Perfect Placement helps franchised Car Dealerships and dealer groups recruit experienced New Car Sales Executives across the UK.
New Car Sales Executives are responsible for far more than meeting customers in the showroom. They need to manage enquiries across multiple channels, understand increasingly complex vehicle ranges, represent manufacturer standards, convert leads, build finance and part-exchange opportunities into the sales process and maintain relationships from first enquiry through to vehicle handover.
In short: Perfect Placement recruits permanent New Car Sales Executives for franchised dealerships and dealer groups throughout the UK, helping employers reach both actively searching candidates and experienced Automotive sales professionals who may not currently be applying for another position.
Average basic salary across Q2 2026 Main Dealership Car Sales Executive vacancies*
Average advertised OTE across Q2 2026 Main Dealership Car Sales Executive vacancies*
Of Perfect Placement placements since January 2025 have come through proactive recruitment
*Perfect Placement internal recruitment data. Figures are based on Main Dealership Car Sales Executive vacancies worked during Q2 2026. Our salary data does not separately categorise New Car and Used Car Sales Executive positions, so these figures represent the wider franchised dealership Car Sales Executive market.
Key Takeaways
- New Car Sales Executives combine traditional showroom sales skills with digital enquiry management, manufacturer processes and detailed product knowledge.
- Franchise experience can be valuable, but employers should distinguish between genuinely essential manufacturer experience and transferable Automotive sales ability.
- Q2 2026 Main Dealership Car Sales Executive vacancies worked by Perfect Placement averaged approximately £21,800 basic and £50,400 OTE.
- Perfect Placement supports employers through vacancy advertising, candidate database searches and proactive approaches to experienced Automotive sales professionals.
New Car Sales Executive Recruitment For UK Dealerships
New Car Sales Executive recruitment sits within a competitive Automotive sales market where experienced candidates often have several dealerships and manufacturers they could potentially work for.
The best candidate for a vacancy is therefore not always the person with the most recognisable franchise on their CV. Employers need to consider sales performance, customer handling, enquiry management, finance knowledge, product confidence and how well somebody is likely to adapt to the dealership's processes and expectations.
As specialists in Automotive recruitment since 2003, Perfect Placement works with employers throughout the UK to recruit permanent vehicle sales professionals across dealership operations.
Our wider Car Dealership Recruitment experience means our consultants understand how New Car Sales Executive vacancies sit within the wider commercial structure of a showroom and dealer group.
What Does A New Car Sales Executive Do?
A New Car Sales Executive manages customers through the vehicle purchasing journey while working towards individual and dealership sales targets.
Depending on the franchise and dealership, responsibilities can include:
Customer Enquiries
Managing showroom, telephone, website and digital sales enquiries and following leads through consistently.
Product Knowledge
Understanding new vehicle ranges, specifications, options, technology and manufacturer product updates.
Sales Performance
Working towards volume, conversion, profitability and associated dealership sales targets.
Part Exchange & Finance
Discussing part-exchange vehicles and introducing appropriate finance, insurance and additional products within dealership processes.
Manufacturer Standards
Following franchise processes, customer experience standards and manufacturer requirements throughout the sale.
Vehicle Handover
Managing the customer through order progression and delivering a professional handover when the new vehicle arrives.
What Employers Need From A New Car Sales Executive
The right recruitment criteria depend on the dealership, manufacturer and structure of the sales department.
Previous franchised dealership experience may be important where the successful candidate needs to become productive quickly within established manufacturer systems. However, strong Automotive Sales Executives can often transfer successfully between franchises when they already understand dealership processes and can learn a new product range.
Recruiter insight: Being too restrictive about previous manufacturer experience can significantly reduce the available candidate pool. Where possible, separate the experience somebody genuinely needs on their first day from the product knowledge and franchise processes that can be learned after joining.
Employers will typically look for a combination of:
- Previous Automotive or Car Sales experience
- Strong customer service and relationship-building ability
- Confidence handling both face-to-face and digital enquiries
- Evidence of achieving sales and performance targets
- Commercial awareness around finance, part exchange and profitability
- Ability to learn detailed vehicle specifications and new technology
- Professional communication and follow-up throughout the customer journey
New Car Sales Executive Salary & OTE
Sales Executive remuneration varies considerably between dealerships because overall earnings can depend heavily on commission structures, volume targets and individual performance.
Across Main Dealership Car Sales Executive vacancies worked by Perfect Placement during Q2 2026, the average basic salary was approximately £21,800, while the average advertised OTE was approximately £50,400.
Basic salaries across those vacancies ranged from approximately £14,000 to £32,000, while advertised OTE reached as high as £75,000.
These figures cover the broader Main Dealership Car Sales Executive market because our internal vacancy data does not consistently split New Car and Used Car positions into separate categories.
For employers, this means the whole remuneration package matters. A competitive OTE needs to be supported by a realistic commission structure, achievable targets and an environment where Sales Executives have a genuine opportunity to earn it.
Recruiter insight: Two vacancies with the same advertised OTE can feel very different to an experienced Sales Executive. Candidates frequently want to understand how the commission scheme works, whether targets are realistic, how leads are allocated and what existing members of the sales team actually earn.
Why Experienced New Car Sales Executives Can Be Difficult To Recruit
Experienced dealership Sales Executives can be difficult to recruit because strong performers are often already employed and may have little reason to move unless the overall opportunity is better.
A higher advertised OTE alone is not always enough. Candidates may compare earning potential, franchise strength, working patterns, management style, enquiry levels, location, vehicle allocation, career progression and how achievable the dealership's targets appear.
The role itself has also changed. Customers increasingly move between online research, digital enquiries, telephone conversations and physical showroom visits before making a decision. Sales Executives therefore need to maintain momentum across a longer and more varied customer journey rather than relying solely on traditional showroom footfall.
Where a vacancy remains open for too long, limiting recruitment to incoming applications can make the search unnecessarily narrow.
Reaching Sales Executives Who Are Not Actively Applying
Perfect Placement combines vacancy advertising with searches of our Automotive candidate network and proactive recruitment.
Since January 2025, 65% of our placements have come through proactive recruitment rather than relying solely on candidates responding to an advertised vacancy.
That approach is particularly relevant when recruiting experienced Car Sales Executives. A strong performer may not be actively browsing job boards, but they may still consider another dealership if the franchise, earning opportunity, location, progression or working environment represents the right move.
Our recruiters can approach relevant Automotive professionals directly, discuss the opportunity confidentially and establish whether there is genuine interest before progressing them to an employer.
Automotive Sales Recruitment
New Car Sales Executive recruitment forms part of our wider Automotive Sales recruitment coverage.
Car Sales Executive Recruitment
Recruitment support for dealerships hiring experienced vehicle Sales Executives across new and used car operations.
Sales Manager Recruitment
Recruitment support for employers hiring experienced Automotive Sales Managers and showroom leaders.
Car Dealership Recruitment
Specialist recruitment across Sales, Aftersales, Workshop, Parts and Management positions within UK Car Dealerships.
Automotive Recruitment Agency Of The Year 2026
Perfect Placement has specialised in Automotive recruitment since 2003 and has helped more than 34,000 Automotive professionals secure new positions.
In 2026, we were named Car Dealer Power's Automotive Recruitment Agency of the Year for the 14th consecutive year.
Recruit A New Car Sales Executive With Perfect Placement
Whether you need an experienced New Car Sales Executive for an established franchise, somebody capable of joining a growing sales team or a strong Automotive salesperson who can adapt successfully to a new manufacturer, Perfect Placement can support your search.
Tell us about your dealership, franchise, sales structure, remuneration package and the experience you genuinely need. Our Automotive recruitment team can advertise the vacancy, search our candidate network and proactively approach relevant Sales Executives throughout the UK.
Need To Recruit A New Car Sales Executive?
Speak to our specialist Automotive recruitment team about your vacancy and the Sales Executive experience your dealership needs.
New Car Sales Executive Recruitment FAQs
Do New Car Sales Executives need experience with the same manufacturer?
Not necessarily. Previous franchise experience can be valuable, particularly where manufacturer systems and processes are important, but experienced Automotive Sales Executives often have transferable dealership sales skills. The right requirement depends on the vacancy and how quickly the successful candidate needs to become productive.
How much does a New Car Sales Executive earn?
Perfect Placement's Q2 2026 Main Dealership Car Sales Executive vacancies averaged approximately £21,800 basic and £50,400 OTE. Individual packages vary considerably depending on dealership, region, commission structure and performance expectations. Our internal data does not consistently distinguish New Car and Used Car Sales Executive vacancies, so these figures represent the wider Main Dealership sales market.
Can Perfect Placement approach Sales Executives who are already employed?
Yes. Alongside advertising vacancies and speaking with active jobseekers, our recruiters can search our Automotive candidate network and proactively approach relevant Sales Executives who may be open to the right opportunity without actively applying for another job.
Last updated: September 2026.