VEHICLE COLLECTIONS & APPRAISAL SPECIALIST
£18,000 Basic Salary + 10% Commission on Savings
£60,000+ Earning Potential for the Right Person
We are looking for an exceptional individual to join our team in a varied and commercially focused Vehicle Collections & Appraisal Specialist role.
This is far more than a driving position.
The successful candidate will play an important role in ensuring we purchase vehicles at the right price and to the required standard. You will need a combination of strong automotive knowledge, excellent communication and negotiation skills, commercial awareness and a meticulous eye for detail.
For the right person, there is the potential to earn approximately £60,000 per year or more through performance-related commission.
HOW THE COMMISSION WORKS
You will receive 10% of any saving you successfully negotiate against the agreed purchase price.
For example:
Agreed purchase price: £15,000
Issue identified: £1,000 of genuine defects or remedial work
Price negotiated: £14,000
Your commission: £100
The better you become at identifying genuine issues, communicating them effectively and negotiating with sellers, the greater your earning potential.
There is no fixed commission ceiling. Your earning potential is directly linked to your ability to create value for the business.
We believe the right person could have the opportunity to earn £60,000+ per year.
THIS IS NOT JUST A DRIVING JOB
We are not simply looking for someone who can drive a recovery truck.
We are looking for someone who can look at a vehicle and understand:
- What is right
- What is wrong
- What work may be required
- What that work is likely to cost
- Whether previous repairs have been carried out properly
- Whether the vehicle meets our retail standards
- What the vehicle is realistically worth
You will need to have a very keen eye for detail and be capable of identifying issues that may not be immediately obvious.
In particular, you will be expected to scrutinise vehicles for overhaul and preparation quality, including paintwork, bodywork, cosmetic defects, repairs and general retail presentation.
THE COLLECTIONS ROLE
The role will involve travelling to private sellers to inspect and collect vehicles that the business has agreed to purchase.
Collections may be located up to approximately 150 miles away, so the successful candidate must be comfortable with regular travel and occasional longer-distance journeys.
You will be responsible for:
- Travelling to private sellers to inspect vehicles prior to collection
- Carrying out thorough mechanical and cosmetic appraisals
- Identifying defects, damage, poor repairs and substandard preparation
- Scrutinising the vehicle against the description and information provided when the purchase was agreed
- Identifying genuine issues that may justify a reduction in the agreed purchase price
- Communicating professionally with the seller
- Negotiating appropriate price adjustments where required
- Completing detailed condition reports and photographic records
- Checking vehicle identification and documentation
- Safely collecting and transporting vehicles back to the dealership
Travel to collection locations may involve trade plates, a 3.5-tonne recovery vehicle or public transport such as trains, depending on the circumstances.
You will often be representing the company independently, so excellent communication skills, sound judgement and a professional manner are essential.
TECHNICAL & AUTOMOTIVE KNOWLEDGE
The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of vehicles and be confident identifying both mechanical and cosmetic issues.
You don’t necessarily need to be a fully qualified mechanic, but you must have sufficient technical knowledge to make informed decisions about vehicle condition.
You should be able to identify:
- Mechanical faults and potential future expenditure
- Bodywork damage and poor repairs
- Paint defects and colour mismatches
- Poor-quality preparation
- Cosmetic defects
- Signs of previous accident damage
- Substandard refurbishment
- Issues that could affect the vehicle’s retail value
A genuine passion for cars is essential.
COMMUNICATION & NEGOTIATION
Technical knowledge alone isn’t enough.
You will need to be confident dealing directly with private sellers and be able to explain clearly and professionally why an issue you’ve identified may affect the agreed purchase price.
We are looking for someone who can build rapport while still negotiating firmly.
You should be comfortable having difficult conversations when necessary and be able to make a commercially sensible decision without damaging the relationship with the seller.
DEALERSHIP SUPPORT
Although the primary purpose of the role is vehicle collection and appraisal, when there are no scheduled collections or deliveries, you will be expected to support the wider dealership operation.
Duties may include:
- Collecting and delivering vehicle parts and equipment
- General maintenance and upkeep of the dealership site
- Maintaining recovery and collection equipment
- Keeping vehicles and work areas clean and organised
- Assisting with vehicle preparation
- Helping with valeting during quieter periods
- Supporting other members of the dealership team where required
We are looking for someone who is hands-on and willing to get involved.
This isn’t a position where you simply wait for the next collection. When things are quieter, we expect everyone to contribute to keeping the business running efficiently.
SALARY & EARNING POTENTIAL
Basic salary: £18,000 per annum
Plus:
10% commission on every saving you negotiate
We will ensure that the employee’s total pay meets or exceeds the applicable National Minimum Wage requirements for the hours worked. Where necessary, additional payment will be made during quieter periods to ensure compliance.
The basic salary is therefore the starting point — not the limit of what you can earn.
For someone with the right combination of automotive knowledge, negotiation ability, communication skills and drive, we believe £60,000+ annual earnings are achievable.
The more value you create, the more you earn.
THE PERSON WE ARE LOOKING FOR
This role will suit someone who:
- Has a genuine passion for cars
- Has strong mechanical knowledge
- Has an exceptional eye for detail
- Can identify defects others may overlook
- Understands vehicle preparation and retail standards
- Is commercially minded
- Has excellent communication skills
- Is confident negotiating with private sellers
- Can work independently
- Has excellent organisational skills
- Is professional and trustworthy
- Is practical and willing to get involved
- Has a strong work ethic
- Is ambitious and motivated by earning potential
- Wants responsibility and the opportunity to prove themselves
Most importantly, we are looking for someone with DRIVE.
Not just the ability to drive a vehicle — but the drive to succeed, negotiate better deals, identify problems, protect the company’s money and earn well as a result.
If you’re the person who can walk around a car and spot the £500 problem that everyone else missed, explain it confidently to the seller and negotiate the appropriate saving, we want to hear from you.
If you know cars, know people and want your ability to directly influence what you earn, this could be the opportunity you’ve been looking for.
Pay: £26,500.00-£60,000.00 per year
Benefits:
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Barnsley S75 5NF
