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At car dealerships and automotive repair shops, automotive service writers are usually the first and last impression a customer has with a shop. They’re the ones who greet customers, listen to the problems a client is having with their vehicles, communicate to the team of automotive technicians what the problem is, and act as the liaison between the shop or dealership and the customer every step of the way.
Automotive service writers need to have expert automotive knowledge so they can help identify and explain the problems a customer is having. They also have to be great listeners, friendly and excellent communicators.
Car problems are stressful. An automotive service writer can make or break the client's experience. Service writers also affect how efficiently technicians complete the work that needs to be done.
If working as an automotive service writer sounds interesting to you, read on for what a typical day is like for an automotive service writer, how to become an automotive service writer and what the career path of an automotive service writer might look like.
Automotive service writers typically work in car repair shops or at dealerships. At dealerships, they might have expert knowledge in a particular brand or brands of cars. The typical job duties of an automotive service writer include:
Automotive service writers typically have technician knowledge or experience that qualifies them for the customer-facing automotive service writer role. They thrive as communicators and collaborators since they have to work with multiple parties to ensure the job gets completed successfully.
Different employers will have different requirements for automotive service writer positions. Automotive service writer positions typically don’t require a traditional college education, but some employers will require automotive trade school education. The reason is experience working on the vehicles that a shop or dealership services can prepare automotive service writers to communicate better with clients and technicians.
Sometimes, dealerships require completion of automotive specialized training programs in the brands they sell. Some shops and other employers also expect their automotive service writers to be certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) since it offers the top credentials for service technicians.
Some automotive service writers had experience as automotive technicians before moving into service writer roles. For automotive technicians who crave working directly with customers, making the transition to service writer can keep them working in a shop or at a dealership in a people-facing, more administrative role.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn’t provide data specifically on automotive service writers. However, it does provide insight into automotive service technicians and mechanics, which is a role that some service writers have before making the transition.
According to the BLS, the median annual wage for automotive service technicians and mechanics was $42,090 in May 2019.25
The ratio of automotive service writers to automotive technicians depends on the shop or dealership. Some locations have one service writer for every one or two technicians. Others may have one service writer for up to five or six technicians. Automotive service writers are an instrumental part of a shop or dealership’s success, so they play a meaningful role in any type of shop or dealership environment.
Because automotive service writers constantly work with both customers and technicians, the communication skills they develop as service writers and the automotive knowledge they cultivate can prepare them for careers in automotive management.
Because automotive service writer positions are not always as plentiful as technician positions and many service writers move into their roles after working as technicians, automotive technology training can help aspiring automotive service writers grow their careers. With a formal automotive trade school education background, graduates are ready to begin an entry-level career as a technician or move into a service writer role if they have excellent communication skills.
At Universal Technical Institute (UTI), the Automotive Technology program covers the topic of service writing. Students learn about the written and verbal communication skills they need to help them thrive in an automotive service writing role at a dealership or shop. This training is exceptional to highlight on a résumé when applying for an automotive service writer position.
Plus, the automotive training at UTI provides students with entry-level technician knowledge, as well as one year of experience toward ASE certification completion. Both of these may also be requirements for certain automotive service writer positions.
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