Last Updated
Key Takeaways
Generated from the text of customer reviews
DealerCenter - a dealer management system - is built for independent auto dealers that offer DMS, CRM, inventory, BHPH, and digital marketing. Users like the daily inventory updates and lender access but note that the software can slow down under heavy use. Recently, DealerCenter launched four AI agents for sales, inventory, video, and website engagement.
Our Verdict
Independent used car and BHPH dealers may find DealerCenter suitable for their needs like inventory management and customer follow-up consolidation, available in one system. Modular pricing works well for dealers who want to start small and add tools as they grow. We recommend it for small to mid-sized independent dealerships that use multiple platforms but rather run everything through one login.
DealerCenter Specifications
- Invoice Management
- Expense Tracking
- Financial Reporting
- Billing and Invoicing
What Is DealerCenter?
DealerCenter is a dealer management system that's built specifically for independent auto dealers. From deal and contract management, and inventory acquisition to merchandising, CRM and AI agents, the platform comprehensively covers the needs of auto dealers. Built by Nowcom Corporation, the platform is used by more than 20,000 dealerships that are given access to 1,200+ lenders.
What Is DealerCenter Best For?
Its most notable distinction right now is the AI Agents suite. The suite encompasses four tools that are created to handle sales lead response, vehicle listing writeups, as well as inventory video generation, and website chat. This suite is particularly well-suited for small independent auto dealers that don't want to constantly move between the five different tools (lead response, photo listings, or chat).
How Much Does DealerCenter Cost?
DealerCenter pricing of the core platform modules range from $50–$199/location/month. The vendor also offers a 30-day free trial for users to test its features.
Core platform module pricing includes:
- Buy Here Pay Here (BHPH): $50/month
- Online Ad Post Premium: $50/month
- Deal Driver: $50/month
- Prequal Pro (soft-pull credit): $50/month
- Dealer Management System (DMS): D$99/month
- Integrated Accounting: $99/month
- Reconditioning: $99/month
- Service Bay: $99/month
- Video Intelligence Agent: $99/month (up to 100 videos/month; $1.25/video overage)
- CRM Plus: $99/month
- AI Sales Agent: $99/month
- Premium Website: $99/month
- Premium Pro Website: $125/month
- CRM Pro: $199/month
- Digital Marketing: Custom pricing
Additional credit bureau and compliance service pricing includes:
- Experian Credit Report: $4.00/report
- Equifax Credit Report: $5.35/report
- TransUnion Credit Report: $5.70/report
- TransUnion FICO Score: $3.25/score
- TransUnion Subcode Fee: $15.95/month
- TransUnion OFAC Red Flag Report: $0.50/report
- Automated Adverse Action: $1.69/report
- Precise ID with KIQ: $2.00/report
DealerCenter involves numerous individual modules, so dealerships have the flexibility to make their own selection. Users also appreciate the range of features across different price modules, but report that costs can increase as dealerships add further services/modules. Overall, the modular pricing structure offers value to dealerships that need scalable tools.
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
DealerCenter Integrations
The platform offers integration with numerous tools, such as:
- QuickBooks
- WorldPay
- NowPay
- MAX Digital
- Experian AutoCheck
- NMVTIS
- Equifax
- TransUnion TruContact
- Datalinx
- FlickFusion
How Does DealerCenter Work?
Create your account and follow these steps to get started:
- Acquire inventory through Auction Center by browsing run lists and scanning VINs with the mobile app
- Generate vehicle descriptions and enhance photos via the Vehicle Intelligence Agent
- Turn a walkaround clip into a branded video with AI voiceover via Video Intelligence Agent
- Post inventory to Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, as well as 30+ other sites through automated ad posting
- Manage inbound leads with the CRM (AI Sales Agent replies timely and ensure that follow-ups are sent)
- Submit credit applications to 1,200+ lenders through RouteOne, Dealertrack, and CUDL from one screen
- Print or eContract deals and follow funding through the DMS deal management workflow
- Manage BHPH accounts, collections, and recurring payments through the BHPH module
- Track dealership performance with custom dashboards and scheduled reports within inventory, sales, marketing, and BHPH
Who Is DealerCenter For?
The platform aligns with the needs of the following sectors and industries:
- Finance
- Inventory management
- Marketing
- Vehicle Sales
- Wholesale operations
- Buy Here Pay Here (BHPH) management
DealerCenter Use Cases
Here are some scenarios based on how independent dealers actually use the platform:
Independent Dealers That Need To Submit Deals To Multiple Lenders Without Switching Platforms
Working subprime, prime, and credit union lenders side by side usually means logging into three separate portals and re-entering the same deal thrice. This is where DealerCenter's FAST (Financing Application Submission Tools) can help. With the platform, deals go out to more than 1,200 lenders via CUDL, RouteOne, and more, while the decisions are received without leaving the platform.
Small Dealer Teams Using AI To Respond To Leads Without Dedicated Internet Staff
Internet leads have a short shelf life. The buyer has typically heard back from two or three other dealers by the time a one-person sales desk gets to the lead. AI Sales Agent - by DealerCenter - bridges that gap. It answers texts and emails promptly, alongside picking up the dealership's inventory and tone. At the same time, it runs follow-up sequences on unresponsive leads and alerts the team the moment a prospect actually engages or asks for one.
BHPH Dealers Managing Large Portfolios With Collections and Payment Tracking
A few hundred BHPH accounts is a lot to track manually. Think about it; monitoring loan performance, collections queues, alongside irregular payments, and credit bureau reporting can increasingly become overwhelming. DealerCenter's BHPH module takes care of it. The software's bundles manage everything - be it deal structuring, contracting, or the collections queue, and ACH and credit card processing - on one platform. Customers get a self-service portal too, through BHPH My Account, so routine account questions don't all land on the office phone.
Dealers Creating Professional Inventory Listings Without A Marketing Team
Lack of a marketing team means that listing quality may dip. Common errors include inconsistent photos, thin descriptions, and whatever copy someone had time to write that day. But DealerCenter's Vehicle Intelligence Agent can fill that gap. It writes the description and cleans up photos automatically per vehicle. For video, the Video Intelligence Agent takes a walkaround clip and turns it into a branded, narrated video. All of this is done without the need to invest in a separate editing tool or even production crew.
Is DealerCenter Right For You?
Do you use separate tools for lender submissions, CRM, inventory posting, and BHPH? In that case, DealerCenter is worth consideration. The software consolidates everything an independent auto dealer needs into one platform. What makes DealerCenter stand out from other DMS platforms is the large lender network that can be accessed from a single deal screen. Dealers can submit to multiple lenders simultaneously - a workflow advantage that affects how fast deals get funded.
Still not sure about DealerCenter? Contact our support team at (661) 384-7070 for further guidance.
DealerCenter Features
AI Agents Suite
Four AI agents - all newly added - cover the workflows where independent dealers typically lose the most time. These four agents are: The AI Sales Agent responds to inbound leads by text or email within seconds, as well as learns the dealership's inventory. It also runs follow-up sequences automatically The Vehicle Intelligence Agent writes vehicle descriptions and cleans up photos The Video Intelligence Agent turns a walkaround into a branded, narrated inventory video The Website AI Agent handles visitor engagement around the clock.
Dealer Websites And Website AI Agent
Dealer websites – mobile-first and SSL-secured - are available in more than 40 designs. Leads are pushed straight into the CRM while inventory is automatically synced. The platform includes unlimited website requests and updates. It includes the Website AI Agent that engages visitors in real time and answers their questions. In addition, it qualifies interest and routes engaged shoppers to sales. Deal Driver is a website add-on that offers real-time pre-qualification without affecting the customer's credit score.
Pros And Cons of DealerCenter
Pros
Daily inventory updates, which support the system's accuracy and timeliness
Provides access to numerous financial firms
Easy integration with various third-party dealer apps
Cons
System may slow down during high usage periods
Mobile app lacks certain features available in the desktop version
DealerCenter Reviews
Total 173 reviews
4.7
All reviews are from verified customers
Rating Distribution
5
Stars78%
4
Stars16%
3
Stars5%
2
Stars1%
1
Stars1%
Share your experience
Jay
Automotive, 11-50 employees
More than a year
“Increased deal flow and sales”
Pros
Lately I have been getting much more interaction from customers through DealerCenter so my deal flow has definitely picked up and I am closing more sales than ever. And whenever I have questions, my account reps respond almost instantly even if they don't have the answer on the spot, they follow up quickly. Adding it to my setup completely turned things around ss the moment I enabled it, my CRM went crazy with activity and leads started pouring in.
Cons
There is a bit of a learning curve but I expected some adjustment when moving to a different software provider, so it was not a surprise.
Rating Distribution
Ease of use
9
Value for money
10
Customer Support
10
Functionality
10
Roy
Automotive, 1-10 employees
More than a year
“Stood out service and product line”
Pros
What stood out to me was their customer service and product line. Derek stepped in to help and I'd pick them over Frazer any day.
Cons
I honestly do not have any complaints as my time with it has been really positive overall.
Rating Distribution
Ease of use
10
Value for money
10
Customer Support
10
Functionality
10
Mansour
Automotive, 1-10 employees
More than a year
“Impressed by outstanding customer support”
Pros
I am most impressed by DealerCenter's outstanding customer support. Whenever I reach out for assistance, they respond quickly and always help me find a fix. My account rep consistently goes the extra mile for me. In short I genuinely enjoy working with the DMS as it's user friendly, fast and supported by a team that truly cares.
Cons
If I am being real I am a big fan of this tool and everything it offers. So there is nothing about the software that I dislike.
Rating Distribution
Ease of use
10
Value for money
10
Customer Support
10
Functionality
10
Frequently Asked Questions
Does DealerCenter offer an API?
The vendor has not disclosed API information publicly.
What types of pricing plans does DealerCenter offer?
DealerCenter offers various pricing plans depending on the features and services a dealership needs. For instance, DMS for $79/month, Law contract for $2.25/contract, CRM Plus for $99/month, CRM Pro for $199/month, Black Book Desktop for $50/month, etc. Contact us right away if you want to get a specialized DealerCenter pricing quote.
Who are the typical users of DealerCenter?
The typical users of DealerCenter are independent automotive dealerships, including used car dealers and buy here, pay here (BHPH) dealerships. It is especially popular among small to large dealerships looking for an all-in-one solution to manage their business operations.
Does DealerCenter have a mobile app?
Yes. DealerCenter offers a mobile app for both iOS and Android devices.
What language does DealerCenter support?
DealerCenter supports English only.
How much does DealerCenter cost?
Investment in DealerCenter ranges from $50–$199/location/month, based on the modules and features selected. The vendor also offers a 30-day free trial for users to test its features. Get in touch with us to get a personalized DealerCenter cost estimate.
What other apps does DealerCenter integrate with?
DealerCenter integrates with a range of third-party tools, including QuickBooks, WorldPay, NowPay, MAX Digital, AutoCheck, NMVTIS, Experian, Equifax, TransUnion, Datalinx, and FlickFusion.
Who are the typical users of DealerCenter?
Typical users include finance, inventory management, marketing, vehicle sales, wholesale operations, and BHPH management.
What level of support does DealerCenter offer?
DealerCenter provides phone and email support, along with an online Help Center.