5 Signs of Employee Burnout at Dealerships & How to Prevent Them

employee burnout

Working at a dealership has its rewards. Whether it’s seeing a satisfied customer drive off the parking lot or enjoying a hard-earned commission, employees discover many benefits when working at a dealership. However, they also discover many challenges. 

Whether you’ve realized it, burnout is one of the most common problems employees face, especially when working in sales. While fun and lucrative, selling vehicles is one of the most demanding jobs. It takes patience, persistence, and a hefty amount of people skills to ensure car buyers feel comfortable. Given the difficulty, sales reps burn out quickly, increasing turnover, which is the last thing your dealership needs right now. 

Labor shortages are already impacting the industry, particularly in service departments. The lack of technicians has increased wait times for vehicle owners while decreasing customer satisfaction. If your dealership wants to prevent its sales department from also struggling, you can’t afford to let your team burn out and quit. 

But how can you solve the issue? It’s simple—know the signs of burnout and take steps to prevent them so that your sales team feels healthy and happy at work. 

What is Burnout?

First things first—what exactly is burnout? The term was coined in the 1970s by psychologist Herbert Freudenverger. It describes a severe state of mental and physical exhaustion that eliminates the joy people get from their careers and social interactions. 

The condition is worse than ordinary fatigue. When someone feels burned out, they struggle to cope with stress and manage day-to-day responsibilities. They may even develop a pessimistic outlook on life and feel so hopeless that getting out of bed in the morning is a challenge. 

5 Clear Signs of Burnout 

While burnout is mentally and physically uncomfortable, it’s not always easy to spot. It’s not like noticing an employee who’s sick with a cold. Burnout is less blunt in how it manifests. Still, there are five tell-tale signs your sales employees are running on fumes: 

  • Isolation: One significant sign of burnout is intentional isolation. When people experience burnout, they usually feel overwhelmed, causing them to reduce social interaction with family, friends, and coworkers. 
  • Exhaustion: Do any of your sales employees frequently complain about headaches, stomachaches, sleep problems, or changes in appetite? If so, those are physical signs of burnout. 
  • Irritability: When workers are burning out, they’re not as fun to work with—often, they lose their cool with colleagues. Even doing everyday tasks might set them off because they already feel overwhelmed. 
  • Escape fantasies: Dissatisfaction with life entices people to escape reality. Sometimes, that looks like using drugs, alcohol, or food. Other times, it’s daydreaming about solo vacations or running away. 
  • Constantly ill: Are any of your sales reps frequently sick? If so, that’s a sign of burnout. Like most stress conditions, burnout can weaken the immune system, increasing people’s risk of getting sick or experiencing insomnia, depression, or anxiety.

If some of these signs bring certain employees to mind, don’t worry. The symptoms of burnout are also side effects of other conditions, so there’s a chance your employees could be experiencing something that has nothing to do with their jobs. However, that’s not an excuse to avoid doing something. To ensure you at least create an environment where your sales employees thrive, you need to take steps to prevent any chance of burnout compromising your dealership’s success. 

How to Prevent Burnout

Fortunately, preventing burnout isn’t hard. All the strategies have one thing in common: they increase your sales reps’ quality of life in the workplace. Keeping that in mind, here are three tips to push burnout out of your dealership. 

1. Prioritize Employees’ Health

While you can’t control how employees manage their health, you can encourage them to make good health decisions. A proper diet, exercise, and deep sleep will go a long way in helping your sales team avoid burnout. So, you should encourage your sales reps to prioritize their health. 

If you see an employee consistently working long hours and eating at their desk while crossing off tasks, tell them to take a break. Encourage them to go on a walk, eat a good lunch, and stop working at a decent time to ensure they get an appropriate amount of sleep. 

Also, make it easy for employees to maintain a healthy lifestyle by offering nutritious snacks and drinks in the break room. Instead of stocking it with Red Bull and candy, provide healthy options like fruit, water, tea, and small vegetable trays. 

2. Outsource Certain Tasks

Some tasks don’t need your sales team’s attention. If you can outsource little things so employees can focus on bigger responsibilities, you’ll decrease their workload to help reduce burnout. But what to-do’s should you outsource first? The most immediate answer is any DMV task that your sales team handles.

Whether it’s getting license plates, tags, or vehicle registration for car buyers, DMV responsibilities take time your sales employees don’t have when they’re trying to meet quotas. That’s why companies like Barry Risk Management exist. Our team has over 30 years of experience in the DMV industry and handles auto dealers’ DMV needs

Regardless of a dealership’s location, our representatives at Barry Risk Management know what every state requires for car buyers to retrieve their license plates, tags, or vehicle registration. We know what paperwork to complete and submit, and we have an online platform that allows us to finish DMV tasks virtually and quickly. 

When working with us, your sales team won’t have to visit the DMV in person, experience long wait times, or fill out forms. We handle all the DMV stuff, so your sales team can focus on essential tasks, knowing their customers are being cared for. 

3. Encourage Work-Life Balance

While it’s great to see employees in the office, they need to have lives outside the office. Overworking decreases productivity and leads to burnout, which is why you should encourage work-life balance. Tell your sales reps to take vacations, whether somewhere beautiful or right in their homes. 

Also, don’t disparage employees who take time off for illness, family reasons, or important events. In fact, consider developing a system that promotes flexible scheduling. More than ever, employees want flexibility. That doesn’t mean they don’t want to work. But it does mean they want the opportunity to take off, show up later than 8 a.m., and work from home when possible or necessary. Providing that opportunity will not only prevent burnout but also increase employee engagement and productivity. 

Build a Healthy Work Environment  

In a time when labor shortages are prevalent in the auto industry, your dealership can’t afford to have employees burn out. If you want your company to be successful, you must create an environment where employees can thrive, especially since some are more prone to experiencing burnout because of the nature and demands of their job. 

Take a load off your sales team by contacting Barry Risk Management for your dealership’s DMV needs. You can reach a representative at 1-888-995-TAGS(8247). 

5 Automotive Technology Trends

automotive technology trends

While the automotive industry is experiencing digital innovation, research still suggests that consumers like visiting dealerships. A recent study indicates that 75% of car shoppers believe visiting a dealership to test-drive a vehicle is essential in their buying process, and 69% prefer to negotiate on price to receive the best deal. 

Why is this important to know? It’s simple—the in-person dealership experience still provides immense value. However, that value is only associated with specific tasks. That means your dealership should continue to focus on and enhance particular parts of the face-to-face interaction. But for many steps in the car buying process, you must start considering the role technology should play. 

Several automotive technology trends are shaping various parts of the sales and marketing process. If you want your dealership to remain competitive, you need to keep an eye on the tools changing the way you do business. For insights on the top innovations impacting your industry, here are five automotive technology trends to remember. 

1. Online sales are increasing 

This trend shouldn’t be too surprising. There are hundreds of articles explaining the growth of online car sales, but that’s because this trend continues to make positive gains. 

According to a recent study by Cox Automotive, 55% of customers have transitioned to an online car-buying process. Over time, that number will increase, especially as CarMax and Vroom grow in popularity. So, if you want your business to attract some online car sales, you should start taking steps to handle the digital sales process successfully. 

2. Personalization is a priority 

Another study by Cox Automotive reveals that 72% of U.S. auto dealers and 67% of car buyers think personalization technology, such as automation and artificial intelligence (AI), will enhance the car-buying process. Targeting consumers with personalized recommendations is in such high demand that, despite people’s weariness of providing their personal data, 68% of consumers surveyed said they wouldn’t mind dealerships using personalization technology if it leads to a better car-buying experience.  

The only problems hindering dealerships from moving forward with automation and AI are employees who are resistant to change, processes that aren’t set up for personalization technology, and a high price point that doesn’t seem worth it. These obstacles may be thwarting you, too. But if your dealership wants to sell more vehicles, you must overcome these challenges. Around 76% of car buyers expect auto dealers to know something about them before they hit the showroom floor, and failing to do so might cost you money. 

3. DMV tasks are happening online 

What’s one place most people dislike dealing with or visiting? The DMV. Completing anything at the DMV takes a while. Typically, you have to stand in long lines, find the right forms to fill out, speak with unenthusiastic workers, and wait weeks until you get what you need. This process is complicated not only for car buyers but also for dealerships. 

Trying to complete the paperwork for a customer’s license plates, vehicle registration, and tags can take what feels like ages. And car buyers are typically not happy about the long wait time. That’s why dealerships are starting to complete their DMV tasks online by working with private DMV services companies like Barry Risk Management. 

These types of businesses approach the DMV digitally. For example, when a dealership makes a sale, private DMV services companies will gather and complete the necessary forms to retrieve the customer’s license plates, vehicle registration, and tags—and they’ll do it all online. 

This digital process speeds things up significantly so that customers get what they need in a timely manner, and it empowers dealerships to work on more critical tasks while the private DMV services company handles the paperwork auto dealers don’t want to touch. So, if your auto company wants to make the DMV experience great for customers and your sales team, using a private DMV services company should be your next priority. 

4. Cybersecurity is gaining momentum 

Since many processes are shifting online, cybersecurity upgrades have become more and more essential. Online commerce means there’s an increased risk of fraud, hacking, and cyber threats, and that risk affects dealerships and customers. Decreasing the potential of nefarious activity has led many dealerships to partner with cybersecurity experts, who help ensure auto dealers have safe, protected digital transactions. 

One tool that’s been beneficial, in particular, is secure payment processing solutions—these offer fantastic security features that protect businesses and consumers. Other tools gaining traction are touchless payments and PCI DSS compliance, both of which deliver additional security for transactions. Having all these tools in place is a great way to give your team and customers peace of mind during a sale, so take time to beef up your cybersecurity if you haven’t already. 

5. Electric vehicles are in high demand

One tech trend that’s impossible to ignore is the demand for electric vehicles. These cars continue to increase in popularity and gain market share. In Q1 of 2022, electric vehicle sales in the U.S. hit a record high of more than 200,000 vehicles. According to Experian, registration for electric vehicles also surged 60% in the first three months of 2022, and consumers’ interest in purchasing an electric vehicle has increased by 70% since January.  

Some factors driving this interest in electric vehicles are improved performance, clean energy, and high gas prices. Experts predict the demand will continue to remain high, so much so that 70 million electric vehicles will be on the road by 2023. If your auto dealership wants to cash in on this market, you should start putting more electric cars on your lot.

The Next Level

Every business has to evolve to keep up with consumer and industry trends, and your dealership is no different. To continue succeeding in a competitive environment, your team must implement the latest technologies shaping your industry. Only then will you reach a new level of business where sales are consistent, car buyers are happy, and your company is equipped to deliver the best experience possible.

How Dealerships Can Move This Part of Their Car Sales Online

car sales online

What used to only happen in person is now occurring online at a fast pace. Over the past few years, car dealerships have experienced an increase in online transactions, with 30% of U.S. new car sales taking place digitally in 2020.

This shift towards online purchases correlates with consumers’ recent shopping habits. Studies suggest that 59% of car buyers spend time researching vehicles online, likely a reason automotive executives expect online car sales to reign in the near future.

According to a poll conducted by Automotive News, 46% of automotive executives predict a significant increase in direct-to-consumer sales by automakers, pushing typical franchised dealerships to the side. The poll also suggests that 78% of executives think most new car sales will occur online by 2030. 

If you’re like other dealers, you’re either prepared or preparing for this major shift towards online car shopping, especially if you want to maintain a successful business. Maybe you’re creating digital ads instead of traditional ones, sprucing up your website instead of buying a new lot, and hiring a social media manager instead of another salesperson. All these steps are great and necessary if you want to compete with other car dealers online, but there’s another step in your sales process that should be digital: your DMV strategy. 

Handle Your DMV Needs Digitally 

learn how to do your car sales online.

Once you complete a car sales transaction, what happens next? You have to do the paperwork for the DMV to ensure your buyers get their tags, license plates, registration, and more. Finding the applications for these materials and filling everything out is always a hassle, and failing to do so quickly can slow down your ability to finalize transactions. 

That’s why you need to consider moving your DMV process online. Instead of compiling all of the necessary paperwork, filling it out by hand, and submitting it in person, you should make this step entirely digital. Doing so will provide multiple benefits, including the following. 

1. Improves the customer experience 

There are many reasons consumers are shopping for vehicles online. One of the biggest is that it offers a better experience. Shopping for cars online means people don’t have to plan a trip to the dealership, experience long wait times, deal with pushy salespeople, or get flustered by large crowds. Searching for cars digitally also provides a quick and easy way to look at different options, find the best prices, and customize vehicles. 

But this excellent customer experience can come toppling down if buyers have to wait a while for their tags, license plates, and registration because you’re doing things the traditional way. Handling DMV needs online ensures buyers get what they need quickly to continue having a great customer experience. 

2. Provides convenience

Another benefit of doing DMV paperwork online is that it’s convenient for you. Taking the digital route means you no longer have to suffer through long lines at the DMV, experience constant back-and-forth with representatives, or try to stay organized as you manage tons of documents. An online DMV process is smooth and hassle-free if you approach it correctly. 

3. Boosts productivity   

Do you want to increase your productivity to have more time to close deals? If so, handling DMV paperwork online can help. You can significantly cut the time it takes to gather material for the DMV by doing everything digitally. What used to take weeks could now take days. And having more time on your calendar will allow you to focus on other important tasks like finding creative ways to increase sales online. 

How to handle DMV paperwork online

If addressing your DMV needs digitally is the next step you must take as car sales shift online, it’s not hard to make this happen. In fact, all you need to do is work with a private DMV services company like Barry Risk Management. 

We handle dealers’ DMV paperwork, so they don’t have to worry about this task. And we do everything digitally. From gathering the paperwork to filling it out, everything we do happens online to ensure dealerships give their customers what they need in a timely manner and maintain a high level of productivity. 

Tons of dealerships across the nation have outsourced their DMV tasks to our team. We have over 30 years of experience in the industry and understand the DMV rules in every state. Because of that, we have the knowledge to ensure any and every dealer provides the proper material to their customers. 

So if you want to join the league of dealers who trust us with their DMV needs, reach out to our team. One of our representatives will walk you through our online process and answer any questions you may have. Afterward, we’ll start taking care of your DMV paperwork digitally so that every step of your car sales process is online, leading to a better experience for you and your customers. 

Contact us at 1-888-995-TAGS(8247) to start shifting your DMV strategy online!

The Top Tasks to Outsource in The Car Dealership Sales Process

car dealership sales process

If you’re an auto dealer, there’s one thing you know for certain: the industry is experiencing unique challenges in the sales process. Most of these challenges aren’t easy to solve. Some even require significant shifts in how your dealership does business. However, if you want to be successful in today’s competitive environment, you need to be able to solve your organization’s most pressing sales concerns, and that can only happen if you have time to address them. 

But how can you get that time? The only way you typically can: you must outsource specific sales-related tasks to create an opportunity to handle others. This idea may sound scary initially, especially since sales are a pivotal part of your business, but don’t worry. The tasks we recommend outsourcing happen after you’ve completed a transaction, leaving the beginning of your car dealership sales process intact. 

If you’re wondering what tasks we’re referring to, we’ll get to them soon. But first, let’s dive deeper into the sales challenges you’re facing that make it necessary to outsource certain responsibilities.

Low inventory remains a top concern

The first problem your dealership may be experiencing is low inventory. With the ongoing shortage of semiconductor chips, manufacturers have had trouble producing new vehicles, and it’s left dealerships like yours in a bind. In fact, many dealers can barely get 1 million vehicles in stock when they’re typically used to having 3 million cars in inventory. 

Some dealerships are handling this problem by reducing sales incentives and increasing prices. You might even be doing the same things. However, while these responses are normal and understandable, they don’t prevent consumers from becoming frustrated during the car dealership sales process. 

Car shoppers are competing for fewer options while facing significantly higher prices. In December 2021, the average price for a new vehicle cost more than $47,000, which is $12,000 over the average price at the beginning of 2020. These high prices, along with increased competition, mean you have to educate consumers on why there’s low inventory while trying to ease their frustration to ensure you don’t permanently damage the relationship. 

Even if shoppers can’t buy a vehicle immediately, the last thing you want to do is let them walk away angry and unwilling to work with you once inventory increases and prices stabilize. So spending ample time managing consumer relationships is essential for long-term success. 

Navigating a different sales process 

navigating a new car dealership sales process

Outside of managing consumers’ emotions and low inventory, your team also has to learn a new sales process. Before the pandemic, your salespeople were primarily responsible for test-driving vehicles with walk-in customers and delivering compelling sales pitches face-to-face. But today, many customers are shopping for cars from the comfort of their homes, meaning your sales team has to shift their efforts to the digital world. 

If your dealership wants to make sales, your team has to focus on answering online requests quickly and delivering vehicles to buyers who bought their cars online. Doing this requires your salespeople to become more analytical and tech-adept than ever before. Additionally, they’ll have to navigate a new consumer journey and discern which digital touch points will allow them to make the most impact. 

The learning curve can be steep, so your sales team will need to spend sufficient time understanding it. Otherwise, your dealership could face more challenges than necessary.

Outsource tasks to address the big issues

With low inventory, consumer frustration, and a new sales process for your team to learn, you can’t afford to focus on tasks that can easily be outsourced. Instead, your full attention must be on the most significant obstacles affecting your business. So, to make time for what matters most, you should outsource the DMV responsibilities in your car dealership sales process.

These responsibilities include the paperwork you have to fill out to get a buyer’s tags, vehicle registration, license plates, and more. Tasks like these are easy for private DMV services companies. These types of organizations can gather the necessary paperwork to turn it in so that your customers get what they need in a timely manner. 

The only essential factor to consider is the DMV services company you work with—some of these organizations have minimal experience in the DMV industry. Additionally, many of them don’t know which forms to complete for certain DMV services. However, a reputable company will know all the ins and outs of getting tags, vehicle registration, license plates, and more, making it easier for you to trust outsourcing these tasks to them. 

A reputable company for your DMV Needs

If outsourcing your DMV tasks will free up your time and benefit your dealership, you don’t have to look far for a reputable company to help. In fact, our team at Barry Risk Management can step in to handle all of your DMV-related responsibilities. 

We have over 30 years of experience in the DMV industry and work with dealerships across the U.S. Even better, we do everything online, so you don’t have to visit our office to get the help you need. You can remain at your dealership to focus on increasing inventory, maintaining customer relationships, and conducting sales online. 

So, give us a call at your earliest convenience. One of our representatives will answer any questions you have and start completing the DMV paperwork for your most recent customer. 

Dial 1-888-995-TAGS(8247) to get in touch with one of our representatives at Barry Risk Management!

How Auto Dealers Can Overcome the Labor Shortage in 2022 as Consumer Demand Rises

Labor Shortage in 202

While every brand is unique, there’s a chance your dealership has one thing in common with auto dealers across the country: a sharp increase in consumer demand. In U.S. showrooms, people are buying makes and models almost as quickly as they can be made. 

Empowered by a strong economic recovery and low-interest rates, consumers are racing to snatch up new and used vehicles. The growing interest in car buying has even led some dealers to contact former customers to see if they can buy back their vehicles to meet consumer demand for used cars. 

Of course, this increased need has some benefits, especially financially. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that prices for used vehicles were 40.5 percent higher in January 2022 than in January 2021. Transaction prices for new vehicles also shot up by 12.2 percent within that same timeframe. And according to a report by Edmunds.com, 8 out of 10 car shoppers paid over the sticker price in January compared to 2.8 percent last year. 

Maybe your car dealership is seeing similar sales. With consumer demand increasing, it’s possible you’re speaking with more customers than ever before. But how manageable is that workload if you’re understaffed like many other car dealerships in the U.S.? 

Labor shortages in 2022 are impacting success

It’s no secret. The Great Resignation is impacting many markets, including the auto industry. Around 57 percent of car dealerships are understaffed, and 80 percent expect workforce challenges to get worse in the short term. 

Some states are faring notably worse than others. For example, there are thousands of open jobs in the auto industry in Alabama. And car dealerships in Michigan are seeing few people apply for open positions while new hires quit by lunchtime. But this quick turnover aligns with industry research. 

The employee turnover rate in auto dealerships is 46 percent, more than double the average U.S. rate of 19.6 percent. For sales employees, the stats are even higher. The auto industry’s annual turnover rate in sales departments is a whopping 80 percent. 

With many open positions and a high turnover rate, it’s hard to keep up with consumer demand for new and used vehicles, and you may have noticed this at work. Trying to sell cars while handling all of the DMV paperwork for recent transactions isn’t easy. You could easily spend all day and night in the office just filling out and submitting the documents for car buyers’ titles, tags, license plates, and more. 

Obviously, decreasing this burden is possible with strong and consistent recruiting efforts. If you can onboard the right employees who won’t quit during their lunch break, it’ll be easier to meet consumer demand and fulfill all of the other responsibilities that come with your job. 

But hiring top talent takes a while, and you need an immediate solution to your problem to sustain your business and keep a level head. With that in mind, the best option is to work with a private DMV services company. 

Why you should use a private DMV services company

First thing’s first. A DMV services company will not help sell the vehicles on your lot. These organizations do not provide sales associates. However, they fill in the gaps by handling all of the DMV paperwork you or a sales associate would have to do after a transaction. That means half the battle—and specifically, the last half—can be outsourced to a reputable company. 

With a private DMV services brand, the labor shortages you’re experiencing in 2022 will feel less stressful. While you and your team handle a packed sales volume, the representatives at a private DMV services company will manage the other important aspects of completing each transaction. They’ll get your customers’ tags, license plates, vehicle registration, and titles. A credible brand will know which documents to fill out and submit to acquire these necessities and will have everything to car buyers in a short timeframe. 

All you have to do is find a reputable private DMV services company to handle these responsibilities. Then, you can put more hours back into your day to focus on sales and consumer needs. 

Barry Risk Management is here to help 

Barry Risk Management is a private DMV services company you can rely on to handle the paperwork you don’t have time to touch. Everything we do happens online, so you don’t have to visit our office to drop off any information. We prioritize convenience, and we already know you’re strapped for time, so you can get what you need by interacting with us online. 

Only the first step requires a quick phone call. That way, we can better understand your needs and walk you through our process. During the call, you’ll speak with one of our representatives—all of them have over 30 years of experience in the DMV industry, so you’ll be in good hands with anyone on our team. 

Just give us a call to talk through the specifics. You don’t need to continue sinking under the weight of labor shortages if you can make the rest of 2022 an easier and less stressful year. Let a private DMV service company like us take some of the load off by managing the paperwork from your increased sales volume.

For a deeper look into how our team at Barry Risk Management can help, contact us at 1-888-995-TAGS(8247). 

How Auto Dealers Can Quickly Handle DMV Paperwork

DMV paperwork

If you’re an auto dealer, business is about to get busy. The intent to buy new or used cars is increasing amongst consumers. Research suggests that 94% of people are looking to buy a new car, and 97% of consumers have intentions to buy a used car.

These numbers have significantly increased since 2020, which means you can expect to ramp up sales and bring in more deals. But while you’re speaking with eager consumers and showing the vehicles on your lot, keep in mind that making an official sale won’t be a walk in the park, and that’s not because customers will be demanding. It’s because the DMV will be more challenging to work with than usual. 

The DMV wait times are increasing 

You may have heard that businesses spanning various industries are currently facing staff shortages. According to the Job Opening and Labor Turnover Survey by the Department of Labor, there were 11.3 million job openings in January 2021. 

Of course, when an organization is short-staffed, you’ll experience longer wait times than usual, and unfortunately, this is especially true with the DMV. There’s no reason to sugarcoat it—the DMV is notoriously slow, and when you throw in labor shortages, getting things done will move at a snail’s pace, and that’s not an exaggeration. 

DMVs across the U.S. have fewer employees than usual, leading to longer wait times. In fact, a DMV in Oregon recently reported that it’s trying to keep things going with only six employees on most workdays when it usually has 17 employees on hand. 

With these severe staff shortages, you’ll have a tough time completing the forms you must give the DMV after you sell a new or used motor vehicle. Most likely, you won’t even know which documents to fill out and submit to make a transaction official. 

The DMV requires a plethora of paperwork, and keeping up with it can be challenging, which is why it’s tempting to call the DMV or go in person to figure everything out. But because DMVs are so short-staffed, it’ll be incredibly difficult to get someone on the phone. And speaking with an associate in person could take hours or an entire workday. 

How to skip the long DMV process

the best ways for auto dealers to handle DMV paperwork

While the DMV may not be able to assist you in providing necessary paperwork, you can’t let that stop you from making sales. Otherwise, you won’t have a dealership. However, how can you figure out which documents to give the DMV so that your customers can drive their vehicles legally? 

The best step is to use a private DMV services company, which will act as an intermediary between you and the actual DMV. A good, reputable company will know the exact documents to submit to the DMV and will even deliver the forms for you. With this type of business working by your side, you’ll not only complete the necessary forms to make your transactions official, but you’ll also have the opportunity to give your customers essential items, including the ones below. 

1. Titles

Without a title, who’s going to believe someone owns their car? You need to get this document to your customers as soon as possible, and a private DMV services company will make that happen. It’ll handle and submit the required information to the DMV, ensuring you get titles to your customers in a timely manner.  

2. License Plates 

After you make a sale, you need to give your customers a temporary license plate. However, keep in mind that you may need to provide the official license plate as well. Some customers will prefer you to do it instead of handing it themselves, but accommodating this request can be quick and painless with a private DMV services company. 

This type of business will gather all of the necessary forms and give them to the DMV. Then, your customers will have an official license plate in their mailbox in no time. 

3. Tags and registration 

Other items your customers may want you to provide are their tags and vehicle registration. And no, this doesn’t include the temporary tags and registration you give them before they drive off the lot. 

Most likely, you’ll also need to provide the official documents, which a private DMV services company can handle for you. Instead of filling out the paperwork yourself, a private DMV services company will get everything together, submit it, and make sure your customers receive their tags and registration quickly. 

The best DMV services company to use

Using a private DMV services company may sound like a good idea. But this good idea can fail fast if you don’t use a great DMV services company. An inexperienced one won’t know which documents to submit to the DMV after you make a sale, leading to chaos, confusion, and unhappy customers. 

However, our team at Barry Risk Management isn’t inexperienced or unknowledgeable. We’ve been working in the DMV industry for over 30 years, so we know exactly what you need to provide to legitimize your transactions and help customers get what they need. 

Even better, we handle everything online, so you don’t have to take a break out of our busy schedule to visit us. You can focus on making deals and give us a call in between to let us know what you need. We’re available and ready to provide the DMV services you require, so reach out to speak with one of our representatives so that you’re equipped to handle your increase in sales. 

Use a team of experts to handle your DMV needs by calling Barry Risk Management at 1-888-995-TAGS(8247). 

Auto Dealer Insight: Can You Sell A Car Without A Title?

can you sell a car without a title?

Every successful business needs to make sales. However, sales don’t look the same across every industry. Different documents are necessary for different tractions. For example, perhaps you own a car dealership. Can you sell a car without a title? Of course not. 

If you’re an auto dealer, you absolutely need a car title to sell a vehicle. Without one, you could ruin your business and reputation and cause your customers a lot of stress and headaches. But getting a car title for each vehicle on your lot isn’t that easy. 

Most states don’t offer an online application for new or duplicate titles, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to get this document. There’s an easy avenue you can take to get what you need, and it doesn’t require you to do an in-person visit to your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). 

The solution is much simpler than that—but before this article reveals it, you must know everything about car titles. Otherwise, it’ll be hard to run a successful auto dealership.  

What is a car title? 

Sometimes, people confuse car titles with vehicle registration, but the former document is entirely different. A car title is what establishes legal ownership of a vehicle. 

States will issue this document, and specifically, the state where you purchase the vehicle will be the one that provides the car title. However, perhaps you recently bought a used car. In that case, the previous owner needs to transfer the title to you. 

However, regardless of whether you have a new or used vehicle, once you get the title, you must keep it until you sell the car. Ideally, put this document somewhere safe. That way, you don’t have to worry about losing it or someone stealing or destroying it. 

Additionally, safeguarding this document will ensure you have it when it’s time to transfer it. After every sale, you must provide the accompanying car title to the new owner. But it’s impossible to do this if you don’t have the document safely in your possession.   

What information should a car title include?

Can you sell a car without a title? Learn more.

When you get a car title, you should notice that it has several pieces of information. This information will be present on every title that your auto dealership has, so don’t worry if things start to look similar. 

Keeping that in mind, here’s what to expect on a car title:

  • Owner’s name and address: This insight will refer to the details about your business. 
  • Identifying information: This section will include the make, model, year, VIN, and color of your vehicle.
  • Issue date: The date you purchased your car will also be on the title.
  • Liens: If a financing lender was involved in your transaction, this insight would be available as well.
  • Odometer: Your title will have your vehicle’s odometer reading and specify when that reading happened. 
  • Signatures: The signatures on your title will include you as the buyer, the seller, and a state representative.

If you’re buying a used car, it’s not unheard of to come across scammers. Sometimes, sellers will provide something that looks like a title, but it’s only a false document. Ultimately, it’s your job to make sure the title you’re getting for a used car is real. 

Luckily, if you don’t want to get duped, there are several things you can look for, including the following:

  • The VIN: Verify that the VIN is accurate by getting a vehicle history report. 
  • Issuing state: Double-check this information to ensure it aligns with the state you’re doing the transaction in. If it doesn’t, the title is probably not valid. 
  • A watermark: If the car title you’re getting doesn’t include a watermark, that’s a sign that it’s a copy, not the original. 
  • Unclear or fuzzy printing: The document should be clear and easy to read. If the printing seems off, the title is likely a copy. 

These indicators will tell you what type of car title you’re getting for a used vehicle. And it should go without saying that you shouldn’t purchase a used car before verifying that the title is the original. 

What happens when you don’t have a car title?

Remember when the beginning of the article mentioned that not having a car title could negatively affect your business, reputation, and customers? Well, there’s an example to prove it, and it comes straight out of Chicago. 

After a man and his girlfriend bought a new car, they had so much trouble getting the title from the dealership that they called the overall process a nightmare. Without the title, they couldn’t drive the vehicle on the street.

The owner of the dealership in Chicago said he originally bought the car at an auction, but there were issues with getting the title. Apparently, the previous owner had to apply for a new one, but it doesn’t sound like that person ever took this step. The auto dealer in Chicago never got a valid car title, so the couple he sold it to never got one either. 

It wasn’t until the couple complained and got the Secretary of State involved that things finally started to move in a positive direction. Still, that hasn’t prevented the man and his girlfriend from expressing frustration to reporters and naming the dealership they bought the vehicle from. 

While the dealership owner in Chicago says that none of the issues was his fault, this is an excellent example of what happens when you don’t have the car title in your possession. Not only do you get dissatisfied customers, but you also get poor reviews and negative attention in news articles. 

How your auto dealership can get a car title

Now that you have a clear understanding of car titles and the importance of having them, there’s only one thing left to cover. How do you actually get a car title? 

The traditional answer is the one you hear about most often, and that’s to visit your local DMV office. However, if you don’t have time to complete this task in person—since you’re running a car dealership—you can have our team at Barry Risk Management handle everything for you. 

As a transportation agency with over 30 years of experience in the DMV industry, we know how to get a car title for every vehicle on your lot. And it doesn’t matter where your business is located. Our team understands the tricky rules and regulations for getting a car title in each state, so we’ll be able to get what you need without any problems.

Even better, our process is entirely online. You don’t have to visit our office. All you must do is give us a call and tell us that you need a car title for one of the vehicles on your lot. Then, the rest of the process happens digitally. That way, things stay simple, quick, and efficient. 

Ready to get a car title for a vehicle on your lot? Dial 1-888-995-TAGS(8247) to contact Barry Risk Management for help. 

How to Get an Auto Dealer License

how to get an auto dealer license

If you love cars, you may have considered owning an auto dealership. After all, this route would give you an opportunity to talk about cars all day long, geek out about their features, and help people find the vehicle of their dreams. But starting and owning a dealership doesn’t solely hinge on your love for cars. 

In between your idea of creating a business and opening your door lies a lot of paperwork that you have to mow through, and most of that paperwork centers around one thing: getting your auto dealer license. This step is crucial, especially if you want to own a legally operating business in whatever state your dealership is located. 

However, while necessary, most people don’t know how to complete this step, so it’s easy to wonder how to get an auto dealer license. And even though it’d be nice to say this document is easy to acquire, getting a license is actually harder than you might expect. 

Do you need an auto dealership license? 

Before explaining how to get an auto dealer license, first things first. Do you even need one? As mentioned earlier, obtaining this license is necessary if you want your dealership to be a legally operating business. But there are some exceptions to this rule. 

If you don’t want a dealership license but would like to sell a car, the title for that vehicle must be in your name, and you must use that vehicle for personal, family, household, or business purposes. For example, maybe you want to buy a new car, but you need to sell your current one first. In this case, you can do so only if the car title is in your name. 

Every state gives you the power to sell your personal vehicle. But if your name isn’t on a title, you can’t sell the car, or you’ll commit an illegal act called title-jumping, which is a crime in every U.S. state. 

Of course, you may be wondering if you can simply title a car in your name before you sell it, but this loophole doesn’t exist. While you wouldn’t be title-jumping anymore, you’d still have to prove that you used the vehicle for business, family, or household reasons. 

So, if you plan on selling multiple cars—and not a personal vehicle that you own and actively use—you need to get an auto dealer license. Otherwise, you can get in trouble and suffer some consequences. 

Which auto dealer license do you need? 

Once you know whether an auto dealer license is necessary, it’s time to pick out the type of license you should pursue. Ultimately, the path you choose will depend on the kind of dealership you plan to run. 

One of the best things about being an auto dealer is that you can decide which type of vehicles to sell. For example, here are three common options. 

1. An auto dealership with new vehicles

If you plan to operate a dealership with new vehicles on the lot, you’ll likely need to be franchised directly through a manufacturer to operate legally in your state. Once you get that sorted out, you’ll need to pursue a new dealer license. 

2. An auto dealership with used vehicles

Perhaps you only want to sell used vehicles. If that’s the case, you may not need to be franchised directly through an auto manufacturer. But you’ll still need to acquire a used vehicle dealer license. 

3. An auto dealership with new and used vehicles

Owning a dealership with both new and used cars is possible. However, you’ll probably need to get an auto dealer license for each type of car sale you hope to pursue. 

Also, it’s important to keep in mind that a dealership that sells new vehicles can quickly start selling used cars. But for used car dealerships, you can only sell used vehicles, so keep that in mind when you’re deciding which type of dealership to own. 

4. An auto dealership without a lot 

In this digital age, you may consider having a dealership without a lot. This strategy would reduce a lot of startup costs, so it’s understandable if you want to take this route. 

Some states will let you operate your business online, but that doesn’t mean you can avoid licensing. You still need to acquire the right dealer license and follow your state’s laws even though your business is digital. 

Meet the state requirements for licensing

One part of learning how to get an auto dealer license is knowing your state's requirement

Nailing down the type of auto dealer license you want will allow you to take the next step towards legitimizing your business: reviewing your state’s requirements for licensing. Most states will have some of the same guidelines. 

For example, you’ll most likely need to secure a properly zoned location (if you’re getting a lot) and have your location and business approved. Additionally, a few other standard requirements may arise, including the following: 

  • Meeting your zoning requirements 
  • Providing proof of insurance 
  • Registering your business
  • Passing a background check
  • Attending a pre-licensing seminar
  • Arranging a business inspection 

Of course, these requirements are not set in stone. Your state may have some of these guidelines, or they may have a completely different set of criteria. For the best chance of success, research your state’s specific requirements for an auto dealer license. 

Don’t forget to acquire an auto dealer bond

No matter your business location, you’ll likely need to get an auto dealer bond before you apply for a license. A surety bond will protect your customers and allow them to make a claim against you if they believe you’re running an unethical, fraudulent, or unlawful business. 

The cost of the auto dealer bond will only be a small percentage of the total bond amount. However, the bond cost will vary depending on different financial factors like your personal credit. 

Once you’re ready to get an auto dealer bond, it’s best to go through a transportation agency like Barry Risk Management. Acquiring a bond can get tricky if you’re doing it on your own, but it can also be relatively easy if you have help. 

Submit a licensing application

The final step for getting an auto dealer bond is simple: submit your licensing application. This step will be straightforward if you’ve completed everything else, but there will be a lot of paperwork involved. 

For example, when submitting a dealer license application in New York, you have to complete several steps for the Department of Motor Vehicles that require you to either fill out or obtain information. Failure to have all the correct documents will prevent you from applying to get an auto dealer license. 

If you don’t want to face any potential roadblocks, the best solution is to find a transportation agency to handle everything. Companies like Barry Risk Management, which has over 30 years of experience in the DMV industry, can help New York dealerships get their licensing. 

Even better, Barry Risk Management does everything online, so you don’t have to come inside an office and wait for a representative to speak with you. All you need to do is make a phone call, and you’ll get the assistance you need. 

To get your car dealer license in New York, call 1-888-995-TAGS(8247) to speak with a representative at Barry Risk Management. 

Why Vehicle Pickup and Delivery Offers Customers Convenience

vehicle pickup and delivery

If there’s one thing that your customers want, it’s convenience. In today’s world, many consumers seek convenience, even preferring it over equally important factors like price.  

Just look at Amazon Prime. For a little over $10 per month, you can have purchased products on your doorstep within 24 hours. Also, consider food delivery apps. Postmates, Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Grubhub have become staples in society. Even on a nice day, when you can easily hop in your car and pick up your food, it’s tempting to use a delivery service instead of leaving the comfort of your home. 

With convenience reigning in most people’s lives, your customers expect ease and simplicity from every brand they purchase from, including your dealership. It doesn’t matter if you’re not running a billion-dollar e-commerce brand or a food delivery service app. Convenience is not bound to a specific industry—it’s a desire that your customers have for every single brand they come into contact with.  

That’s why your dealership must take steps to offer the same convenience that other companies are providing. If it doesn’t, your brand won’t succeed long-term, and that’s not an exaggeration. 

Luckily, offering this convenience isn’t a hard thing to do. In fact, something as simple as vehicle pickup and delivery can significantly increase your customers’ happiness and satisfaction. 

Why vehicle pickup and delivery is crucial 

The pandemic made one thing very clear for dealerships: you can’t rely on foot traffic. When consumers were confined to their homes, every business struggled, including dealerships that didn’t offer a touchless experience. 

If their customers couldn’t come to the lot, they couldn’t buy a car. Similarly, if they couldn’t drive to the service center, they couldn’t get an oil change or the tune-up they needed. 

This reality forced auto companies to reconcile with the fact that they had to make life easier for their customers. However, don’t get the wrong idea—dealerships have always needed a way to offer more convenience, but the pandemic made that fact crystal clear. 

Even now, as life starts to normalize, people are still wary of coming into dealerships. Crowds and too much face-to-face interaction are not things that everyone is currently comfortable with, especially if they can avoid it. And if you’re assuming your dealership can hold out until life is completely back to normal and foot traffic is on the rise, you may find yourself disappointed. 

Many auto brands—both large and small—are starting to replace face-to-face transactions with touchless experiences like vehicle pickup and delivery services. Brands that were doing it pre-pandemic are now making it the central focus of their business.  

If you’re not doing the same, consumers who had your dealership top-of-mind will remember the auto company down the street and call that one instead. Convenience is king, so regardless of whether there’s a pandemic, your customers will buy from the dealership that’s making their lives easier. 

The benefits of vehicle pickup and delivery 

why vehicle pickup and delivery benefits customers

When it comes to vehicle pickup and delivery services, there are a couple of ways that your auto dealership can provide them. 

One option is to deliver the vehicle that your customer has purchased. If you have online sales capabilities, where customers don’t have to come onto the lot to purchase a car, you can complete this process by delivering their vehicle to them. 

The second option is also simple: pick up the vehicle that needs servicing and deliver it to your customer once it’s ready. This offer will allow consumers to skip the hassle of waiting in line to check in their car and get a loaner vehicle. With your help, customers can simply sit at home while you take care of the details. 

Of course, you can implement both of these options. Doing so would give your customers all of the convenience they seek, which would come with many benefits. 

For example, Brain Benstock, who works at Paragon Honda-Acura in New York City, told Automotive News that his department’s valet program—a vehicle pickup and delivery service—expanded to more than 3,000 trips per month in a little over two years. Major automakers like Audi, Infinity, General Motors, and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles also have local dealers implementing pickup and delivery services because they know how beneficial it is for their customers and success. 

By offering this type of convenience, growth spurts in sales and customer retention are inevitable. Customers who have used vehicle and pickup services even claim that the offering is a “great experience” and “amazing and unique” and that it saved them “time and effort.” 

How to offer convenience to customers

While providing a pickup and delivery service is an excellent idea, it can go terribly wrong if you don’t do it correctly. What’s also important to know is that it can come with costs if you’re not careful. 

Management software, increased labor spending, complexities in your customer’s schedules, and the risk of getting into an accident while driving your customers’ vehicles are all factors you have to consider. Consequently, you may not have the easiest time implementing this strategy. 

After all, even though 67 percent of auto dealers created some sort of vehicle pickup and delivery department in April 2020, only 59 percent of dealers still offer it. The difficulties are sometimes too much to handle, which is why you need to find experts who can help you roll out and maintain this program.

Barry Risk Management has a team of experienced professionals who can help your dealership implement and manage its vehicle pickup and delivery services. With over 30 years of experience in the industry, the representatives at Barry Risk Management know how to handle unforeseen delays, mishaps, schedules, and consumer needs to increase dealer efficiency, enhance customer service, and grow customer satisfaction. 

You don’t have to do this all on your own. Since this type of offering is new territory for so many dealerships, lean on companies like Barry Risk Management for help. The representative you work with will ensure your customers enjoy the convenience they’re seeking so that your sales and retention rates soar. 

For help implementing a vehicle pickup and delivery service, call 1-888-995-TAGS(8247) to speak with a representative at Barry Risk Management. 

How to Get an Auto Dealer Bond In New York

how to get an auto dealer bond in NYC

If you’re an auto dealer in New York, there are a few things that you know you need. You need a car dealer license, motor vehicles to sell, a decent-sized lot, and a handful of salespeople if you’re just starting out. 

These are obvious necessities for your business. However, there’s something else that’s just as important to have and that states even require: an auto dealer bond. 

In states like New York, you must have an auto dealer bond if you want to operate as a car dealer. But, more often than not, most people know nothing about auto dealer bonds. 

They don’t know what they are, what they cover, how much they cost, or even how to get one. And that’s why this article will clear the smoke, pull back the curtain, and demystify one of the most essential things that every auto dealer in New York needs. 

What is an auto dealer bond?

how to get an auto dealer bond to protect customers

Some people call an auto dealer bond a car bond—and honestly, both terms are correct. They each mean the same thing. Regardless of the phrase you use, this type of bond is a legally binding contract that protects customers, including everyday consumers and state or local agencies.  

This protection allows customers to take recourse when they’re exposed to fraud or misrepresentation during a business transaction. For example, maybe you decide to sell a car that has invalid tags. Whether you knowingly or unknowingly do this, your customer has the right to file a claim on your bond. 

When your customer takes this step, the business that’s backing your bond will pay the costs for your mistake. But the company will only pay up to the amount of the required bond. Then, you’ll have to reimburse the business. You don’t get to walk away scotch free. 

This series of events will occur anytime you don’t follow the applicable regulations and laws that your state has for auto dealers. And the only time you can get away with avoiding a customer’s claim is if the claim on your bond is illegitimate, meaning it’s false.  

Another thing you should keep in mind is that there are different types of auto dealer bonds. The one you choose will depend on your state’s requirements and the types of vehicles you’d like to sell. Some of the most popular bonds include: 

  • Used auto dealer bonds
  • New auto dealer bonds
  • Mobile home dealer bonds
  • Motor vehicle bond
  • Wholesale dealer bond

Each of these bonds is tailored to the type of dealership that you’ll run, so make sure you get the right one for your business. 

What does an auto dealer bond cover? 

While it’s important to know what an auto dealer bond is, you also need to know the ins-and-outs of what it covers. As previously mentioned, an auto dealer bond will protect customers who are exposed to fraud or misrepresentation during a business transaction. But what that fraud or misrepresentation looks like can vary. 

Sometimes, it can look like a deliberate mistake you’ve made, or it can look like a simple error and misunderstanding. For better context, here’s a list of scenarios in which a customer can make a claim on your bond: 

  • Selling stolen motor vehicles
  • Forgetting or avoiding to pay sales tax and fees to the state
  • Not reporting a sale
  • Committing financial fraud
  • Fraudulently representing a motor vehicle during a transaction
  • Withholding vehicle titles
  • Failing to meet warranty obligations
  • Refusing to pay for a trade-in vehicle
  • Forgetting or avoiding to pay lenders
  • Giving a check that’s returned for insufficient funds

Clearly, the list of protections that customers get from an auto dealer bond is vast. And while it might seem like you have to walk a tightrope when you have an auto dealer bond, you don’t have to do that. You just have to follow the law and handle your business responsibly. 

How much does an auto dealer bond cost? 

the costs of an auto dealer bond

As with most things, the price of an auto dealer bond will vary. What you pay in New York will depend on the state’s requirements, especially since the state handles licensing. However, three other primary factors can also influence the cost of your auto dealer bond. 

1. The amount of the bond

If the amount of your bond is significant, your costs will be higher than bonds that cover a lower amount. 

For example, if you have a $200,000 auto dealer bond, then the costs you have to pay will be higher than if you had a $10,000 bond. 

2. Your credit history 

Like it or not, your credit score plays a critical role in determining how much you pay for your auto dealer bond. 

If you have a credit score that’s 700 or higher, you’ll likely pay 1-4% of the total bond amount. If your credit score is 650 or lower, you’ll likely pay 5-20% of the total bond amount. 

3. Your history of losses  

Unfortunately, there are some bonds that have a significant number of losses. And the company backing your bond will take this factor into consideration when determining the cost of your auto dealer bond. 

Bonds with minimal historic losses will come with lower costs than ones with higher historic losses, which will come with a premium price tag. 

How do you get an auto dealer bond? 

Regardless of the costs for your auto dealer bond, you need to get one. It protects your customers, provides necessary coverage, and it’s required. But how do you get an auto dealer bond in New York? 

Luckily, the answer is simple. Use Barry Risk Management, Inc. 

While typically known for their DMV expertise, Barry Risk Management, Inc. has a parent company named Barry Risk Management. This business specializes in helping people discover and buy the best coverage for their everyday needs, including auto dealer bonds. 

With the guidance of Barry Risk Management, you can trust Barry Risk Management, Inc. to get the auto dealer bond that you need in New York. The only thing you have to do is reach out to a representative, and that agent will have the insight and knowledge to ensure they meet your business needs. 

To get your auto dealer bond, contact an agent at Barry Risk Management, Inc. today!