Becoming an Auto Service Advisor: Exploring Salary, Skills, Responsibilities, and Training
A service advisor, also known as a service writer, is an important position at any auto dealership. Service advisors act as the liaison between customers and the service technicians who repair and maintain customer vehicles. They greet customers, listen to their concerns about their vehicles, create repair orders, provide repair estimates, schedule service appointments, communicate with technicians about repair status, update customers about work being done on their vehicles, and ensure satisfied customers. Becoming a service advisor can be a rewarding career working in the automotive industry. Here’s what it takes to become a successful service advisor with automotive BDC training.
Most Important Service Advisor Skills
Some key skills that make a good service advisor include:
- Customer service – Advisors must have patience, empathy and listening skills to understand customer concerns and provide solutions. They must communicate clearly to set expectations.
- Technical knowledge – An understanding of basic automotive systems and repair procedures is important to diagnose issues and explain repairs to customers.
- Organization – Handling multiple customers and repair orders requires organizational skills to prioritize and keep things running smoothly.
- Multitasking – Service advisors often juggle inspecting vehicles, answering phones, responding to customer inquiries, communicating with techs and more all at once.
- Problem solving – Advisors need to be able to think critically to diagnose unfamiliar problems and come up with repair solutions.
- Sales abilities – Well-developed sales skills help advisors sell needed repairs and build ongoing customer relationships.
Responsibilities for an Automotive Service Advisor
Some typical responsibilities of a service advisor include:
- Greeting customers promptly and listening to their service needs
- Inspecting vehicles and validating customer concerns
- Discussing repair and maintenance options and providing quotes
- Developing repair orders and getting customer authorization for work
- Coordinating with shop foreman to schedule repairs and assign technicians
- Monitoring repair progress and updating customers as needed
- Suggesting additional services like alignments, fluid flushes, etc.
- Educating customers about vehicle service needs and requirements
- Explaining repair orders and charges to customers at checkout
- Ensuring customers are satisfied upon job completion
- Following up on repairs and maintaining long-term customer relationships
The Process of Becoming a Service Advisor
Here are some steps to becoming a service advisor:
- Earn a high school diploma or equivalent – Some colleges offer associate’s degrees or certificates in auto repair which can help provide foundational knowledge.
- Consider completing an auto service advisor training program – There are online and in-person classes that cover the specialized role of a service advisor including customer service, sales and vehicle technical knowledge. Programs like DealerPRO provide specific service advisor training.
- Apply for an entry-level service advisor job or technician job at a dealership – Starting as a technician can familiarize you with repairs while service departments also hire entry-level service advisors to train.
Get in Touch with DealerPRO Training for Automotive BDC Training and Learn More About Becoming a Service Advisor
DealerPRO Training provides leading education for dealership roles like service advisors through both online courses and in-person classes across the country. Those interested in learning more about becoming an advisor or taking their career to the next level can explore our website for details on service writer training programs and courses, or contact our team of automotive professionals for automotive BDC training.
