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Overview
Automotive test drivers put vehicles through planned driving situations, observe how the vehicle responds and turn those observations into reports for engineers and design teams.
In job descriptions, look for prototype vehicles, test runs, vehicle controls, performance measurement, test data, vehicle maintenance, protective gear, safety routines and clear reporting of faults.
Explore this occupation
Search jobsWhat the work can involve
Automotive test drivers usually work from test plans, route instructions and vehicle checklists. The work can include preparing a prototype, driving repeated scenarios, noticing handling or comfort issues and recording data clearly enough for engineers to act on it.
Skills and specializations
Useful depth includes vehicle controls, motor mechanics, aerodynamics, performance measurement, test equipment and safe driving routines. Some roles focus on endurance tests, comfort evaluation, fault reproduction or media-style vehicle assessment.
Salary context
Salary context depends on test complexity, vehicle value, safety responsibility, travel, unusual driving conditions, data-reporting depth and whether the driver also supports maintenance or engineering feedback.
Career paths
Career paths can move toward senior test driver, vehicle test coordinator, quality testing, prototype support, motorsport-adjacent testing or technical reporting for vehicle development teams.
Good to know
Check whether adverts name the vehicle types, test routes, data tools, maintenance duties, protective equipment, reporting format and the level of engineering discussion expected after each run.
Editorial note
This guide is editorial career context, not official labour-market statistics or role-specific pay data.
Where might this occupation occur?
This occupation may occur in several kinds of economic activity. Here are some examples and other occupations that may be found in the same areas.
Technical testing and analysis
This is one example. Other occupations in this activity include non-destructive testing specialist, motor vehicle assembly inspector and consumer goods inspector.
Explore this activityThese examples offer an overview but do not show every economic activity where the occupation may occur.
About this information
The selection is based on how occupations are connected to economic activities in ESCO and NACE. Only a few examples are shown to make the information easier to use. The occupations were selected because they are close in occupation area and important skills. The examples are not a ranking. They do not show where most people work, where demand is highest, or which occupation is best suited to a particular person.
Map overview
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O*NET relationships
No official O*NET relationship is available for this occupation in the current mapping. You can still use the other occupation details.
NACE Rev. 2.1
Economic activities linked to this occupation.
71.2Technical testing and analysis
Alternative labels
motor vehicle test driver
automobile test technician
test driver
auto test driver
car test and development driver
automobile test driver
road test driver
automotive test technician
prototype vehicle evaluator
prototype vehicle tester
car test technician
car tester
automobile test and development driver
road test and development driver
car test driver
Occupation group
Product graders and testers (excluding foods and beverages) (7543)
Source facts
| ESCO URI | http://data.europa.eu/esco/occupation/295dbed9-0330-42af-8650-f9296c6eb195 |
|---|---|
| ESCO code | 7543.2 |
| ISCO group | 7543 |
| Concept type | Occupation |