what commission do car salesmen get

Short version: it’s usually a retainer-plus-commission setup, and the commission is tied to the deal’s gross profit, not the sticker price.

Salespeople earn a cut of front‑end gross, with extra bonuses for finance/insurance add‑ons, accessories, trade‑in wins, and hitting monthly volume targets.

Used cars tend to pay more per unit (fatter margins), fleet or run‑out deals pay less, and there are often caps, clawbacks, and cash “spiffs” for shifting slow stock.

Translation: the take‑home swings wildly by brand and dealer—quiet weeks are lean, hot months are very decent—structure first, numbers depend on the house rules.