Frequently Asked Questions
Dealership override visibility, margin recovery, F&I compliance, and decision intelligence.
Top questions
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How do you stop dealership discounting?
The most effective way to stop dealership discounting is to require structured reason capture at the point of every override. When sales managers must select a reason (competitive match, aging inventory, loyalty, etc.) before approving a discount, visibility increases, accountability improves, and policy drift slows. DealerInt captures reasons in real time via a Chrome extension, so GMs can see exactly where margin is being given away.
Read answer →What is the best DMS for small dealers?
The best DMS for small dealers depends on budget, volume, and integration needs. Tier-one systems like CDK and Reynolds & Reynolds suit larger groups; smaller dealers often choose DealerSocket, Tekion, or cloud-native options. DealerInt works alongside any DMS—it adds decision intelligence and override visibility without replacing your core system.
Read answer →How do you track F&I overrides?
To track F&I overrides effectively, capture the reason at the point of decision—when a product is waived, a rate exception is granted, or a customer declines. Most F&I menus and DMS tools log the transaction but not the structured reason. DealerInt runs alongside your F&I tools and prompts for a reason code when an override occurs.
Read answer →How do you prevent gross loss in dealerships?
Preventing gross loss requires visibility into where margin slips. Industry estimates show 2–5% of gross margin is lost to unrecorded or poorly justified overrides. The fix: mandatory reason capture at the point of decision. DealerInt provides this layer—real-time override detection and reason capture—without replacing your DMS.
Read answer →Tekion vs DealerInt: what's the difference?
Tekion is a cloud-native DMS that handles transactions, inventory, and F&I. DealerInt is a decision intelligence layer that adds override visibility and reason capture. They complement each other: Tekion runs core operations; DealerInt captures the decisions that DMS systems often miss.
Read answer →What is override visibility?
Override visibility is the ability to see when and why pricing decisions deviate from standard policy. In dealerships, overrides include competitive matches, manager approvals, loyalty discounts, and aging inventory cuts. Most DMS systems record that an override occurred but not the structured reason.
Read answer →How much margin do dealers lose to overrides?
Industry estimates suggest dealerships lose 2–5% of gross margin to unrecorded or poorly justified overrides. On a $50 million operation, that's $1–2.5 million annually. The loss is distributed across hundreds of small decisions, so it's rarely obvious.
Read answer →CDK vs DealerInt: do you need both?
CDK is a DMS that handles transactions, inventory, and multi-rooftop operations. DealerInt adds decision intelligence—override detection, reason capture, and margin analytics—that CDK does not provide natively. You need both if you want full visibility.
Read answer →How do you audit dealership compliance?
Effective dealership compliance audits require structured decision capture. When every override has a mandatory reason code, auditors can verify that competitive matches had proof, manager approvals followed policy, and loyalty discounts were within limits.
Read answer →What is the best CRM for car dealers?
The best CRM for car dealers depends on scale and workflow. VIN Solutions, DealerSocket, and eleads are common choices. DealerInt complements any CRM: it focuses on decision intelligence—capturing override reasons and margin visibility—rather than lead management.
Read answer →What is a competitive match in car sales?
A competitive match is when a dealership matches or beats a competitor's price to win a deal. It's one of the most common override reasons. Without reason capture, competitive matches can blur into discretionary discounts. DealerInt prompts for proof (competitor quote, vehicle) at the point of decision, creating an audit trail and reducing abuse.
Read answer →Reynolds & Reynolds vs DealerInt: comparison
Reynolds & Reynolds (R&R) is a legacy DMS provider. DealerInt adds override visibility and reason capture that R&R does not provide natively. DealerInt installs as a Chrome extension alongside R&R, requiring no migration. Multi-rooftop groups using R&R often add DealerInt for cross-location override analytics.
Read answer →DealerSocket vs DealerInt: which to use?
DealerSocket is a DMS and CRM platform. DealerInt is a decision intelligence layer. They work together: DealerSocket handles transactions and CRM; DealerInt captures override reasons and margin visibility. No replacement required—DealerInt complements DealerSocket.
Read answer →DealerTrack vs DealerInt: integration
DealerTrack provides F&I and DMS solutions. DealerInt adds override visibility and reason capture across your stack. DealerInt runs alongside DealerTrack via Chrome extension, capturing decisions in real time without API integration.
Read answer →VIN Solutions vs DealerInt
VIN Solutions is a CRM and desking platform. DealerInt captures override decisions and margin visibility. Both can run together: VIN Solutions for desking and CRM, DealerInt for override analytics and executive reports.
Read answer →What is a manager approval override?
A manager approval override occurs when a sales manager authorizes a discount, rate exception, or policy deviation. Most DMS systems log the approval but not the structured reason. DealerInt prompts for a reason code (competitive match, aging inventory, loyalty, etc.) at the point of approval, creating visibility and accountability.
Read answer →How do you reduce override rates at a dealership?
Reduce override rates by requiring mandatory reason capture at the point of decision. When GMs can see override volume by category, department, and location, they can tighten policy where it matters. DealerInt users typically see override rates decline within 90 days of implementation as visibility drives accountability.
Read answer →What is a loyalty discount in auto sales?
A loyalty discount is a price reduction given to repeat customers or family members. Without structured capture, loyalty discounts can exceed policy limits. DealerInt prompts for loyalty discounts at the point of decision, ensuring they're recorded and within policy.
Read answer →How do dealerships handle aging inventory discounts?
Aging inventory discounts reduce price on vehicles that have been in stock too long. When unrecorded, they contribute to margin loss. DealerInt captures aging inventory as a reason code at the point of decision, enabling dashboards that show impact by age bucket and location.
Read answer →How do you track F&I menu overrides?
F&I menu overrides occur when products are waived, rates are adjusted, or payment terms deviate from standard. DealerInt detects override events in your F&I workflow and prompts for a reason code. Dashboards then show override volume by product, reason, and F&I manager.
Read answer →What override reasons are compliant?
Compliant override reasons typically include: competitive match (with proof), aging inventory, loyalty (within policy), manager approval (documented), and manufacturer programs. DealerInt's reason taxonomy aligns with common audit requirements. The key is capturing the reason at the point of decision, not retroactively.
Read answer →What metrics should an override dashboard show?
An override dashboard should show: override volume by reason, by department, by location, and by time period. It should also show margin impact where applicable. DealerInt dashboards include these metrics plus executive summaries for GMs and F&I directors.
Read answer →How do you get override visibility across multiple rooftops?
Multi-rooftop groups need aggregated override data across locations. DealerInt supports multi-store deployments, providing consolidated dashboards and per-location breakdowns. GMs can compare override rates across rooftops and identify high-risk locations.
Read answer →How does a Chrome extension work with a DMS?
DealerInt's Chrome extension runs in the browser where users access CDK, Tekion, DealerTrack, or other DMS systems. When an override occurs, the extension detects it and prompts for a reason code. Data is sent to DealerInt's cloud—no DMS API integration required.
Read answer →Does DealerInt require API integration?
No. DealerInt uses a Chrome extension that captures override decisions at the point they happen in your DMS. There is no need for API keys, webhooks, or DMS integration. Install the extension, configure reason codes, and start capturing.
Read answer →What should an executive override report include?
An executive override report should include: total override volume, breakdown by reason, by department, by location, margin impact, and trends over time. DealerInt's executive reports provide these metrics in a format suitable for GM and board review.
Read answer →How do you enforce override policy at a dealership?
Enforce override policy by requiring mandatory reason capture before approvals. When every override has a structured reason, managers can't bypass policy silently. DealerInt prompts at the point of decision, creating accountability. Dashboards surface policy drift for GMs to address.
Read answer →How is gross profit per vehicle calculated?
Gross profit per vehicle (GPV) is the difference between vehicle cost and selling price, plus F&I income, minus holdback and incentives. Overrides that reduce selling price or waive F&I products directly reduce GPV. DealerInt helps identify where overrides are impacting GPV by reason and department.
Read answer →What is dealer holdback?
Dealer holdback is a payment from the manufacturer to the dealer after sale, typically 1–3% of invoice. It's often not visible in transaction-level DMS data. Overrides affect front-end gross; holdback affects back-end. DealerInt focuses on override visibility for front-end margin decisions.
Read answer →How do desking tools handle overrides?
Desking tools (VIN Solutions, DealerSocket, etc.) allow managers to adjust payments and terms. Most log the adjustment but not the structured reason. DealerInt runs alongside desking tools, prompting for reason codes when overrides occur, so you get visibility without changing your desking workflow.
Read answer →How do you track F&I product waivers?
F&I product waivers occur when a product (gap, warranty, etc.) is removed or discounted. DealerInt detects waivers in your F&I workflow and prompts for a reason. Dashboards show waiver volume by product, reason, and F&I manager for compliance and margin recovery.
Read answer →How do you track rate exceptions?
Rate exceptions occur when a lender approves a rate above or below standard. DealerInt captures rate exception decisions when they're made, prompting for a reason. This creates an audit trail for compliance and helps identify patterns in rate exception usage.
Read answer →What is an override audit trail?
An override audit trail is a chronological record of override decisions, including who made them, when, and why. Most DMS systems lack structured reason capture. DealerInt creates an audit trail by capturing reason codes at the point of decision, supporting compliance audits and policy enforcement.
Read answer →How do dealerships recover lost margin?
Dealerships recover margin by first identifying where it's lost. Overrides—competitive matches, manager approvals, loyalty discounts—account for 2–5% of gross margin. DealerInt provides visibility into override patterns. With structured reason capture, GMs can tighten policy and recover margin within one quarter.
Read answer →Do DMS systems log overrides?
Most DMS systems log that an override occurred (e.g., manager approved a discount) but not the structured reason. DealerInt fills this gap: it prompts for reason codes at the point of decision and aggregates data for dashboards. No DMS replacement required.
Read answer →What override reason codes should dealerships use?
Common override reason codes include: competitive match, aging inventory, loyalty, manager approval, manufacturer program, recon condition, and other (with note). DealerInt provides a configurable taxonomy. The key is capturing the reason at the point of decision, not retroactively.
Read answer →Can you get real-time override alerts?
DealerInt captures overrides in real time via its Chrome extension. Dashboards update as decisions are made. For high-impact alerts (e.g., overrides above a threshold), DealerInt can surface them in executive reports. Real-time visibility helps GMs address policy drift quickly.
Read answer →How much does DealerInt cost?
DealerInt pricing is based on dealership size and locations. Contact DealerInt for a quote. A free trial is available. There are no API integration fees—DealerInt uses a Chrome extension—so implementation costs are minimal compared to DMS integrations.
Read answer →How do you install DealerInt?
DealerInt installs as a Chrome extension. Users sign in with their DealerInt account, and the extension runs when they access their DMS (CDK, Tekion, DealerTrack, etc.). No server setup, no API configuration. Configure reason codes in the DealerInt dashboard, and start capturing.
Read answer →What is the ROI of override visibility?
Industry data suggests 2–5% of gross margin is lost to unrecorded overrides. On a $50M operation, that's $1–2.5M annually. DealerInt users typically see override rates decline within 90 days. ROI depends on your current override exposure and recovery rate.
Read answer →How do compliance auditors view overrides?
Compliance auditors expect documented reasons for overrides—competitive match with proof, manager approval within policy, loyalty limits. DealerInt's structured reason capture creates the audit trail auditors need. F&I directors use DealerInt dashboards to spot policy drift before audits.
Read answer →Who is responsible for override decisions?
Sales managers typically approve overrides (discounts, terms). F&I managers approve product waivers and rate exceptions. DealerInt captures who made each decision and why, creating accountability. GMs can see override patterns by manager and department.
Read answer →What is dealership decision intelligence?
Dealership decision intelligence is the practice of capturing and analyzing the decisions that drive margin—overrides, approvals, reason codes—at the point they happen. DealerInt provides this layer, giving GMs visibility into where margin slips and enabling policy enforcement.
Read answer →What is front-end vs back-end gross?
Front-end gross is profit from vehicle sale (selling price minus cost). Back-end gross includes F&I products, service contracts, and manufacturer incentives. Overrides typically affect front-end gross. DealerInt focuses on override visibility for front-end margin decisions.
Read answer →What are dealer margin benchmarks?
Dealer margin benchmarks vary by segment and region. Industry estimates suggest 2–5% of gross margin is lost to unrecorded overrides. DealerInt publishes quarterly benchmarks at /benchmarks/dealer-profit-index. Use them to compare your override exposure to industry norms.
Read answer →What are override trends in 2025?
Override trends in 2025 include increased focus on reason capture for compliance, multi-rooftop visibility, and AI-assisted analytics. Dealerships that implement structured capture early see faster margin recovery. DealerInt's benchmarks track these trends quarterly.
Read answer →How does competitive pressure affect dealership margins?
Competitive pressure drives overrides—managers match competitor prices to win deals. Without reason capture, competitive matches can blur into discretionary discounts. DealerInt prompts for proof at the point of decision, helping GMs distinguish legitimate competitive matches from policy drift.
Read answer →How do you track reconditioning overrides?
Recon overrides occur when reconditioning costs exceed standard or when condition adjustments are made. DealerInt can capture these as override reasons when they're entered in your DMS. Dashboards then show recon-related override impact by location and vehicle.
Read answer →How do manufacturer incentives affect overrides?
Manufacturer incentives (rebates, subvented rates) can reduce the need for dealer-funded overrides. When dealer overrides are used on top of incentives, reason capture helps ensure they're justified. DealerInt captures dealer override reasons separately from manufacturer programs.
Read answer →How do you track used car overrides?
Used car overrides include price adjustments for condition, market, or aging. DealerInt prompts for reason codes when overrides occur in used vehicle transactions. Dashboards show override volume by reason, department, and location for used units.
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