People Profession

Whether you’re a used car salesperson or you work directly with a specific manufacturer, car salespeople speak with a lot of people on a daily basis. As such, their profession requires excellent people skills and the “gift of the gab.” From the moment a car salesperson sits down on the office chair to the second he or she switches off the showroom lights, it’s nonstop talking, explaining and reassuring.

Of course, car salespeople have to know a lot about the cars they’re selling. Customers ask every question under the sun, and their decision to buy or not to buy can be based on how well their salesperson communicates the benefits of the car. To prepare for the onslaught of questions, car salespeople need to be well versed in their cars.

Part of the art of selling also comes from knowing in an instant what the customer needs and wants - two very different things. A great car salesperson is able to listen to what the customer is asking for and reinterpret their needs and wants in a vehicle. It may seem easy, but on the whole, it takes a keen eye and listening skills to be able to process and deliver exactly what the customer is looking for at such a rapid speed.

Car salespeople guide customers through the whole sales process; they don’t hand them off to another person to complete the sale. That means that car salespeople also have to have an understanding of each customer’s financial situation and what they can really afford. It will be up to the car salesperson to negotiate a sale that is profitable for the dealership without scaring away the customer. Car salespeople also have to walk customers through the loan application process, which can be confusing and intimidating for some customers. With reassurance and helpful advice, car salespeople can successfully convince even the most sceptical buyers to take the plunge and buy a car.