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As an automotive mystery shopper with Helion Research, you act as a potential customer and evaluate the service of a car dealership. Projects can involve a phone call, an online enquiry, a showroom visit, a test drive or an after-sales experience. Indicative fees range from around €5 for a short telephone enquiry to €150 for a professional-buyer visit. Some assignments focus on professional buyers, such as self-employed people or company representatives looking for a business vehicle.
Last updated: October 2026
What do you do, and how much can you earn?
| Assignment type | What you do | Indicative payment |
|---|---|---|
| Telephone enquiry | Call about a vehicle or service appointment. Evaluate how your enquiry is handled and what next steps are offered. | €5–€20 |
| Online enquiry | Send a request through the assigned website. Track the dealership’s calls and emails and assess its response. | €10–€30 |
| Showroom visit | Discuss your needs with a salesperson, explore a vehicle and request a quotation if instructed. | €30–€60 |
| Visit with a test drive | Evaluate the sales discussion, vehicle presentation, test drive and any required follow-up. | €50–€100 |
| Online enquiry followed by a visit | Complete the customer journey from the initial enquiry to the dealership visit, potentially including a test drive and follow-up. | €60–€120 |
| Service or after-sales visit | Bring an eligible vehicle for the specified service. Evaluate booking, reception, communication and vehicle collection. | €40–€100, plus any explicitly approved reimbursement |
| Professional-buyer visit | Discuss a vehicle for business use. Evaluate the advice, detailed quotation and follow-up. | €75–€150 |
What is expected from you?
- Prepare carefully. Read the instructions and questionnaire, research the assigned vehicle and complete any required training or quiz.
- Follow the scenario. Use the correct contact channel, respect the deadlines and complete all required steps. Behave naturally and keep your mystery shopper role confidential.
- Meet the eligibility requirements. Test drives require a valid driving licence and may have additional conditions. Service assignments may require a particular vehicle.
- Provide clear, factual feedback. Explain what happened and support your answers with examples. Submit your report and requested evidence on time.
- Complete the follow-up period. Some projects require you to monitor and respond to dealership calls or emails after your enquiry or visit.
What is different about professional-buyer projects?
These assignments assess how dealerships help customers choose vehicles for business use. Depending on the project, you may need to genuinely own a business, be self-employed or influence company vehicle purchases. Other assignments use a scenario supplied by Helion.
You should be ready to explain the business activity, intended vehicle use, expected mileage, budget and purchase timing. Commercial-vehicle scenarios may also involve load space, payload, towing capacity or other practical requirements. Use only the business details and role approved for your assignment.
Professional-buyer projects may pay more because they require a specific profile, additional preparation, a detailed discussion and more follow-up. Complex fleet assignments are priced individually.
What information should you collect?
Your questionnaire tells you exactly what to record. Depending on the assignment, this may include:
- Customer needs: What did the salesperson ask about your requirements, budget and timing?
- Vehicle advice: Which model and equipment were recommended, and why?
- Quotation: Vehicle price, options, discounts, extra charges and whether VAT is included.
- Finance or leasing: Deposit, monthly payments, contract duration, mileage allowance, final payment and included services, where discussed.
- Availability and support: Delivery estimates, warranty, maintenance plans, roadside assistance and replacement-vehicle options.
- Follow-up: The adviser’s name, promised next steps and the timing and content of calls or emails.
Keep quotations, emails, screenshots and other evidence requested in your instructions. Take photos only as instructed.
Before you accept an assignment
Check the full assignment, not just the fee. Allow time for preparation, travel, the interaction, follow-up and reporting. Expenses are reimbursed only when explicitly stated. You are not expected to buy a vehicle, sign a purchase agreement or authorise a credit check. If the dealership requests these steps or confidential business documents, contact your Panel Manager.
Read more about pay in general in How much do mystery shoppers earn? Joining is free, and Helion never asks you for money: see our Scam warning.
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