Parts Sales Representative Jobs

The Parts Sales Representative is the commercial face of the parts operation - the person responsible for building, developing and retaining the trade account base that generates the revenue over and above the captive workshop supply. Whether field-based and visiting garages, bodyshops and fleet operators across a defined territory, or internally managing a telephone trade account portfolio from within the dealership or distribution centre, the Parts Sales Representative generates parts sales by building genuine commercial relationships with the people who buy parts every day.

The role sits at the commercial intersection of parts knowledge and sales capability. A Parts Sales Representative with deep product knowledge who cannot build customer relationships or close a new account adds limited value. A natural sales operator with no parts knowledge cannot credibly compete with the motor factor representative who visits the same garage every week and knows the product range inside out. The combination - a commercially confident, professionally presented operator who genuinely understands what they are selling and can solve customer problems with that knowledge - is what makes an exceptional Parts Sales Representative and what the best employers in the sector look for and pay to attract.

The competitive landscape for trade parts sales is demanding. Franchised dealership parts operations compete directly with national and regional motor factors on price, availability, service frequency and relationship quality for every independent garage, bodyshop and fleet workshop in their territory. The Parts Sales Representative who wins and retains accounts in that environment is creating direct, measurable commercial value for their employer.

Venatu recruits Parts Sales Representatives for permanent and contract roles across franchised car and commercial vehicle dealerships, automotive parts distributors, motor factors, aftermarket parts businesses and specialist parts suppliers throughout the UK. This role sits within our car dealership and operational support recruitment divisions.

Who We Recruit For

We place candidates with:

• Franchised car and commercial vehicle dealerships with active trade parts operations
• National and regional motor factors and parts distributors
• Aftermarket and specialist parts suppliers with field sales teams
• Dealer groups with dedicated trade parts sales functions
• Automotive technology businesses with parts-adjacent product and subscription sales
• Automotive lubricant, chemical and consumable businesses with field sales requirements

Roles We Place

• Parts Sales Representative
• Trade Parts Representative
• Field Parts Sales Representative
• Internal Parts Sales Representative
• Parts Business Development Representative
• Parts Territory Manager
• Senior Parts Sales Representative
• Parts Sales Representative (Commercial Vehicle)

Who Can Apply

Strong Parts Sales Representative candidates typically come from:

• Experienced Parts Sales Representatives at franchised dealerships, motor factors or aftermarket businesses who want to move to a new employer, a better-structured territory, a stronger product range or an improved package
• Parts Advisors or Trade Parts Advisors who have been managing the telephone and counter trade elements of a busy parts operation and are ready to move into a dedicated field sales role with a defined territory and commission-linked earnings that reward the account development work they are already doing
• Parts Managers who want to move from management back into a commercially focused field sales role, using their deep product knowledge and industry relationships to build a trade territory directly
• Commercial Parts Advisors at commercial vehicle dealerships who have developed strong trade account relationships with independent truck workshops, fleet operators and bodyshops and want to develop a dedicated sales territory from that existing account base
• Motor factor or aftermarket parts sales professionals who want to move into a franchised dealership trade parts role where the product range is more structured, the manufacturer's brand supports the sales proposition and the pricing and availability can be more predictable than in the independent aftermarket
• Field sales professionals from adjacent sectors including lubricants, tyres, workshop equipment or automotive chemicals who have a regular calling pattern on garages and bodyshops and want to add an automotive parts line to their commercial career, where their existing customer relationships provide a direct route into a new parts sales territory
• Business Development Executives from dealerships who want to specialise their business development work within the parts function, developing trade accounts with independent garages and fleets using the same prospecting and relationship-building skills they have applied in a broader automotive sales context

Detailed parts product knowledge relevant to the manufacturer's range or the employer's parts portfolio is the most valued sector-specific credential. A full Category B driving licence is required for all field-based roles. Venatu confirms the specific territory, product range and commission structure with each employer before presenting candidates.

Parts Sales Representative Salary Guide

Field-based roles universally include a company car or car allowance. Commission structures vary significantly between employers - some offer a percentage of trade sales revenue generated, others offer a new account bonus and a retention bonus on existing account spend. Total on-target earnings including commission can substantially exceed the base salary for high-performing field representatives. Venatu confirms commission structure and realistic OTE with each employer before presenting candidates. Visit the HR Hub for broader context on automotive parts and commercial sales role remuneration.

What the Role Involves

Trade Account Development:

• Prospecting for new trade accounts within the defined territory, identifying independent garages, bodyshops, fast fit centres, fleet workshops and commercial vehicle operators who are currently buying from motor factors or competitor dealers and presenting the employer's parts offering as a commercially superior alternative
• Conducting face-to-face visits to prospect accounts, establishing decision-maker relationships, understanding the account's parts buying patterns and presenting a relevant parts proposition - price, availability, delivery frequency, technical support and account terms - that addresses the specific reasons the customer may have for their current supplier choice
• Converting prospect visits into new trade account openings, agreeing account terms with the Parts Manager and ensuring the new account is onboarded correctly in the DMS with accurate contact details, credit terms and delivery instructions

Account Retention and Growth:

• Maintaining a regular calling pattern on existing trade accounts, visiting key accounts at the agreed frequency, reviewing their parts spend profile and identifying opportunities to increase the range or volume of parts purchased from the dealership or distribution business
• Communicating new product availability, manufacturer promotions, price change notifications and seasonal product opportunities to trade customers during visits and by telephone or email between visits
• Managing any customer service issues that arise within trade accounts - incorrect parts despatched, delivery failures, credit disputes - liaising with the parts department team to resolve them promptly and professionally to protect the account relationship

Product Knowledge and Customer Support:

• Maintaining a current and detailed knowledge of the manufacturer's parts range, current pricing, supersession changes and any new product categories relevant to the trade customer base within the territory
• Supporting trade customers with parts identification queries where the customer's own parts knowledge is limited, acting as a technical reference point that adds genuine value to the customer relationship beyond the transactional pricing and availability conversation
• Attending manufacturer trade parts training events, product launches and parts programme updates to maintain knowledge currency and maximise the commercial benefit of the manufacturer's trade parts programme to the employer's business

Reporting and Pipeline Management:

• Maintaining accurate records of all prospect and account visits, recording call outcomes, agreed next steps and any pricing or credit discussions in the CRM or sales management system used by the employer
• Providing the Parts Manager or Head of Business with a regular territory report covering new account activity, existing account performance trends and any competitive intelligence gathered during the calling cycle

How the Process Works

For employers:

1. Submit a vacancy with the territory, product range, existing account base, commission structure and company car or allowance arrangements.
2. We confirm candidate availability, parts sales track record and product knowledge and present a pre-screened shortlist within five working days.
3. Candidates are assessed for parts and product knowledge, sales track record, account development capability and customer relationship quality.
4. Interview and offer supported by Venatu throughout.

For candidates:

1. Register your CV with your parts or automotive sales background, the products sold, territory covered, new business development record and any trade account relationships developed.
2. A Venatu consultant will review your background and contact you directly.
3. Roles are matched to your parts knowledge, sales experience, preferred territory and geography.
4. Venatu manages the process and advises on base, OTE and commission structure expectations ahead of offer.

Browse current vacancies or create a job alert to be notified when relevant roles become available.

FAQ

What does a Parts Sales Representative do? A Parts Sales Representative develops and manages trade accounts for a parts department or parts distribution business, visiting or calling garages, bodyshops, fleet workshops and independent operators to sell parts, open new accounts and retain existing customers against competition from motor factors and other suppliers. Field-based representatives manage a defined territory with a regular calling cycle. Internal representatives manage a telephone-based trade account portfolio. Both roles are commercially measured on new account openings, trade sales revenue and account retention performance.

What is the difference between a Parts Sales Representative and a Parts Advisor? A Parts Advisor primarily manages inbound parts supply to the workshop and trade counter, responding to customer enquiries and fulfilling orders. A Parts Sales Representative primarily manages outbound commercial activity - prospecting for new trade accounts, visiting customers in the field and actively developing the business's trade sales revenue. In some operations the roles are combined; in dealerships with a dedicated trade sales function they are typically separate, with the Parts Sales Representative focused exclusively on commercial account development.

Do Parts Sales Representatives need a driving licence? Yes. All field-based Parts Sales Representative roles require a full Category B driving licence. A company car or car allowance is provided as a standard element of the package at most employers. Venatu confirms vehicle provision arrangements with each employer before presenting candidates.

What does a Parts Sales Representative earn in the UK? Experienced field-based Parts Sales Representatives typically earn between £34,000 and £48,000 base salary. Parts Territory Managers earn between £40,000 and £58,000. Total OTE including commission can significantly exceed the base salary for high-performing field representatives. All field roles include a company car or car allowance. Venatu confirms base, commission structure and realistic OTE with each employer before presenting candidates.

What is the progression from Parts Sales Representative? Common progression routes include Senior Parts Sales Representative, Parts Territory Manager, Trade Parts Manager, Parts Manager and Group Parts Manager. Parts Sales Representatives who build a strong new business development track record, develop deep product knowledge and demonstrate the commercial intelligence to manage a territory strategically are in the strongest position for management appointments within the parts and aftersales function. Read about how parts supply chain dynamics shape commercial opportunities in What The Stellantis Recall Means For Recruiters and about how cost pressures are influencing the trade parts buying environment in How Rising Fuel Prices Are Impacting Automotive Recruitment In The UK.

Register or Enquire

Candidates - Register your CV with your parts or automotive sales background, territory covered and new business development record. Venatu will match you to current Parts Sales Representative vacancies across franchised dealerships, motor factors and aftermarket businesses, including roles not publicly advertised. Browse live vacancies or create a job alert.

Employers - Submit a vacancy or visit the client hub to discuss your Parts Sales Representative requirements. Our team will respond within one working day.