Vehicle Buyer and Dealership Pain Points: How Title and Registration Delays Hurt the Bottom Line 

When it comes to buying or selling a vehicle, both consumers and dealerships expect a smooth, seamless experience. However, title and registration delays continue to create major pain points across the industry, damaging customer satisfaction, increasing operational costs, and creating compliance risks. 

In this post, we break down the biggest frustrations that vehicle buyers and dealerships face, and how ATC helps resolve these issues with fast, reliable auto titling and registration solutions. 

Top Vehicle Buyer Pain Points 

1. Delayed Vehicle Title Transfers 

One of the most common frustrations for car buyers is waiting weeks, or even months, for their title to arrive. Whether purchasing from a dealership or a private party, these delays can cause: 

• Frustration and confusion over vehicle ownership

• Delayed ability to register or insure the vehicle

• Reduced trust in the dealership or seller

2. Complicated DMV Processes 

Buyers often struggle with complex, state-by-state DMV requirements. Missing documents, incorrect forms, or long wait times can result in multiple trips or extended wait periods. 

3. Temporary Tag Expirations 

When temporary registration permits expire before the final paperwork is processed, it can leave vehicle owners unable to legally drive their new car, damaging their experience and the dealership’s reputation. 

Top Dealership Pain Points 

1. Manual and Inconsistent Title Processing 

For dealerships, handling titles across different states can become a logistical nightmare. Manual processes, outdated systems, and lack of standardization lead to: 

• Inefficient workflows
• Increased chances of errors or rejections

• Delays that frustrate both staff and customers

2. Customer Complaints and Lost Trust 

When title issues impact the buyer, it reflects directly on the dealership. Poor post-sale follow-through can result in negative online reviews, lost referrals, and damage to brand reputation. 

3. Compliance and Audit Risks 

Missing paperwork or registration delays can result in fines, penalties, and failed audits, particularly for dealerships that operate across state lines or manage high volumes. 

4. Staff Burnout and Resource Strain 

Sales and back-office teams often spend hours chasing paperwork, tracking down DMV approvals, and handling frustrated customers, all of which can be avoided with a more efficient process.

Solving the Problem with ATC 

At ATC, we specialize in solving the auto titling and registration pain points that plague buyers and dealerships alike. Our solutions are designed to: 

• Reduce title transfer time through streamlined digital processes

• Ensure compliance across all 50 states with up-to-date regulatory knowledge

• Handle temporary tags, registration renewals, and lien processing

• Improve dealership workflow efficiency and reduce manual labor

Our team works as an extension of your dealership staff, handling the paperwork, communicating with DMVs, and ensuring titles and registrations are completed accurately and on time. 

Eliminate the Pain Points. Drive More Trust. 

Vehicle buyers want confidence. Dealerships want efficiency and compliance. ATC delivers both by removing the roadblocks that stall the vehicle ownership process. 

Whether you’re a dealership group, auto finance company, or vehicle buyer, let us help you turn title and registration challenges into competitive advantage. 

Contact us today to streamline your titling operations and leave the pain points behind. 

Why Accurate DMV Data Is Critical for Automotive SaaS Platforms

If you’re building or scaling an automotive software business, you know that accurate, real-time data isn’t a nice-to-have, it’s essential. Whether your platform facilitates car buying, leasing, financing, or registration, one small error in tax or fee calculations can mean big consequences for your clients, and for your bottom line.

In the automotive SaaS landscape, where platforms are designed to streamline processes like car buying, leasing, financing, or registration, the importance of accurate, real-time data cannot be overstated. It’s not merely a desirable feature; it’s the bedrock upon which the entire system functions.

Consider the complexities involved in these transactions. Each process is governed by a web of regulations, tax codes, and fees that vary by location, vehicle type, and even the customer’s individual circumstances. A slight miscalculation in any of these areas can trigger a cascade of problems.

For the end user, it could mean overpaying for a vehicle, facing unexpected fees or penalties, or even legal complications. The consequences for your business are equally severe. Inaccurate calculations can lead to customer dissatisfaction, loss of trust, and damage to your reputation. In a worst-case scenario, it could result in legal action and financial losses.

In today’s fast-paced digital environment, customers expect seamless and error-free experiences. A platform that fails to deliver on this promise risks losing market share to competitors who can. By investing in robust data management and validation tools is not simply a matter of cost; it’s a strategic imperative for any automotive SaaS company that aims to thrive in the long term.

That’s where ATC’s DMV Data API changes the game.

Precision You Can Count On Every Time 

ATC has been at the forefront of DMV data accuracy for 29 years. We’ve built a powerful API trusted by top-tier automotive platforms to deliver: 

• Real-time, penny-perfect sales tax and DMV fee calculations — across all 50 states 

• Daily updates across more than 41,000 ZIP codes nationwide, all the way down to the address level 

• Seamless compliance with state-specific regulations 

• Unmatched support for 13 billion tax and fee combinations
   

This isn’t scraped data. It’s live, authoritative information pulled directly from the DMV, refreshed daily, not the outdated spreadsheets your competitors might be using. 

Why It Matters 

The automotive landscape is increasingly digital. Consumers expect instant, accurate pricing and seamless transactions. Automotive SaaS companies that rely on stale or inaccurate data expose themselves to: 

• Rejected transactions 

• Frustrated customers 

• Regulatory penalties 

• Lost revenue
   

Our API helps you avoid these pitfalls — with up-to-the-penny precision that keeps your platform compliant and your users confident. 

Designed for Developers, Built for Scale 

We’ve designed our DMV Data API to be developer-friendly and easily integratable into your tech stack. Whether you’re processing thousands of transactions a month or scaling nationwide, our infrastructure supports you, without the guesswork. 

The Bottom Line 

In today’s competitive market, accuracy is your edge. ATC’s DMV Data API gives you a powerful, proven tool to: 

• Increase conversion rates 

• Reduce compliance risk 

• Improve customer experience 

• Scale your platform with confidence 

Don’t let outdated data hold your product back. 

Explore our DMV Data API and see how 29 years of expertise, combined with real-time, direct-from-the-DMV data, can power your next phase of growth. 

The ATC Advantage: How Our Auto Titling Process Outshines the Competition 

In today’s fast-paced automotive industry, technology plays a crucial role in streamlining auto tax, title and registration fee calculation and services. At ATC, we pride ourselves on being a full-service title company with a track record of excellence since 1996. Unlike our competitors, we specialize in out-of-state transactions, making us the true experts in this field. Our commitment to accuracy, speed, and customer service sets us apart in motor vehicle processing and automotive tax calculations. 

Why ATC Stands Above the Competition 

1. Expertise & Specialization in Out-of-State Transactions

We specialize in out-of-state transactions, which allows us to maintain deep expertise and an agile team dedicated to ensuring every transaction is completed efficiently and correctly. Unlike some of our competitors, we provide a tailored approach to vehicle registration database management and auto title and registration. 

2. Unrivaled Accuracy

With more than 28 years of operation, ATC has built and maintains the nations most comprehensive, and most accurate database of tax, title and fee information. Related, as the at-scale processor of Out of State Tax, Title and Registration files, our database is constantly evolving and updating. Based on the accuracy of this data, and combined with our unparalleled processing documentation (e.g., detailed requirements and processes down to the individual county level), we process client files more accurately than any other firm, which eliminates and reduces errors and the subsequent rework (and cost) they require. 

2. Unmatched Processing Speed

One of the most critical aspects of vehicle technology advancements in the automotive industry is speed and efficiency. While our competitors are bogged down with extended turnaround times—sometimes taking up to 40 business days to complete a transaction—ATC delivers results in nearly a third of that time. Our median total processing time (from receipt of your file until when you or your driver receives their plates) is just 14 business days, ensuring faster plate shipments and lien holder perfection for our customers. 

3. All Operations Under One Roof

Unlike competitors with fragmented operations, ATC operates our processes in-house at a single location. This guarantees consistency, accuracy, and efficiency in every transaction. By keeping everything centralized, we ensure that our team follows the same proven processes, reducing errors and delays. Our customers benefit from a stable environment where transactions are handled efficiently from start to finish. 

4. Direct Communication & Unparalleled Customer Support

At ATC, we believe in transparency and personal customer service. Our competitors, which rely on impersonal 1-800 numbers and generic support channels, we provide direct access to our escalations team, account managers, and customer support teams. 

5. No Hidden Fees—Complete Transparency

Another key advantage of ATC is our straightforward pricing model. We do not surprise our clients with hidden fees or additional charges after processing has begun. What you see is what you get, providing complete financial transparency and predictability. 

6. 24/7 Account Access

In today’s world, waiting for “business hours” to check on deals or run new inquiries is a thing of the past. ATC provides 24/7 online account access, empowering our clients to manage their transactions at their convenience. This level of accessibility is unmatched in the industry and allows dealers to stay ahead in their business operations without unnecessary delays. 

7. Established Industry Relationships for Efficient Problem-Solving

With nearly three decades of experience, ATC has built direct relationships with jurisdictions across the country. This means we can handle nuanced cases more effectively than our competitors. Our strong connections allow us to navigate complex regulatory environments with ease, ensuring that your transactions are completed without unnecessary hurdles. 

Comparing ATC to Our Competitors: The Real Customer Experience 

Dealers who have worked with our competitors have expressed frustration over extensive processing delays due to merger integration headaches and a processing network that is predominantly comprised of third party processors who are inefficiently managed. We recently spoke with a dealer who reported that the overall turnaround time is 40 business days (2 months) from file received to plates shipped 

ATC avoids these pitfalls by maintaining a streamlined process that ensures accuracy and speed. Our median turnaround time of 14 business days gives our clients the competitive advantage they need to serve their customers efficiently. 

Choose ATC for Fast, Reliable, and Transparent Auto Titling Services 

When it comes to tag & title services, tax calculations, and motor vehicle registrations, ATC stands as the clear choice. Our industry expertise and commitment to customer service make us the premier auto title company. While others take weeks—sometimes months—to complete a transaction, ATC delivers results in days. 

If you’re looking for an auto titling partner that offers speed, accuracy, and transparency, choose ATC. Experience the difference today by contacting our team directly—no 1-800 numbers, just real experts ready to help. 

Contact Us Today to Learn More! 

Navigating Titling in 2023: How Dealerships are Staying Ahead

In the competitive realm of the automotive industry, staying ahead is not merely about keeping pace with the latest car models or technological advancements. It extends into the intricate, often convoluted, world of Out-of-State vehicle titling and registration. As we sail through 2023, the challenges tied to titling continue to evolve, spurred by changing regulations, technological shifts, and the ever-present need for efficiency and accuracy in processing. Amidst this complex landscape, Automotive Titling Company (ATC) emerges as a beacon of simplification and efficiency, guiding dealerships through the Out-of-State titling whirlwind with a suite of tailor-made solutions.

The Evolving Titling Terrain:

Titling in 2023 isn’t what it used to be. Several factors contribute to the evolving challenges:

• Regulatory Dynamics: The rules and regulations governing vehicle titling are in a constant state of flux, with each state having its unique set of guidelines.
• Technological Innovations: The digital transformation wave has touched the titling domain, opening doors to automation but also setting a new bar for efficiency and accuracy.
• Consumer Expectations: Today’s buyers are informed and expect a seamless, quick, and transparent titling and registration process.

ATC’s Strategic Approach:

ATC stands at the confluence of technology and expertise, offering a strategic approach to navigate the Out-of-State titling maze:

• Expertise at the Helm: ATC’s seasoned team of professionals stay on top of the ever changing regulations, ensuring compliance across the board, no matter how turbulent the regulatory waters get.
• Tech-Driven Solutions: Harnessing the power of technology, ATC offers solutions like the DMV Data API and DMV Fast Data, which streamline data access and processing, making Out-of-State titling a breeze.
• Customized Offerings: Understanding that one size doesn’t fit all, ATC provides customized solutions to meet the unique needs and challenges of each dealership.

Staying Ahead with ATC’s Solution:

The road to successful Out-of-State titling in 2023 is laden with potential pitfalls. However, with ATC as your Out-of-State titling partner, dealerships are not just navigating the challenges but staying a step ahead. ATC is the industry-leading 50-State Solution for Out-of-State titling, revolutionizing the way dealerships navigate the complexities of multi-state transactions.

• Accelerated Processes: ATC’s tech-driven solutions significantly cut down the processing time, accelerating the sales cycle and enhancing customer satisfaction.
• Reduced Error Margin: Automated data retrieval and processing reduce the chances of errors, ensuring accurate and compliant Out-of-State titling.
• Cost Efficiency: The streamlined processes offered by ATC not only reduce the operational burden but also translate into cost savings, making a noticeable impact on the bottom line.

Navigating the complex world of Out-of-State titling in 2023 demands a blend of expertise, technology, and a keen understanding of the evolving regulatory landscape. ATC embodies this blend, providing dealerships with the tools and support they need to not just navigate but excel in the titling domain. Explore how ATC can propel your dealership ahead in the titling journey, ensuring compliance, efficiency, and satisfaction at every turn. Reach out to us today to discover how we can tailor our solutions to align with your dealership’s titling needs and objectives, steering you clear of the Out-of-State titling tumult towards smooth and successful transactions.

Eliminate the Maze: ATC’s Simplified Path to Out-of-State Titling

In the automotive sales realm, extending your dealership’s boundaries beyond the local turf is a strategy that bears the promise of increased sales and a diversified customer base. However, this strategy brings along the intricate process of out-of-state titling, a route often laden with bureaucratic red tape and regulatory hurdles. The quest for compliance with each state’s unique set of titling regulations can easily morph into a complex maze that demands a significant chunk of your time and resources. This is where the Automotive Titling Company (ATC) steps in, offering a simplified, streamlined solution
to navigate through the out-of-state titling maze.

The Complicated Course

The course of out-of-state titling is far from straightforward:

Varying Regulations:

The titling regulations vary widely from one state to another. Keeping up with the evolving regulatory landscape across multiple states is a herculean task.

Paperwork Perils:

The paperwork required is both extensive and precise. A minor error can trigger a cascade of delays, pushing your sales cycle off track.

Deadline Dilemmas:

With each state having its deadlines for document submissions, the tracking becomes a constant race against time.

The ATC Advantage

ATC is engineered to alleviate the hassles inherent in the out-of-state titling process. Our services are designed to navigate through the regulatory intricacies with precision and speed. Here’s a glimpse of the ATC advantage:

• Expertise in Navigation: Our seasoned team is adept at maneuvering through the diverse regulatory landscapes, ensuring every document is processed accurately and in compliance with the respective state’s regulations.
• Tech-Driven Efficiency: Our innovative solutions like the DMV Data API and Self-Service DMV Fast Data harness the power of technology to expedite the data access and processing tasks, slashing the time spent on manual data retrieval and calculations.
• Deadline Mastery: We have honed the art of deadline management to a tee, ensuring every submission is timely, averting any costly oversights.
• Cost-Effectiveness: Entrusting the titling process to ATC not only frees up your resources but also slashes the operational costs, rendering the process both efficient and cost-effective.

Your Pathway to Simplification

Transitioning to ATC’s streamlined approach transforms the daunting maze of out-of-state titling into a straightforward path. Our tailored solutions ensure that the titling process dovetails seamlessly with your sales operations, boosting the sales velocity and enhancing the customer experience.

In Conclusion

Navigating out-of-state titling can hinder sales momentum and detract from customer satisfaction due to its complex nature. ATC transforms this intricate process into a streamlined pathway, enabling dealerships to effortlessly extend their reach beyond local boundaries. Discover the tailored solutions ATC offers for Out-of-State Titling simplification to align with your dealership’s objectives. Reach out to us today, and let’s accelerate towards simplified, efficient, and compliant out-of-state titling, propelling your dealership to higher operational excellence and customer satisfaction.

Kick Employee Burnout Out of Your Dealership: 10 Tips

“I quit!” is something few leaders ever want to hear, especially from top-performing staff members. Employee burnout is nothing new. It’s probably as old as work itself, but it’s gotten a lot of attention recently, thanks to a phenomenon many have dubbed “quiet quitting.” Rather than leave jobs that make them unhappy, many employees instead silently do less and less each day, with the end outcome being the same as them not showing up at all. As more and more employees evaporate in place rather than outright leave their jobs, leaders and managers who care about employee well-being have taken proactive steps to identify factors that contribute to employee unhappiness and underperformance. Every workplace is different, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to employee retention. But there are some steps that are good to take in any workplace, because they speak to what every worker – from the most seasoned to the freshest new face in the dealership – wants out of work. Here are 10 of the most tested.

1. Work-life balance: Promote a healthy work-life balance. Avoid excessive overtime and ensure employees have ample time to relax and decompress. If you find that the same handful of people are putting in overtime regularly, it’s time to lighten the load and hire additional people. Encourage employees to take vacation and time off when needed. Do you have an employee who is using too little vacation? Protect their mental health and their productivity by encouraging them to take a break. And when your staff is on vacation, tell them to vacation like they mean it: and that means no checking emails and messages.
2. Stress management: Stress at work doesn’t have to be earth-shattering to be, well, stressful. Any job done well and conscientiously will at times produce stress. It’s natural. People want to do good work, and staying on top of your performance can be harrowing, whether you’re a brain surgeon, an accountant, a schoolteacher, or a professional auto dealer. Provide resources to help employees deal with their stress. Eustress (so-called “beneficial stress” that inspires the best in us) is good. Distress is not.  Giving people opportunities to stretch their skills, and giving them a safe environment to do it in, creates positive pressure that conditions us to perform better. Maximize eustress and minimize distress. Open-door policies, where every employee can freely speak with their managers, set the tone from the top, while employee assistance programs (EAPs) can give your staff a confidential and supportive outlet. Some companies even have a chaplain! Chaplains are trained to help people of all faiths or of no faith. While chaplains have a background in pastoral care and faith, they can and often do help in an entirely secular way. The counseling profession actually came about as an offshoot of chaplaincy and pastoral care.
3. Clear job roles: Just as the freedom to spread one’s wings and learn new things is a positive, taken the other way, too much responsibility can be a negative: especially when the responsibilities span multiple, different functions. Clearly defining roles and expectations can help prevent employees from feeling overwhelmed or uncertain about their responsibilities.
4. Even clearer communication: Encourage open, respectful communication. Employees should feel comfortable discussing their workload, stress levels, and any concerns they might have with their superiors.
5. Career development: Provide opportunities for career development. This can include continued training, courses, or conferences that allow employees to grow and feel invested in their career. Incorporating cross-training can also help ensure that your roster is always ready for anything.
6. Recognition: Regularly acknowledge and appreciate employees’ hard work. Recognition can be a significant morale booster and can make employees feel valued and respected. Conversely, a lack of appreciation can drive people out of jobs they otherwise love and are good at.
7. Respect and dignity: Create a positive, inclusive, and supportive work environment. This includes developing a culture that values collaboration, respect, and diversity. This is table stakes for any company in any industry that wants to retain good people and attract good people. Little will sour an employee’s experience more than a hostile or unwelcoming workplace.
8. Ergonomic workspaces: Make sure the workspace is comfortable and well designed. Poor physical conditions, such as uncomfortable chairs or poor lighting, can add to stress and lead to burnout. For staff that are on their feet most of the day, ensure you have a comfortable, accommodating break area where they can sit and take a break.
9. Fair compensation: Ensure that employees are fairly compensated for their work. This includes not just salary, but also benefits and other perks. If employees feel that they are underpaid, they are more likely to leave – or to disappear in place.
10. The right tech, tools, and processes: Dealerships have specific needs, so don’t equip your team with generic productivity tools that are “close enough.” At ATC, our titling and registration solution integrates with powerful dealer management systems (DMSes), such as CDK Global. And our solution on its own is a real boon to busy title clerks and finance staff – not to mention to the financial health of the dealership. By using our built-for-dealers solution, our customers don’t just multiply what their title clerks can do. They also benefit from immediately improved cashflow, since ATC processes titles in days rather than months. That puts the money from out-of-state sales in your dealership’s coffers sooner, opens up your capacity to move more inventory, and improves the health of your dealership in ways that go far beyond just titling services.

They’re worth it

Whether your employees are happy or unhappy, creating an environment that helps them be at their best without making them feel their worst is always sound. Of course, every job will have moments of burnout, but mindful leadership can prevent it from becoming widespread and normal. If you’re in a bad spot now, inertia is the enemy: Act now and transform your dealership. You don’t have to do everything at once. You don’t have to fix everything at once. But forward motion is the first and most important step.

How Dealerships Can Stay Mighty When Stretched Thin

While it might be true that working smart is better than just working hard, sometimes, there’s no getting around the “work hard” and “work long” parts of the equation for auto dealerships. Whether you’re dealing with a temporarily light crew due to summer vacations or your staff size is small (but your dealership’s ambitions are not), having a lot to do and not a lot of people to help do it can be overwhelming. 

But working smart has one big advantage that just working hard never will: It doesn’t have an upper limit. And while hard work doesn’t make smart work smarter, the reverse is not true: Smart work makes the hard work you’re already doing work harder. It’s a force multiplier without reservations or conditions. When your cup is already overflowing with too much work, and you wish you could multiply yourself by four (or more), take a good look at how smartly your processes are working. (Because you already know how hard you’re working.)

Simplify and streamline: Look at existing processes and see where you’re truly efficient, as opposed to just doing things “they way they’ve always been done.”  Chances are, you’ll find redundant or time-consuming tasks that can be eliminated or automated. Streamline paperwork, inventory management, customer service, and other operational procedures to reduce the burden on staff members. Titling and registration is one of the core processes every dealership has to manage, and it in particular  can be incredibly tedious, complex, and lengthy.  Using a service such as our TT&R solution can save you days – or even weeks – of work, while also keeping you immune from the myriad risks of out-of-state sales regulations and requirements. 

Get the right tech for the job: You shouldn’t be sharpening your pencil with grandpa’s Case Trapper from the 1940s, and you likewise shouldn’t rely on similarly inefficient tools to manage your dealership.  There are some great technologies to automate and simplify tasks. Implement a dealer management system (also called a DMS, a type of customer management platform specifically for auto dealers) to manage leads, track customer interactions, and streamline sales processes. There are tons of great solutions to help dealers efficiently manage vehicle stock, monitor reordering, and track sales performance. DMSes are powerful multitools that get their many jobs done well. 

Train your staff to be ready for anything: Invest in training programs to give your staff the skills and knowledge to handle a larger workload. Offer regular training sessions on customer service, sales techniques, product knowledge, and administrative tasks. And cross-training isn’t just good for cardio. Making sure team members can step in and help in other departments, especially when your staff is small or when there is an unexpected absence, helps all staff  handle their responsibilities more efficiently and provide better service to customers.

And give them a power boost, too: Delegate tasks and responsibilities among team members to optimize efficiency. Identify employees’ strengths and assign them roles that align with their expertise. Empower employees by granting them decision-making authority within their scope of work. This does more than just increase efficiency. It’s a boost to  employee morale and engagement, too. That’s priceless. 

Be customer-first – and mean it: As the dealership grows, maintaining excellent customer service becomes even more critical – and difficult. Make sure your staff is equipped to handle customer inquiries, complaints, and requests promptly and professionally. Set up clear communication channels to address customer concerns and provide timely updates. Satisfied customers are more likely to become repeat customers and refer others to your dealership. Word of mouth is still the driving force in dealership reputation. 

Tighten up inventory management: When you have a  well-done system to track inventory, monitor demand, and optimize reordering processes, the tough job of inventory management gets a whole lot easier. Regular audits are at the heart of inventory management success. They ensure accurate record-keeping and usually reveal opportunities to streamline processes (very often with the great technology tools we mentioned above). Locked-down, solid, repeatable processes that catch everything help prevent stockouts, minimize carrying costs, and improve overall efficiency.

Amplify brainpower through collaboration: Forge partnerships with other businesses in the automotive industry, such as local repair shops or car service centers. Many minds are better than one, and shared resources are powerful assets. By working together with allies in your industry, you  can help streamline operations, reduce costs, and provide additional value to customers. For instance, you can establish referral programs or joint marketing initiatives to expand your customer base and increase efficiency through your combined might. 

Monitor, adapt, and refocus: Finally, once you have the right pieces in place, tend to your “efficiency ecosystem” the way you would a garden. Your processes need care and attention on a regular basis – because even the best-oiled machines don’t run on their own forever.  Regularly evaluate your dealership’s performance and identify areas for improvement. Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) such as sales metrics, customer satisfaction ratings, and employee productivity. Analyze data to gain insights into your operations and make data-driven decisions. Embrace feedback from customers and employees to adapt and refine your processes. And if this sounds like a lot? It certainly is! But the smart work force multiplying the hard work will be incredibly and immediately apparent, and it won’t be as difficult as it was before you deliberately optimized your standard ops. 

A small staff or a skeleton crew doesn’t lock you out of doing big things and making big wins. Take the time to get your dealership humming, invest in your staff’s knowledge and morale, and call on the right partners to help. That way, the road you’re on will always lead you to success. 

5 Compliance Checks for Out-of-State Auto Sales

Out-of-state sales can represent a significant revenue stream for dealers in good economic times and bad. But they also come with a lot of complexities that can turn into pitfalls, particularly in terms of compliance. Here are 5 things every dealership making OOS sales needs to consider.

1. State-specific regulations: Every state has its own laws, regulations, and requirements for auto sales, tax, titling, and registration. When a customer from out of state purchases from you, you must follow their state’s documentation, titling, registration, and sales tax regulations to the letter. Failure to comply with these regulations can lead to hefty fines and penalties, negative customer experiences, and even criminal charges.
2. Licensing requirements: Although you are licensed to sell vehicles in your state, you might need to abide by different or additional licensing requirements in the out-of-state customer’s state as well. This is another area where a seemingly small oversight could lead to fines, penalties, and a terrible experience for your customer.
3. Advertising compliance: Multiple federal and state laws regulate advertising requirements. Broadly, they require you to accurately represent vehicle prices, clearly disclose any additional fees or conditions, and avoid deceptive marketing practices. Since the finer details can vary from state to state, if you advertise outside of your own state, you must ensure you comply with both your state’s laws and those of the states where you are expanding your advertising and marketing.
4. Sales tax considerations: Sales tax requirements can vary significantly from state to state, so you need to clearly understand the sales tax obligations associated with selling to out-of-state customers. This includes determining whether the dealership is responsible for collecting and remitting sales tax to the customer’s state, or whether the customer is responsible for paying the tax directly. It’s a smart idea to hire a tax specialist or a lawyer well versed in interstate commerce law.
5. Title and registration process: Each state has its own procedures and documentation requirements for titling and registering vehicles. Dealerships need to provide accurate and complete documentation to facilitate the transfer of titles and registration to out-of-state customers, and it’s a big process that involves coordinating with the customer, providing necessary paperwork, and guiding them through the steps required by their state’s motor vehicle department.

The bottom line?  Out-of-state sales and the associated tax, title and registration process are incredibly complex and time consuming. The process subjects you to regulatory, legal, and financial risk and most importantly takes your focus away from selling more cars and providing great customer service. That’s why using ATC is always a smart move. We can handle all of your out-of-state titling and registration, with unmatched speed and guaranteed accuracy. With in-house expertise covering all 50 states, you can trust us to ensure that every OOS sale you make is 100 percent compliant, and our processing speed improves your cash flow by getting money from OOS sales in your hand faster. Ready to see how we can help? Sign up for a demo, and someone will get in touch with you right away.

Midyear Checkup: 5 Vital Signs for Auto Dealerships

Depending on who you asked late last year, automotive dealerships were either in for a terrible ride in 2023 – or else they predicted business as usual.  

Now that we’re nearing the halfway mark of 2023, the guessing game is over, and you know the road you’re on. Of course, your mileage may vary, but if your dealership isn’t headed in the direction you want to go – or if you’re on the road to success and want to ensure a smooth ride – here are five key vital signs to monitor for the health of your business: 

Financials and Operations

First and foremost, you’ll want to dig into your financial statements. Key indicators to focus on include gross profit, net profit margin, return on investment (ROI), inventory turnover ratio, and liquidity ratios. Taken together, these metrics can give you a good snapshot of your dealership’s overall health. Hand in hand with financial analysis is operational analysis. How efficiently are you able to manage not just the obvious job of getting new customers into the driver’s seat but also day-to-day operations, such as payroll, maintenance, and accounting? One way that both large and small dealerships find greater efficiency and cost control is by outsourcing functions such as financing, HR, marketing, and titling and registration. For example, our company, Automotive Titling Company, handles the entire titling and registration process for dealerships from start to finish. By using services such as ours, you can grow or scale your dealership’s capabilities without having to take on additional costs in staff, overhead, and training.  

Inventory

Good inventory management boosts profitability for auto dealerships. Having a clear, current assessment of turnover speed, aging inventory, and carrying costs helps your team make smarter, more strategic decisions. What’s more, the better you manage your current inventory, the easier it is to acquire new inventory and keep up with market demand. Now is the time to make up for the inevitable losses that many dealerships endured when consumer confidence was in the basement. 

Marketing and Advertising

Despite how powerful word of mouth is, don’t rely on it. And it goes without saying: so much of what you do to promote your dealership should be digital. For many customers, your first impression will be made online, so it’s important that you have a good website that’s easy to use (and with accurate inventory) and social media pages that make it easy and entertaining for customers to get to know you. Especially in markets where your dealership is competing for attention with many others, and you’re not the biggest or only game in town, good marketing and advertising will help you win customers who may otherwise not have seen you. Smart dealerships found the silver lining in the COVID-19 pandemic by taking a serious, disciplined look at their marketing efforts. How are you different? How do you make the whole process of buying or selling an auto better? Easier? Faster? Less expensive? Answer that, leverage it, and capture more of your market. 

Sales

Understanding in detail how well your sales team is doing and what challenges they face helps keep revenue flowing and inventory moving. Key metrics to consider include total vehicle sales, average transaction price, gross profit per vehicle, and sales growth rates. Additionally, analyzing sales by vehicle type, brand, or model can help identify strengths and weaknesses within the dealership’s sales strategy. And although the end goal of sales is, well, a sale, it’s important to be mindful of customer experience. As customer experience keynoter Blake Morgan writes in the July 14, 2020 issue of Fortune, “Customer experience focuses on more than just the end sale—it’s about everything the customer feels and thinks during the entire process. Customers want to be valued and seen as individuals, not pushed into buying something they might not need. Hearing a sales pitch that is obviously given verbatim to every single person doesn’t create a strong relationship.”

Employee Performance and Satisfaction

Finally – and arguably most importantly – happy employees are more likely to do great work, and that boosts your dealership’s chances at success in both tangible and intangible ways. A 2015 study conducted by researchers at the University of Warwick found that happy employees were 12 percent more productive, resulting in greater revenue and performance for the organizations that employed them. There are obvious things you can do – and likely already are doing – such as ensuring a civil and safe workplace, valuing individual contributions, and fostering respect. Those certainly carry you a long way but even better is to pair this ethos with an equally strong commitment to making sure your team has all of the tools, tech, and resources they need to do their jobs as easily and effectively as possible. Things such as sales and marketing software, apps designed specifically for inventory management, and automotive-industry-specific services (such as the titling and registration services we offer here at Automotive Titling Company) can help turn time-consuming but necessary work into much simpler operations, which gives your team time to do what they do best: get people into the driver’s seat. 

How Titling Companies Can Help Auto Dealerships Streamline the Sales Process 

Managing the pace of business at leading auto dealerships can be chaotic and overwhelming, especially during peak sales periods. One of the most time-consuming tasks in the sales process is managing the title and registration paperwork. This is where titling companies can help. In this blog, we will explore how titling companies can assist auto dealerships in streamlining the sales process to generate both higher sales velocity and a greater certainty of sales closes. 

What are titling companies? 

Titling companies are third-party organizations that specialize in handling the paperwork involved in vehicle registration and titling. These companies work with auto dealerships, lenders, and state motor vehicle agencies to ensure that all necessary documents are completed accurately and efficiently. Titling companies can handle all aspects of the title and registration process, including processing lien releases, paying off existing liens, and registering vehicles with state motor vehicle agencies. 

How can titling companies help auto dealerships? 

1. Increased Accuracy via Reduced Paperwork Errors: One of the most significant advantages of working with titling companies is the reduction in paperwork errors. These companies are experts in the titling and registration process and can ensure that all necessary documents are completed accurately and efficiently. This can help reduce the chances of costly mistakes that can delay the sales process and cause frustration for customers. 
2. Faster turnaround times: Titling companies have streamlined processes and connections with state motor vehicle agencies, which can significantly reduce the turnaround time for title and registration paperwork. This means that auto dealerships can complete sales transactions faster, increasing customer satisfaction and boosting revenue. 
3. Improved compliance: Titling companies stay up-to-date with the latest state and federal regulations regarding vehicle registration and titling. This can help auto dealerships ensure that they are in compliance with all legal requirements, reducing the risk of fines and other penalties. 
4. Reduced staffing costs: Handling the title and registration process in-house can be time-consuming and require significant staffing resources. By working with titling companies, auto dealerships can reduce staffing costs and redirect those resources to other areas of the business. For most dealerships, the reduced labor costs to process it yourself can more than pay for the cost of a 3rd party partner. 
5. Better customer experience: When the titling and registration process is streamlined, customers can enjoy a faster and more efficient sales process. This can lead to higher customer satisfaction and increased loyalty to the dealership. 

In conclusion, titling companies are a valuable asset to auto dealerships looking to streamline the sales process. Automotive Titling Company allows dealerships to tap into a nationwide network of titling companies to reap these benefits and title vehicles in all 50 states. By reducing paperwork errors, improving compliance, and increasing turnaround times, our network can help auto dealerships improve their bottom line and provide a better customer experience. If you are an auto dealership looking to streamline your sales process, consider partnering with a titling company to handle your title and registration needs.