Overview

Students enrolling in the Student Auto Sales (SAS) program are taught to diagnose, troubleshoot problems, and perform repair and maintenance jobs on used cars donated by the local community. Students are responsible for ordering parts, refurbishing vehicles, and preparing them for sale to the general public through the Internet. This unique instructional opportunity operates as the first student-run licensed used-car dealership in Virginia, providing hands-on experience in automotive technology, collision service, business operations, and customer service. Participants gain additional skills such as processing online sales, arranging vehicle transport, managing documentation, and translating currency and paperwork for international buyers. Over the past two decades the program has refurbished thousands of donated vehicles and returned significant proceeds to support local schools and scholarships, all while giving students real-world entrepreneurial training.

Additional Information

SAS partners with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles to electronically process titles and sales, ensuring all tag and title work complies with state guidelines. Students also learn to manage parts procurement, dealership fees, and to leverage online surplus marketplaces to market vehicles to a broad customer base.