Notes on running a used-car dealership — paperwork, software, sales, and the stuff nobody tells you when you get your dealer license.
What 'cloud-based DMS' actually means for an independent used car dealer, why desktop-era systems quietly cost you deals, and the checklist to hold any web-based dealer management system against.
Internet leads don't buy cars — appointments do. The speed-to-lead reality, replies that get answered, the ask that books the visit, and the follow-up cadence most dealerships quit three days too early.
A working dealer's auction guide: reading condition reports and run lists, the all-in cost math that includes fees and transport, arbitration rules, and the lane discipline that separates buyers from bidders.
Fast-turning inventory isn't luck — it's bought that way. The retail-back method: start from what the car sells for in your market, subtract recon, fees, holding cost, and your margin, and let that number do the bidding.
The six questions to answer before an out-of-state deal leaves your lot: whose sales tax applies, how the buyer drives home legally, where the title goes, and what their home state will demand at registration.
Trucks hold value, carry gross, and punish sloppy buying. How independent dealers source used trucks — configuration math, the work-truck vs retail-truck split, inspection traps, and listings that answer a truck buyer's questions.
A working dealer's guide to local SEO: the Google Business Profile setup that matters, why reviews beat backlinks locally, and what your website must have for 'used cars near me' searches to find your lot.
How dealer floor plan financing works in practice: the credit line, daily interest, curtailments, audits, and the real per-car math — from a dealer who floor plans his own inventory.
Comparing the major dealer floor plan providers in 2026: NextGear Capital, AFC, and Westlake rates, fees, curtailment schedules, and who each actually fits — from a dealer's chair.
The best dealer management software for independent used-car lots in 2026, ranked by who each actually fits: Frazer, DealerCenter, Wayne Reaves, Lot Wizard, AutoManager, and DealerVLO.
Best practices for dealers buying wholesale vehicles: setting a max bid from your retail exit, reading condition reports, arbitration windows, all-in cost math, and the discipline that protects front-end gross.
What it actually costs to open a used car lot in 2026: license and bond by state, facility, insurance, inventory, floor plan interest, and software — with realistic totals.
What DealerCenter actually costs in 2026: the ~$295/month core, how per-module pricing climbs past $500/month, and how the total compares to flat-rate alternatives.
A three-way comparison for independent used-car dealers: DealerCenter's module depth, Frazer's desktop legacy, and DealerVLO's flat-rate modern cloud — with real 2026 pricing.
How Florida car sales tax works on a dealer sale: the 6% state rate, the county surtax that only applies to the first $5,000, and the trade-in credit that cuts the taxable amount.
What Frazer auto dealer software actually costs in 2026: the annual plan, the hosted cloud option, what's included, and how the total compares to modern flat-rate alternatives.
How the 6.25% Texas motor vehicle sales tax works on a dealer sale: the trade-in credit that cuts the taxable amount, remitting with Form 130-U, and why SPV doesn't apply to your deals.
How the 6.25% Massachusetts car sales tax works on a dealer sale: the statewide rate, the trade-in credit that cuts the taxable amount, and the NADA book-value myth.
Massachusetts Class II license renewal: the January 1 expiration, renewing through your city or town, keeping the $25,000 bond current, and avoiding a lapse.
How Massachusetts dealers get a buyer driving the same day: the 20-day temporary registration, what it covers, and why dealer plates aren't for customers.
What the MA Used Vehicle Warranty Law (the used-car lemon law, M.G.L. c. 90 §7N¼) requires of dealers: who's covered, the mileage-based warranty terms, and refund triggers.
I run a used-car lot in Massachusetts. The software was making the job harder. So I built my own DMS.
A field-by-field walkthrough of the Massachusetts RMV-1 title application, and how DealerVLO populates it from your deal.
A practical guide for used-car dealers moving from Lot Wizard to DealerVLO. What to expect, what to bring with you, and what stays the same.