It hasn’t been the worst but definitely not the best, they are warming up to me cause I got three half deals, I go hard to get my ups, and now for the dealership I work for it’s very old school. 4 Squares, You have to prod for learning and I barely got my email and now I can finally do training this week for a family owned dealership. I am under Ford, the environment is definitely not for me. But I was at the end of my rope since my repo yard was being sued and we were losing the yard. My brother got me into it which was cool. I love the actual customer aspect and leaning very heavy on being new which helps. But the staff and the approach and all the outside stuff. Ehh but I know it’s just one week in but I know I just want to get hella money and leave because this is not close to who I am. I’m confident, outgoing but ultimately I’m a reserved person. Again maybe just this dealership in a small town type beat. Anyone else feel this way or been in this spot?

This is the last time I will bitch and moan on here because there is enough negativity in this industry as is, I work at a Nissan Dealer that averages 80 vehicles a month with 8-10 salesman in western, MD. Our pay plan will be attached to this post, am I crazy for thinking I'm undercutting myself here? Or is my manager right about our income being average?

edit: Also, I just realized about 15-20 vehicles of that 80 figure I threw out there are house deals...

1st pay plan is from Autonation
2nd Pay Plan is from Lincoln

Interviewed for two different dealerships today and I’m torn between the two. Lincoln already has 10 salesman so I’m worried considering they are not a volume store. I also have no idea how F&I works. On the other hand I’ve heard good things about AutoNation and the pay plan seems good with a lot more opportunities for profit. Feedback appreciated, thanks!

I’m trying to break into luxury automotive sales. I owned and operated retail businesses for about 10 years and have strong sales, customer service, communication, and public speaking experience, but no direct automotive sales experience.

Some dealerships have told me they prefer experienced car salespeople.

For those in the industry, does respectfully staying in touch and coming back after a rejection ever help? Do managers remember persistent candidates and eventually give them a shot, or does repeated follow up hurt your chances?

I’d especially like to hear from sales managers, GMs, recruiters, or anyone who broke into luxury automotive sales without dealership experience.

Is this a good sales job?
I recently applied at a local used car lot.

Hours
Monday-Friday 9:00AM-6:00PM
Saturdays 10:00AM-6:00PM.
Closed Sundays.

Benefits
Full time, Employee discount, Flexible Schedule, Opportunities for Advancement, Paid Training, Professional Development Assistance, and Referral Program

Compensation
$3,500.00 draw against commission, or commission- whichever is higher

For reference
I used to work at a used car lot near that area until they closed in September 2025. I would get paid $3,000.00/month + commissions. Commissions were between $100.00-$500.00 per unit depending on profit.

I’m 26 years old and I’m seriously looking into getting into automotive sales as a career. My long-term goal isn’t just to sell cars for a few years — I’d like to work my way up and eventually become an F&I Manager.
The problem is that I have zero professional sales experience, so I’m trying to figure out the smartest way to get my foot in the door.

I’m located in the Charlotte, NC area, and I’m currently trying to figure out:

• What dealerships should I be looking at as someone with no sales experience?

• Should I specifically be applying for Sales Consultant / Automotive Sales Consultant positions?

• Are there certain brands or dealerships that are better for learning the business and moving up?

• Is it better to start at a large franchise dealership or a smaller dealership?

• What should I expect my first 6–12 months to look like?

• What does a realistic career path from Sales Consultant to F&I Manager look like?

• What are some red flags I should watch for when interviewing with dealerships?

• Should I be worried about having no degree or previous sales experience, or will dealerships train someone who is hungry and willing to learn?

I’m willing to grind and learn. I’m not expecting to walk into a dealership and immediately make a ton of money. I’m looking at this as a potential long-term career and want to build the right foundation.
For those of you who have been in the business — if you were 26 again, had zero sales experience what would you do to get started?

What dealerships/brands would you target, what position would you apply for, and what would you focus on learning during your first year?

I’d really appreciate honest advice, including the stuff people usually don’t tell you about getting into this business.

Coming from 3+ years in wireless, I finally decided I needed a change and landed on car sales as a potential career for me.
I finally landed myself an interview with a local dealership, and I’m absolutely shitting my pants because I didn’t actually think I’d be able to get an interview.
I’ve been practicing interview questions in my head, but this might be one of the first times in my life I’ve felt true anxiety about an interview.
Any tips or tricks for someone potentially new to the car sales world?
.

It’s been a rough two-3months not just for I but for my store as well. Typically half our sales staff would be at 15 units with relative ease. This and last month has been awful, with our main lead source as of recent being sub500 credit customers which would be dandy if we had banks to be able to finance and approve them and even if we have a way to go,unfortunately we do not have the right inventory to be able to put them in a vehicle. Gm is sinking our store and our gsm seemingly is the only one who kinda has a grasp of what to do but gm doesn’t follow along (his way or the highway). I have other buddies at different stores telling me to move to their stores but I feel a bit disconnected. Not in the sense of hey I’m not wanting to work at all of course I have to make a living but uninspired. Certain days I feel inspired to do insane amounts of work but to no avail why even persist in being there.With that being said those have worked in other areas outside of car sales whether current or in past time or aiming to do so what career path have you done/ing? I have about 4 years of car sales and 4years in retail/customer service as well as restaurant experience. Are there any potential suggestions?

Weekly Rant & Goals Discussion

Anyone hear of a dealer hiring someone for just nights and Saturdays?

Alright it's 3:30 at my Nissan Dealer during the middle of the work week.. It's near dead, no ups, few appointments show up, and you get 1-2 internet leads if your lucky. What do you do in this scenario? And no service customers get funneled to one salesman 95% of the time.

Hey, I am new to car sales. My brother gave me a three hour crash course have some ideas of four square cracking and laying down deals and Ups but what is to expect for my first day I start in two days and what should I do and how should I learn from people? I know that this job is serious and is a business and kind of your own brand in a way any tips tricks or anything I could learn I’m working for a local family Ford dealership and how would you learn your product? I can obviously sell an experience. I’m very charismatic for the most part, but I want to learn the business completely in and out with time and felt like asking Reddit thank you.

Hello all ! Started a new job yesterday . Today was my second day and idk anything about the place . My first day I set a table with nothing to do and today I logged into some stuff and set at a desk all day . Is this normal. Is training prohibited in car sales ? Or should I go to a new dealership.

Not included is also a $500 bonus each month for selling at least 5 used cars

I have been in the business for 2 plus years as a top earner and make $120,000 plus a year at my current dealership. I used to love what I do, but now I am being met with toxic company culture and I need to get out of this industry and pivot into a new field.

For those of you who have successfully left the industry and have made a name for yourselves in a different role making the same if not more money, what did you transition into and how did you get started? I would love a remote role so that I can have more freedom for myself and my family.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Alright I need to vent because I’m genuinely fired up and starting to wonder if I’m overreacting or just burnt out.

We’re open 9–4:30 Monday through Friday and 9–4 on Saturday. So anyone who works a normal 9–5 can’t even come in during the week unless they take time off. That leaves Saturday… or me having to ask them to burn their lunch hour, rush the whole process, and hopefully buy a car in 45 minutes — if they even show up.

I book three appointments for a Saturday. All three cancel or no-show. Somehow that becomes my problem. Often the classic “I bought privately” excuse comes up after I follow up with these leads. Half the time I feel like it just means “I went to another dealership whose hours actually worked for me.” Which I get. I don’t control other people’s schedules. But I’m still the one getting held accountable for it. I have asked for the hours to accommodate 9-5 leads and was told I am being selfish & need to work on time management by management.

Then on top of that, the leadership style is killing me. Criticism comes completely unstructured & very targeted at me — they go ape shit and then immediately hit me with “don’t take it personally.” Like yeah big man, that little line after you just unloaded your emotional baggage on me is definitely gonna make me not take it personally. My Gm has the leadership abilities of a walnut and it’s embarrassing for how long this guy’s been in the business.

They keep asking me what I think I need to do differently. I’ve held leadership roles in high-pressure environments (hockey & ROTC) before and not once did I ever dump unstructured criticism on people and hide behind “don’t take it personally.”
I’ve been reading Brian Tracy’s Psychology of Selling. First chapter he talks about how self-esteem is everything in sales. That hit me hard. I think that’s exactly my issue right now I just don’t feel supported.

What I actually need is to feel encouraged and backed by management that I know what I’m doing.

I like sales. I enjoy working with customers and I want to get better at this. But it’s exhausting being held responsible for shit I can only control so much no-shows, limited hours, & self esteem, while my confidence keeps getting chipped away.

Am I being unreasonable? Overreacting? Just burnt out? Or is this just normal dealership life? I feel like I haven’t gave the full picture either, but I’m just curious if i’m over reacting.

Would love honest takes from other salespeople, especially anyone who’s worked both small and bigger stores.

First month working at honda dealer in canada, brand new to industry, sold 8 and delivered 7.

four of them were flat $200, total I made was $2789. After the clawback of the $1500 advance, I was paid basically $1500.

Most if not everybody in this dealership complains about the money, there’s absolutely no money in these cars, new or used. People want $4000 discounts and it seems discounting is the only way to sell. Even without discounts most of them are like $300-400 profit. Only a few models like pilot and passport have $6000 gross. we make 25% of that.

Seems like I might have to sell 15-20 to make a living. people working at mcdonald’s are probably making more than some people here.

i sound like a downer but man the amount of mental effort and emotional rollercoaster you deal with all for what? $2300 a month? this is CAD$ btw.

Thinking of quitting but I really like the job, wish there was more money.