As you hire team members for your dealership, it’s important to make sure each role is filled by a capable individual with all the right credentials. A functioning dealership is comprised of many moving parts, and like any successful business, those parts must move in harmony to keep things flowing. One key member of the team is a lot attendant. In this article, we will explore the role, responsibilities, and necessary skills and qualifications to look for when hiring for this position. 

What is a Lot Attendant?

At a dealership, a lot attendant is responsible for moving and arranging vehicles, as well as maintaining all the vehicles’ appearance and receiving and documenting new shipments of vehicles. This can include parking vehicles, checking them for damage, and maintaining storage for all the keys.¹ 

A lot attendant is a key player in a well-functioning dealership. While they may be more behind-the-scenes than a salesperson, the display and organization of your vehicles will have an impact on the customer experience, as well as the fluidity of the job of each salesperson day-to-day. 

What Does a Lot Attendant Do?

A typical lot attendant role will include the following responsibilities:

• Keeping all vehicles clean and professionally presented. 
• Maintaining an organized lot, including removing  debris or trash. 
• Parking vehicles in the lot in a sales-oriented format. 
• Affixing all dealer plates to each vehicle. 
• Checking the factory stickers and selling price stickers on all new vehicles that arrive at the lot. 
• Organizing and keeping track of all vehicle keys. 
• Rearranging parking when vehicles sell to replenish empty spots. 
• Placing the most marketable cars on display in the front. 
• Keeping track of any issues and escalating concerns to management.¹ 
• Assisting with vehicle test drives. 
• Preparing vehicles that are sold for delivery.² 
• Comparing all serial numbers of incoming vehicles to process new inventory. 
• Recording all damages and keeping a list of issues. 
• Delivering sold vehicles to the correct department. 
• Servicing vehicles in storage as needed.³

How Can Someone Become a Lot Attendant?

To become a lot attendant, one must be at least 20 years old and hold a valid driver’s license with a clean driving record. It is preferable if the applicant can safely drive and handle both automatic and manual transmissions, as they will need to drive all types of cars. 

Beyond that, lot attendants don’t need any specific qualifications—there is no particular training or experience required, although previous experience as a lot attendant is an excellent boost. Additionally, a high school diploma or GED is not necessarily required, though completion of these milestones, or even a certificate from a technical school or Associate’s degree, can stand in for numbers of years of experience.² When hiring for a lot attendant, the transferrable skills they may bring from other qualifications can often be more important—especially when they don’t have any direct prior experience at a dealership. 

What to Look For When Hiring a Lot Attendant 

If an applicant has prior experience as a lot attendant, then hosting an interview and contacting their professional references will be a clear way to determine their quality of work and fit for your dealership. But if they don’t have direct experience, below are several skills to look for and ask about to ensure the applicant will be able to learn and take on the duties of a lot attendant successfully: 

• Strong work ethic. 
• Excellent communication skills. 
• Strong sense of customer service and dedication. 
• Ability to multitask. 
• Ability to follow instructions and to think critically to determine solutions. 
• Ability to read and comprehend written instructions and technical vehicle documents or safety manuals. 
• Ability to write memos. 
• Basic mathematical skills—add, subtract, multiply, and divide simple numbers. 
• Problem-solving skills. 
• Strong sense of professionalism.
• Efficient in a fast-paced environment. 
• Interest in and confidence when operating vehicles.² 

Work With Us at ACV Auctions

As you work to grow your car dealership business, you’ll need inventory to match your customer’s demands. Partner with our team at ACV Auctions to fill your lot with the best vehicles out there. Our online auctioning platform makes it easy to obtain the vehicles you are looking for. Each one has been individually inspected by an expert member of our team and comes with detailed inspection paperwork so that you can be confident that you’re bidding for a high-quality item. Reach out to our team to learn more or get started now. 

Sources

1. Newton, Lee-Shay. 2022. “Lot Attendant Job Description.” Betterteam. Retrieved February 26, 2024. https://www.betterteam.com/lot-attendant-job-description 
2. Autojobs.com. “Automotive Lot Attendant Job Description.” AutoJobs.com. Retrieved February 26, 2024. https://www.autojobs.com/jobs/lot-attendant-job-description/ 
3. Lithia & Driveway. “Lot Attendant job listing.” Lithia & Driveway. Retrieved February 26, 2024. https://lithia.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/LithiaCareers/details/Lot-Attendant_R64757?source=Lithia_Careers_Website&jobFamilyGroup=8c0574038174018d0b1f7d3718011ab4