How to become a vehicle and parts salesperson or adviser

Official title: Vehicle and parts salespersons and advisers

Also called: Parts adviser, Sales adviser, Parts salesman, Parts assistant, Parts technician, Car sales adviser, Parts coordinator, Vehicle sales adviser, Vehicle sales assistant, Vehicle sales executive, Motor vehicle parts man, Vehicle parts operative

Vehicle and parts salespersons and advisers undertake vehicle sales, parts advisory and aftersales service advisory roles, selling new and used vehicles to the general public, and vehicle accessories and parts to garages, vehicle dealerships and the general public.

Main tasks

• Discusses customer’s requirements, advises on most appropriate vehicle, explains its features and arranges test drive
• Negotiates sale price including any ‘trade-in’ and extra accessories, works out finance arrangements and completes sales paperwork
• Carries out pre-delivery inspection and formal hand-over of vehicle to customer
• Updates stock record, orders new vehicles from manufacturer, buys in used cars
• Receives orders for parts by phone, email or in person and checks availability on stock record
• Obtains parts from store or orders from suppliers
• Organises delivery of parts and handles payment
• Orders new supplies, arranges storage and updates stock records

How to become one

There are no formal academic requirements for entry but some employers may ask for GCSEs and/or some previous relevant work experience. Apprenticeships may be available in some areas. Vehicle salespersons generally require a full, clean driving licence.

Ways in

• Apprenticeship (England): Motor finance specialist (level 3). England. Typically 24 months. Skills England standard ST0474.

Pay · Outlook

• Median full-time pay: £31,851 a year The middle half earn £28,527 to £35,658.
• About 44,400 people work in this job now, and about 42,200 are projected by 2035. (-4.9%)

Related jobs

• Sales and retail assistants
• Retail cashiers and check-out operators
• Telephone salespersons
• Pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants

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Questions people ask

How do I become a vehicle and parts salesperson or adviser?

There are no formal academic requirements for entry but some employers may ask for GCSEs and/or some previous relevant work experience. Apprenticeships may be available in some areas. Vehicle salespersons generally require a full, clean driving licence.

How much does a vehicle and parts salesperson or adviser earn in the UK?

Median full-time pay is £31,851 a year (Office for National Statistics). The middle half earn £28,527 to £35,658.

Is a vehicle and parts salesperson or adviser a growing career in the UK?

Employment is projected to fall 5% by 2035, from about 44,400 to about 42,200 people (Department for Education).

Do you need a degree to become a vehicle and parts salesperson or adviser?

Usually not. Only 18% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Motor finance specialist (level 3).

Sources

• Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03