Carfax Now Offers ADESA Buyers Access to History Reports, More

Along with announcing expanded marketing support and the addition of a mobile app for dealers, Carfax revealed that it has now integrated access to its Auction Quick Check and vehicle history reports for ADESA’s online customers.

Carfax is a partner of the Pre-Owned Automobile Dealers Alliance. Membership in this group is free for franchise and independent dealers specializing in selling late-model used vehicles. For dealers membership gives a multitude of benefits, including access to CarMark Certified. CarMark is similar to a manufacturer-sponsored certified program.

Dealers and auction buyers using ADESA DealerBlock and ADESA LiveBlock now can gain details about a vehicle’s past easily with a single click of a mouse, according to officials.

“Carfax is a leading source of vehicle history information for the used-vehicle industry,” said Jason Ferreri, vice president of e-business sales and operations for ADESA. “We are pleased to partner with Carfax to offer our customers this time-saving tool that is sure to enhance their peace of mind during their online experience.”

Paul Seger, vice president of asset remarketing for GE Commercial Finance Fleet Services, noted, “We’ve found that transparency at auction is a powerful asset. For years we’ve provided a Carfax report with every unit we wholesale to build confidence and boost value. Giving buyers access to this information through the online auction site only helps your units stand out from the rest.”

Meanwhile, Dick Raines, Carfax president, pointed out, “The most successful buyers at auction are the ones with the best tools. Together, Carfax and ADESA are making sure dealers have easy access to vehicle history details that help them choose the right cars and pay the right price.

To sign up with Carfax or get Carfax Auction Quick Check, call (800) 444-0145, or visit www.carfaxonline.com.

In other news from the company, Carfax announced it is increasing its support of dealers to help them boost customer traffic and used-car sales.

Subscribing dealers now have access to an increased set of free marketing materials from the company. Updated vehicle and door stickers featuring the Car Fox and media assets for the “Show Me the Carfax” campaign are just a few of the items available to subscribing dealers. Participants in the Unlimited Carfax Report Program for dealers also have the ability to reserve a variety of Car Fox inflatables and a full-size Car Fox suit for special events.

“Carfax and Car Fox are largely responsible for one of the best December sales events we’ve ever had,” said Andy Kitzen, used-car manager at Huntington Honda in New York. “We doubled traffic to our lot and had a 110-percent sales increase that weekend, while our other group stores had average sales.

“Carfax is a trusted name and has credibility with our buyers,” he continued. “We’ll continue putting Carfax in our advertising, on our lot and in every customer folder to keep those qualified buyers coming.”

According to Randy Jackson, general manager of Serra Buick GMC Cadillac in Washington Township, Mich., “The inflatable Car Fox is an absolute traffic stopper. Even with the bitter cold and snow, we nearly tripled sales from a normal three-day period having Carfax and Car Fox everywhere on the lot. In fact, at least two sales we made were from passers-by stopping in because they saw the Car Fox outside. Carfax provides us with dynamic assets that legitimize our used-car message and help us sell more cars.”

Meanwhile, Frank Fuzy, owner of Century Motors of South Florida, added, “Being an online sales-driven dealership, we’re always looking for unique ways to help our cars stand out. We took photos of Car Fox in our cars and posted them on our eBay Motors store. Buyers instantly associated us and our cars with Carfax, building their confidence and getting them to sale faster. Plus, so many customers commented about how much they loved that we marketed our cars with Car Fox that we can’t wait to get him back and do it again.”

To learn more, Carfax experts will be at booth 208S during the National Automobile Dealers Association’s convention this weekend.

Finally, also this week, Carfax announced the launch of its first mobile app dedicated to providing on-the-go dealers with access to vehicle history reports.

The “Carfax for Dealers” app is available for free download to all dealers on the App Store. With an iPhone or other Apple mobile device, dealers can run Carfax reports using their existing company account.

“The free ‘Carfax for Dealers’ iPhone app is just what our business needed,” pointed out Justin Villa, pre-owned sales manager with David McDavid Automotive in Irving, Texas. “We downloaded it the day it came out and already we’re saving a ton of time evaluating cars. It’s helping us win at auction and evaluate a customer’s trade faster. After all, time is money.”

Any vehicle that is run through the app is automatically added to a dealer’s inventory manager at carfaxonline.com. These reports are saved for up to 30 days and dealers can mark vehicles they’re most interested in as favorites within the app.

“We’ve always been quick to embrace new technology to help maintain our competitive edge,” said Michael Townsend, used-sales manager at Townsend Honda in Tuscaloosa, Ala. “When we heard about the new ‘Carfax for Dealers’ app, we went and got it immediately. The app is fast and makes appraising cars easy. It’s my new favorite tool on my phone.”

Free access to Carfax reports are also available through apps from several wireless technology providers. Dealers looking for additional pricing and product integration functionality can visit:

—AutoRevo at www.autorevo.com.

—eCarList TrueTarget at www.ecarlist.com.

—VIN Viper at www.vinciper.com.

—vAuto at www.vauto.com.

“Our customers tell us how important immediate access to Carfax reports is to their success, especially at acquisition,” noted Larry Gamache, communications director at Carfax. “The ‘Carfax for Dealers’ app  now puts the power of this information in the palm of your hand. And you can run as many reports as you need through the app if you’re on the Unlimited Carfax Reports Program for dealers.”

An Android version of the app is coming soon, according to officials. To download the app for iPhone visit. http://itunes.com/apps/CARFAXInc/CARFAXforDealers.

The new app will also be demonstrated during the NADA Convention at booth 2008S.

To learn more about CarMark and POADA, visit booth 4511N at the National Automobile Dealers Association Convention & Expo in San Francisco this weekend.