Car salesmen get a bad rap, but you know that a good salesman does more than just handle transactions. They follow up with customers, negotiate maintenance plans and warranties, and prepare cars for sale.
Car salesmen have exceptional communication and networking skills, and they use their talents to help people find cars that match their needs.
With all these responsibilities, it’s difficult to know how to write your resume or make a cover letter, so you’re the top candidate in the competitive sales field.
There’s where we come in: we’ve analyzed hundreds of car salesmen resumes from all levels of experience. Then we distilled our knowledge into seven car salesman resumes to help you get more interviews (and eventually a job) in 2025.
Why this resume works
- As a car salesman, numbers are your bread and butter. So, on your car salesman resume, you want to prominently display your sales numbers.
- When you can, list your net profits, revenue generated, and lead conversions, as well as your customer service scores, in your work experience bullet points.
- Employers want to know that you pay attention to the details, so make sure you read the sales job description carefully.
- For example, most employers want your resume as a PDF, but some may want a Google doc resume format. Always check the application for submission rules, otherwise you won’t be called for an interview.
Why this resume works
- When you’re looking to break into the car sales industry, you need your work experience bullet points to showcase the moxie and the skills that will help you succeed as a car salesman.
- Even if your past roles weren’t sales related, you can still highlight transferable skills, like customer service or automotive maintenance. Soft skills are your best assets here, as they’re not industry-specific.
- Writing a resume isn’t easy if you’re light on work experience, but there are ways around it. Our tip: try adding a resume objective to your entry-level car salesman resume.
- An objective is a two-to-three-sentence statement that conveys your enthusiasm for the position and the skills you’d bring to the table.
- If you do add an objective, make sure you tailor it for each job by including the company’s name and the position title.
Why this resume works
- Emulate how Caleb proves his dedication with a successful history in the automotive industry in his car dealer resume. Apart from working with leading automotive giants, this car dealer resume highlights impressive sales and deals results.
- For instance, there is an increase in revenue by a 46% margin and a 79% increase in average deals size; all pointing to a track record of exemplary performance.
Why this resume works
- Your luxury car salesman resume should focus on how your work directly (and positively) impacted the company.
- For example, did you reach all your sales quotas? Did you earn a large commission after a spectacular sale? Did you help internally by training team members or increasing your company’s social media presence?
- Cite specific data-driven examples, including marketing initiatives and customer-centric sales techniques, for the best effect.
- The world of luxury sales is more appearance-focused than other fields, so make sure your resume is aesthetically pleasing.
- To make formatting your resume easier (and faster), try using a resume template so you can switch sections and adjust color, font type, and font size.
View more luxury car salesman resumes >
Why this resume works
- Selling used cars is a different experience than selling new cars, so your used car salesman resume should include your expertise in things like state regulations and warranties.
- Speaking of skills, don’t neglect soft skills like time management and negotiation in addition to technical skills. We’d recommend focusing on technical skills 60 percent of the time, with the rest devoted to transferable soft skills.
- If you enjoy cars outside of working hours, then use that to your advantage and include an interests and hobbies section on your resume.
- Do you race? Tinker with collector vehicles? This passion for cars makes you an asset in the car sales industry, so find a way to include it!
View more used car salesman resumes >
Land your next job with our AI-powered, user-friendly tool.
Gut the guesswork in your job hunt. Upload your existing resume to check your score and make improvements. Build a resume with one of our eye-catching, recruiter-friendly templates.
• Work in real-time with immediate feedback and tips from our AI-powered experience.
• Leverage thousands of pre-written, job-specific bullet points.
• Edit your resume in-line like a Google Doc or let us walk you through each section at a time.
• Enjoy peace of mind with our money-back guarantee and 5-star customer support.
Why this resume works
- While this car salesman no experience resume has zero auto sales record, it does a great job convincing recruiters about what the candidate’s massive potential. The magic is delivered by the well-crafted career objective, highlighting unmatched sales expertise.
- To put an icing on your piece, amplify your role in expanding revenue and opportunities (cue: 67% increase in market share).
Why this resume works
- Since you’re in a niche area of the car sales industry, the skills section on your resume becomes even more vital.
- This is the place to mention any role-specific talents you have, such as diagnosing Honda vehicles and maintaining repair schedules.
- If you don’t have any specific skills to mention on your Honda car salesman resume, don’t panic. Soft skills like communication and time management are still valuable.
- Whenever you apply for a brand-specific sales role, make sure your resume mentions the brand name somewhere.
- You’re not limited to mentioning it in the title, either; you can also put it in your work experience bullet points or even an optional section like certifications or licenses.
Related resume guides
How to Write a Car Salesman Resume

Writing a standout car salesman resume is the first test drive to your career’s success. In a competitive field where first impressions sell, your resume must demonstrate persuasive skills, proven achievements, and a customer-centric focus. Are you a seasoned pro or an entry-level car salesman? Our guide will steer you to craft a resume that closes the deal with any recruiter.

Pick the right format and design
Pick a resume format that puts your strengths in the driver’s seat. The reverse-chronological order works best for seasoned pros, while the functional format is ideal for beginners who need to emphasize transferable skills. The secret to success is using a clean layout, consistent font, and clear section headings. To drive readability and impact, use bullet points and active verbs.

Add contact information
Add your contact information at the top of your resume so recruiters can reach you easily. Include your first and last name, phone number, professional email address, city and state, your LinkedIn profile or personal website—if relevant. Ensure everything is up to date and flawless.

Start with a compelling professional summary
Combine your skills, achievements, and career goals into a powerful statement summarizing your career profile.
Example:
Result-driven car salesman with over 10 years of experience driving annual revenues by up to 33% through personalized customer service and strategic upselling. Adept at building long-term client relationships and leading high-performing sales teams. Eager to leverage expertise and leadership to fuel growth at a forward-thinking dealership.

Impress with measurable achievements
Car dealers want results, not just responsibilities. Highlight specific quantified achievements like exceeding sales quotas, improving customer retention, or earning the “Top Salesperson” award. Use metrics—like dollars, percentages, and rankings— to make your accomplishments irresistible.

Let your skill make a statement
Use a mix of car-specific and soft skills to emphasize your versatility and suitability. Some keywords include upselling, customer relationship management (CRM), automotive sales, negotiation, inventory control, and product knowledge. Also, demonstrate your people-focused skills like active listening, excellent communication, and problem-solving to show personable and persuasive traits.
Technical Skills:
- DealerSocket
- Vehicle Leasing and Financing
- Product Demonstrations
- Negotiation & Closing Techniques
- Inventory Management
- Test Drive Coordination
Soft Skills:
- Persuasive Communication
- Active Listening
- Customer Relationship Building
- Time Management
- Problem-Solving
- Team Leadership

Include relevant education and certifications
Include your highest level of education and certifications to boost your credibility in sales. A high school diploma is often sufficient, but credentials like the Certified Professional Sales Person (CPSP) or Automotive Sales Certification add credibility to your resume. They show commitment to your professionalism and can give you an edge in the competition for the job.
Car Salesman Resume FAQs

To write a winning car salesman resume, review the job advert again. There, you’ll find some niche and repeated keywords, which may be car-related skills or phrases. Those are the terms you should prioritize on your resume. Additionally, add measurable achievements from your previous roles. Use numbers and actions to add the juices that will make recruiters want to know more about you and list you for an interview.
A good car salesperson’s resume must showcase your understanding of cars, know and fulfill clients’ needs, and successfully close deals for the employer. If you clearly highlight that you’ve exceeded in delivering those three things, recruiters will easily find you suitable for the job. On top of being a terrific salesperson, ensure your resume is ATS-friendly so that you can pass those bots before a real hiring manager can review your resume.
Excellent interpersonal skills will make your resume compelling and convince a car dealer that you deserve a spot in their sales team. Remember, part of the job will be interacting with customers, persuading them to buy, and closing as many deals as possible. With proper communication, negotiation, and persuasion skills, you’re closer to getting the job than you think. The correct set of skills is typically in the job posting, and you should closely review it to understand and present what the potential employer is looking for in a new hire.