DETROIT -

After a three-month pilot test phase where the vast majority of dealerships reported that they experienced a seamless transition, Ally Financial is officially rolling out its flagship vehicle service contract — Ally Premier Protection — to dealers nationwide beginning this month.

Finance company officials highlighted that the product, which was previewed at the NADA Convention & Expos in January, features enhanced benefits for consumers, powered by an intuitive and easy-to-use technology platform for dealers.

The company shared that dealers who participated in the pilot test were particularly impressed with the easy transition to Ally Premier Protection and the level of training they received from Ally.

In a survey of pilot dealers, a significant majority (87 percent) of respondents said that the training they received during the transition to Ally Premier Protection was excellent, and 87 percent said that the overall transition was either “seamless” or “very smooth” with no or few unexpected interruptions.

“After pilot testing Ally Premier Protection at more than 60 dealerships, we are very pleased with its performance and the feedback from our dealers,” said Doug Timmerman, president of Ally Insurance.

“More than just a product, Ally also provides the service, training and consultative support to help dealers optimize their F&I sales results, achieve higher levels of customer satisfaction, address compliance issues and navigate complex business dynamics,” Timmerman continued.

Ally Premier Protection is now available nationwide for nearly 650 makes and models of new and used vehicles and features new benefits including expanded coverage eligibility on older and higher mileage vehicles, a disappearing deductible option, and full roadside assistance. 

On the back end, Ally explained a technology platform called the Vehicle Protection Center is designed to make the administration and management of contracts easy and intuitive throughout the contract lifecycle and uses simplified processes to reduce errors and speed transactions. The company indicated the system features claims integration with virtually every dealer management system, and can provides streamlined operations between Ally and dealer F&I and service departments.

“As we continue to add premium product offerings to our mix, we are pleased that our dealers recognize the value that our professional training and support programs provide during transitions like the move to Ally Premier Protection,” Timmerman said.

“We believe that our unique combination of products, consultative approach, and experienced people work hand-in-hand to drive F&I performance for our dealers,” he went on to say.