Motor vehicle parts person
Make sure customers get the parts they need to fix their car, van or other vehicles.
Also known as: motor vehicle service adviser
About the job
What it's like
You would make sure customers get the parts they need to fix their car, van or other vehicles.
You’d work with individuals, garages and car dealerships. You’d give advice on spares, collect all the items together for an order and then deliver the parts to the customer.
You could concentrate on spares and accessories for cars, small vans and motorcycles. Or you might specialise in heavy vehicles, such as lorries, buses and coaches, or plant machinery like diggers and trucks.
You may be required to understand parts specific to electric and hybrid vehicles.
You would:
Tell customers what parts they might need for their vehicle
Take orders face to face, over the phone and via email
Check availability of parts on computerised stock records
Get parts from the storeroom or warehouse or order them from suppliers
Put orders together
Arrange for orders to be sent by courier or make deliveries yourself
Deal with payments
Raise invoices and issue receipts
Create shop window and shelf displays
Order supplies, put stock away and update records
You’d need a good knowledge of how motor vehicles work and be able to explain technical details to customers.
Hours
You would usually work between 37 and 40 hours a week. Many companies operate a rota system, which includes evenings and weekends.
Travel
Your job may involve some travel, for example when making deliveries.
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Related industries
Many jobs can be done in lots of different industries. We've highlighted the ones we think are most important for this job.
Engineering and manufacturing
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Top specialised skills
These are the top specialised skills that have been found in job vacancies across Scotland. From March 2024 to March 2025.
- vehicle parts
- invoicing
- upselling
- finance
- sales prospecting
- outbound calls
- aftermarket modifications
- stock management
- employee assistance programs
- automobile dealership
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- developing a plan
- attention to detail
- researching
- working with numbers
- problem solving
- written communication
- verbal communication
- cooperating
- building relationships
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Administration and Information Technology
Skills for Work: Automotive Skills
You do not need formal qualifications to enter this job but many employers look for a good general education (SCQF level 4/5).
Qualifications that demonstrate physical fitness, customer service and practical skills such as Skills for Work Automotive Skills (SCQF level 4).
Once in the job you can complete a Scottish Vocational Qualification in Vehicle Parts Operations (SVQ level 2).
An IMI (Institute of the Motor Industry) award in electric and hybrid vehicle system repair and replacement and routine maintenance to gain the knowledge and skills required to work safely around these vehicles.
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