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How Enhancing Your Online Car Buying Process Increases Your Auto Dealership Sales

auto dealership sales

Whether you believe it or not, your band’s success relies on you having a great online car-buying process. Without it, your auto dealership sales will decrease significantly, primarily because car buyers don’t just shop in person. They shop online as well. 

According to a recent report by Capital One, 82% of consumers prefer a hybrid car buying experience that mixes online and in-person elements. For example, before heading to a dealership, car buyers prefer to take multiple steps online—44% want to research vehicle information, 41% want to ensure a price is fair, and 40% want to choose their preferred make and model. Only after taking those steps do 47% of car buyers want to come in person to see and test drive a vehicle.

So, while you shouldn’t close your brick-and-mortar operations any time soon since they’ll still receive foot traffic, you should make sure your online car-buying process is up to par, especially since consumers want to use it, and it could impact your auto dealership sales. 

The Benefits of Enhancing Your Online Sales Process 

Enhancing your dealership’s online car buying process provides multiple ways to increase your sales and long-term success. For example, if you give consumers the online sales process they want, you’ll experience five specific advantages that all lead to more customers. 

1. More customer data 

When you provide car buyers with a way to shop digitally, you can easily track their behavior and online journey to gather more customer data. With additional insights about your target audience, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the vehicles your target audience likes and the paths that led them to your website. Knowing those two things will allow you to refine your inventory and marketing tactics to generate more sales. 

2. An improved reputation 

One of the best things about having a great online car buying process is that it typically includes a way for people to leave reviews. Car buyers want to read others’ feedback when they’re researching dealerships, and when they have an opportunity to do so, it informs which dealership they’ll visit. If yours has positive reviews, you’ll have no problem attracting more customers. 

3. A wider pool of potential customers

Over five billion people are on the internet, which means you don’t have to rely on car buyers within a five-mile radius to generate sales. You can access a wide pool of potential customers if you’re open to enhancing your online sales process. Of course, that doesn’t mean every internet user looking for a car will be in your target audience. 

Your dealership will still appeal to people who live in the same state your business is in. But instead of relying on those in your business’s community to generate sales, you can reach car buyers in neighboring counties and cities if you have an online sales process that attracts and builds relationships with them. 

4. Increased credibility 

Since car buyers like to research online before visiting a dealership, you need to have content on your website that answers questions and provides education. With helpful website content, you’ll not only offer the insights consumers are looking for but also enhance your credibility in the process. 

One of the top three reasons for producing content is to establish credibility. People have a hard time trusting businesses—misinformation, scams, and greed have left consumers unsure of which companies deserve their hard-earned money. People only want to buy from brands they trust, and the high-quality content in your online sales process will pave the way to establishing that trust so that car buyers think you’re credible enough to purchase from. 

5. An efficient sales process 

Developing the online side of your sales machine will make the car buying process for consumers significantly more seamless. Instead of having to call your dealership or visit in person for every inquiry, potential customers can get some of the information they need online—and they will appreciate that convenience. Additionally, if you have digital tools to streamline transactions, car buyers will be even happier. By making the final steps of their journey easy and simple, consumers will drive off the lot content and willing to recommend your business. 

how to increase your auto dealership sales

The Road Boosting Auto Dealership Sales

If you want to experience the benefits of a great online car-buying process, you need to incorporate the right tools and strategies. Specifically, you must have three components to create a process that increases your auto dealership sales.

1. Content Marketing Strategy

This piece is critical. With almost half of car buyers researching vehicles online, you can’t afford to have a website or social media account void of content. You need blogs, buying guides, FAQs, images, and vehicle information on your site and social media platforms. That way, car buyers have the foundational insights they need and want to take the next step of visiting your dealership. 

2. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) System

You want to capture as many online leads as possible and know where they stand in your car-buying process—and a CRM will help you do both. By having a vault of leads, you’ll have more opportunities to follow up with potential customers and nurture relationships to the finish line. By knowing the stage potential car buyers are in, you’ll know how to nurture those relationships and which information to provide to help potential customers take the next step. 

3. An online DMV platform

After a transaction, you must ensure your customers get their titles, tags, and vehicle registration. This step usually takes a while because you have to work with the DMV. However, you can cut down the time by using an online DMV platform, which companies like ours offer. 

At Barry Risk Management, you don’t have to interact with a slow-paced DMV to get what your customers need. Instead, you can rely on our representatives to use a propriety online DMV platform to quickly and efficiently get the documents your car buyers require. We work with dealerships in every state and know the DMV rules across the U.S. We have the experience needed to get car buyers’ legal forms in no time. And when your customers get their titles, tags, and vehicle registration in a timely manner, you can guarantee they’ll end their buying process just as happy as they started it, leading to rave reviews about your dealership that attract more customers. 

Want to use an online DMV platform to enhance your online car buying process? Contact our team at 1-888-995-TAGS(8247)! 

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How to Attract First-Time Car Buyers In the Age Of Amazonification

first-time car buyers

Attracting first-time car buyers requires many of the steps you’d take to capture other types of customers. One of those steps is knowing what first-time car buyers want. Usually, this strategy relates to understanding customers’ vehicle preferences, finances, and life events to determine what type of car will make the most sense. However, knowing what first-time car buyers want also comes down to understanding their shopping preferences. 

People buying their first vehicle may have different shopping behavior from your previous customers, and that’s not because your dealership has done something right or wrong. It’s simply because we’re living in the age of Amazonification. 

What is Amazonification?

Amazonification is a car-buying process that lets consumers shop for and purchase vehicles online as easily as purchasing a product on Amazon. Tesla is primarily responsible for creating this process, as the company was the first to move car buying away from auto dealerships and online. 

While the electric car manufacturer made purchasing a vehicle simpler, many automakers resisted Amazonification, believing car buyers wouldn’t feel comfortable making such an expensive purchase online. They were proven wrong when e-commerce sales in the U.S. jumped by 25% in 2021, the biggest increase in the last ten years. Recent research from Cox Automotive also suggests that car buyers who completed half of their shopping process online were happier, and most will interact with at least one digital tool when shopping for a car. 

Given consumers’ move to online car shopping and the new belief that this behavior will remain, many automakers are trying to sell directly to potential customers. General Motors announced plans to allow consumers to shop for, buy, and finance their vehicles entirely online—but transactions will still include a dealer.

Decision makers at Honda also recently said they’d sell their entire electric Acura line online for U.S. car buyers. Additionally, Ford is adopting a more streamlined online buying experience. The company’s CEO has even expressed interest in a future where automakers avoid sending their vehicles to sit on car lots and instead ship them straight to customers. Ford is already pushing this vision forward by implementing a program that requires dealers interested in electric vehicles to agree to spend $500,000 to $1.2 million on installing and operating fast chargers and site upgrades, relegating dealerships to service centers. 

How Amazonification Impacts Auto Dealerships

With automakers taking steps to sell directly to consumers, dealerships have reasons to worry. Many are struggling to accept Amazonification, as they cling to old business models where car buyers come in, shop, and make a purchase. Car dealers also know that direct sales mean a decrease in profits. Instead of visiting a car lot, buyers will go on an auto manufacturer’s website to purchase a vehicle—and that is particularly true for first-time car buyers. 

People buying cars for the first time know they don’t have to go in person anymore to research for or purchase a vehicle. Around 76% of U.S. consumers shop online, and more than half of consumers prefer it that way. If you run a dealership, you can bet many consumers will have the same habits and preferences when buying a car as they do when purchasing other types of products. They will shop for vehicles online now that it’s an option, which means your dealership must make some changes.

Three Ways to Capture First-Time Car Buyers

If you don’t want to lose first-time buyers to automakers, your dealership needs to do one major thing: offer an online shopping experience. Doing so will allow you to stay competitive as Amazonification continues. However, offering a good online shopping experience isn’t easy. To do it well, you need to start by implementing three specific steps. 

1. Develop marketing content and online ads 

If you want to attract first-time car buyers, you need to speak to them. The best way to do that online is to create marketing material and online ads that resonate with your audience. On the marketing side, you’ll need to develop engaging website copy, blogs, online resources, email marketing campaigns, and social media posts. When it comes to online ads, take time to figure out your audience’s favorite social media platforms. Then, create ads with personalized copy and eye-catching designs that align with your audience’s interests, needs, and dreams. 

2. Simplify the online research and buying process

Once you get a first-time buyer’s attention with your marketing material and online ads, they’re going to visit your website. Your job is to make sure your site allows them to seamlessly shop for, customize, and purchase cars. To make this easier, you may need to hire a web developer who can ensure the e-commerce side of your dealership is easy to navigate, understandable, well-designed, and equipped with everything potential customers need. 

Also, consider implementing a live chat option for first-time car buyers to use when they have questions. By providing this option, you’ll give shoppers greater convenience and customer satisfaction. In fact, a recent report from Zendesk suggests that customer satisfaction ratings outperform email support, help center articles, and Twitter and Facebook support. 

3. Complete DMV steps online

Going to the DMV is always a hassle. If you want to finish a sales transaction strong, don’t complete first-time car buyers’ DMV tasks in person—instead, take care of everything online. You can get titles, tags, and license plates for your customers online quickly and easily by using a private DMV services company like Barry Risk Management. 

We have an online-only platform that helps dealerships get their customers’ tags, titles, and license plates in a timely manner. That way, their car buyers are happy, and their sales team is stress-free because they don’t have to interact with the DMV. 

We work with auto dealerships across the U.S., so it doesn’t matter what state your business is in. With over 30 years of experience in the DMV industry, we know all the rules and regulations to follow to ensure your car buyers get everything they need without anyone having to visit the DMV. 

Keep Up with the Times 

The rise of Amazonification signals a shift in the way first-time car buyers will approach purchasing a vehicle. Auto dealers will either sink or swim, depending on their reaction to this change in shopping behavior. However, assuming you want your dealership to succeed, you can offer an online shopping experience to ensure you keep up with the times and experience long-term success. 

Want a private DMV services company to get your customers’ titles, tags, and license plates? Call our DMV experts at 1-888-995-TAGS(8247).

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5 Dealership Challenges & How to Overcome Them

dealership challenges

It’s an exciting time to be an auto dealer. Research suggests that the U.S. automotive dealership market is expected to hit $57.3 billion, resulting in a compound annual growth rate of more than 4% over the next five years. This prediction isn’t surprising. 

The industry has seen significant success, given the recent demand for new and used cars and shoppers’ excitement about new technologies like electric cars, connected cars, and autonomous vehicles. However, while the growth and advancements in the auto industry are compelling, dealerships still experience many hurdles to success.  

The top dealership challenges 

These days, running a dealership comes with unique problems. Even if your business is currently hitting or exceeding sales goals, it may not last long if you can’t overcome the top dealership challenges affecting the industry. To put your company in a position for long-term success, you need to take steps to mitigate five dealership issues. 

1. Increased competition

With online-only retailers challenging brick-and-mortar dealerships, competition is fiercer than ever. For your business to experience success, you have to find unique ways to engage car shoppers who are interested not only in the dealerships down the street but also in the ones dominating online. Consumers have options everywhere, and contending for their attention requires you to have a competitive edge. 

2. Reduced dealer loyalty 

Increased competition means decreased dealer loyalty. Over the last five years, dealer loyalty has decreased by 1.6%, even though brand and manufacturer loyalty only reduced by 0.2%. If you’re wondering whether reduced dealer loyalty genuinely impacts business, remember that loyal customers usually bring the highest ROI on sales and trades. 

3. Demand for digital communication

The days of visiting a physical dealership or picking up the phone solely to communicate with sales reps are gone. Car shoppers want the option to communicate digitally. They want a contactless experience that allows them to ask questions and receive updates. So if your dealership still requires customers to talk on the phone or sit at your desk to get information, your business may be in trouble. 

4. Changing shopping behavior

Another dealership challenge is today’s new shopping behavior, an issue primarily stemming from millennials. In 2021, millennials became car dealers’ biggest pool of potential customers, which was surprising to most in the industry. People thought millennials weren’t interested in driving and that they preferred walking, biking, or ride-sharing—but the reality was that millennials simply preferred to shop differently. 

Instead of immediately visiting dealerships to spend hours considering options and negotiating, millennials like to utilize online tools and research to determine which vehicle may be the best. Some millennials are open to even completing the entire car sales process online. 

5. Inefficient after-sale process

For consumers, buying a car is only half the battle. Unless you do it for them, they still have to take many steps to legitimize the transaction, which they must do at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Regardless of who takes the lead, finishing the after-sale process in a timely manner is often impossible. Even though we live in a digital age, phone calls, in-person visits, complex forms, and long wait times still characterize the after-sale process. 

Overcoming common dealership issues

If you want to set your dealership up for success, you need to have the ability to overcome the top five dealership challenges. Of course, many solutions can help you achieve that, but if you prefer to start with one, here’s an idea: work with a private DMV services company like our team at Barry Risk Management. 

As a private DMV services company, we directly streamline and quicken the after-sale process by getting your customers’ tags, titles, license plates, and vehicle registration all online. That means you don’t have to do any legwork—we’ll take care of that for you. All we’ll need is a little information about your customer and their purchase, which you can give us online. Then, we’ll take steps to get the documents your customers need to legitimize their transaction. 

Also, it doesn’t matter where your customers live or your dealership’s location. Our team has over 30 years of experience in the DMV industry and knows what each U.S. state requires for car buyers to retrieve their tags, titles, license plates, and vehicle registration. With our knowledge and online capabilities, your customers will have what they need quickly and with little to no hassle. 

The best part? Our DMV services can help your business overcome the other four dealership challenges. Our efficient process and digital platform will give your team the following: 

  • A competitive edge: Many dealerships still use a traditional approach to interacting with the DMV. If you transition into using a more modern approach, you’ll differentiate your dealership from competitors. 
  • Increased brand loyalty: When customers know you can make their car buying process easier, they’ll be more likely to keep coming to your dealership instead of considering other options. 
  • A digital tool for communication: Since our team does everything online, we don’t need to see you or your customers in person. We also don’t need to speak on the phone if that’s not preferred. Our team communicates digitally and uses an online platform to get DMV tasks done quickly, meeting the new need for digital communication. 
  • A better experience for car shoppers: With car shoppers preferring digital experiences, you’ll stand out by offering a way to get their tags, titles, license plates, and vehicle registration online. Consumers will think you understand their shopping behavior and be more inclined to buy from your dealership instead of one that hasn’t aligned with their preferences. 

By working with our team at Barry Risk Management, you’ll receive the advantage your company needs to start overcoming the dealership challenges impacting business owners. That advantage will set your brand up for long-term success so that your dealership continues to grow. So, don’t hesitate to reach out. Call us to help lay the foundation for your company’s victory. 

Contact one of our representatives at 1-888-995-TAGS(8247) to develop a streamlined after-sale process that also helps you overcome other dealership challenges!

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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). 

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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.

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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!

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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!

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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). 

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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). 

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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.