It’s been almost a year since the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) introduced the Combating Auto Retail Scams (CARS) Rule, setting out to bring greater transparency and fairness to car buying. Although the rule’s original July 2024 effective date has been postponed, the FTC hasn’t slowed down its enforcement actions against dealerships that engage in payment packing or inconsistent pricing practices.

The pressure from fines and regulatory scrutiny isn’t the only challenge. With increasing news coverage around these enforcement actions, consumers are now more aware than ever of deceptive practices in the auto industry, expecting consistent, transparent pricing whether they’re browsing online or visiting a showroom. To meet these expectations and secure compliance, dealerships need solutions designed to keep them CARS-compliant across all sales channels.

With WebBuy, you can manage transparent pricing, ensure consistency across platforms, and protect your dealership from regulatory risks—all while improving customer satisfaction and profitability.

In case you haven't heard, prequalification is by far the most effective CTA with lead capture rates up to 60%. But it isn't just about getting people to enter their name and phone number. Car dealerships that embrace prequalification tools and soft credit pulls are gaining a competitive edge by increasing conversion rates, improving customer satisfaction, and boosting profitability.

One reason we are so passionate about creating a way for dealerships to compete in online car sales, is that digital retailing is not only a way to get more leads, but it is also better for your business and your bottom line.

As the automotive industry evolves, dealerships that embrace digital retailing solutions are not only meeting modern buyer expectations but also achieving higher profitability. Recent J.D. Power U.S. Sales Satisfaction Index (SSI) studies and Power Information Network (PIN) insights confirm that digital retail customers bring in more profit per transaction than traditional retail customers. With competition heating up, dealers who delay their digital transition risk being left behind.

In today’s competitive automotive market, dealerships can’t afford to overlook key statistics that reveal what car buyers expect from their shopping and purchasing experience. From digital retailing to customer satisfaction, these stats underscore the importance of adapting to consumer demand. Let’s dive into the 5 most critical stats every dealer needs to know to stay ahead.

In today’s digital world, customers expect a seamless experience, whether they’re researching online, visiting a dealership, or closing a deal. Unfortunately, the automotive industry often struggles to provide this unified journey, leading to what we call a fragmented customer experience. This disconnect can lead to lost sales, frustrated customers, and weakened brand loyalty.

With new vehicle prices dropping for the 10th consecutive month in July, car buyers are gaining leverage, especially as high loan rates continue to shape the market. For dealers, this shift presents both challenges and opportunities. One critical area where dealers can maintain and even boost profitability is in the Finance and Insurance (F&I) department. WebBuy, a dealer-centric digital retailing platform, empowers dealers to maximize F&I gross by giving them full control over the financing process.

The automotive industry's digital landscape is evolving rapidly, yet many dealer websites remain stuck in an outdated approach. Despite a growing trend towards online car buying, most dealer websites still rely on fragmented, non-transactional call-to-actions (CTAs) that serve as mere lead capture tools rather than comprehensive digital retail solutions. This gap highlights a significant opportunity for innovation and improvement in dealer website functionalities.

Why Dealers Need a Robust Digital Retailing Strategy:

In recent years, the automotive market has seen unprecedented challenges and transformations. The COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain disruptions, and fluctuating consumer demand created a seller's market where dealerships could sell vehicles with minimal effort due to high demand and limited inventory. However, 2024 is signaling a significant shift towards a buyer’s market, necessitating a strategic pivot for car dealers.

When it comes to buying a car, trade-in negotiations are often the most contentious part of the process. Both buyers and dealers have their own perspectives and interests, leading to potential conflicts. However, WebBuy’s trade-in tool, CarValuator, is changing the game by making this process significantly less contentious.

Like it or not, Carvana has revolutionized the car-buying experience with its focus on convenience, transparency, quality assurance, and customer-friendly policies. However, traditional dealerships can still compete and even surpass Carvana with the right tools -- without sacrificing their unique way of doing business. The WebBuy Omni Sales Platform is designed to help dealers do just that. Here's how WebBuy enables dealers to beat Carvana at their own game by excelling in these four key areas.