Do car salesmen get paid if they don't sell?

Some car salespeople receive pay even when they do not sell a vehicle, but it depends on their compensation arrangement. A dealership may offer a salary, hourly wages, a guaranteed training payment, or a draw against future commissions. A draw is an advance that may later be offset against earned commissions, so it is different from a permanent base salary. Other plans rely more heavily on completed sales and performance bonuses. A day without a sale also does not necessarily mean an entire pay period without earnings. Applicants should ask how guarantees, draws, deductions, and commission timing work before accepting a position. The written pay plan and applicable wage requirements determine what an employee receives during a slow period, rather than one industry-wide rule.