What Preston Automotive Group does

Preston Automotive Group is a privately held, multi-brand automotive dealership group founded in 1975 in Preston, Maryland by Pansy Wilson, now chaired by Dave Wilson. The company operates 18 dealership locations across Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia, representing 10 automotive brands: Ford, Hyundai, Mazda, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, RAM, Toyota, Chevrolet, and Lincoln. Beyond new and pre-owned vehicle sales, the group operates five collision centers, multiple Quick Lane and Auto Express service centers, Preston Powersports (motorcycles, ATVs), Preston Lawn & Equipment, Sound FX (audio and accessories), and Midway Tire & Auto. A dedicated Preston Ford Commercial Vehicle Center ranked as a Top 10 Ford commercial dealer nationally, supporting fleet sales with upfitting partnerships through Knapheide and Dejana.

The business model spans one-time new and pre-owned vehicle sales, recurring service and parts revenue, collision repair work, commercial upfitting, and adjacent retail verticals (powersports, lawn equipment). Customer-facing technology runs on the DealerOn dealer website platform with inventory management, finance applications, service scheduling, and an online parts storefront at prestonparts.com. Convenience-oriented distribution includes vehicle delivery, at-home test drives, video walkarounds, and two mobile service vans operating since 2020. The Preston Pre-Owned Program classifies used vehicles into Gold, Silver, and Bronze inspection tiers, while the Preston For Life loyalty program drives repeat service and referral traffic.

Primary customer segments are individual retail vehicle buyers and commercial/business customers; revenue is geographically anchored in the Mid-Atlantic (Eastern Shore of Maryland, Delaware, Virginia), with nationwide delivery extending reach. Marketing relies on the company website, TikTok (@prestonautogroup), the Preston Cares community outreach program, and the Preston Business Alliance local referral network that has operated for over 40 years. Pricing is not publicly aggregated; documented fees include a $799 document processing fee plus freight, taxes, and tag/titling charges, with financing contingent on credit approval.

Name

Preston Automotive Group

Legal name

Preston Automotive Group

Website

https://prestonmotor.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Preston Automotive Group is a privately held, multi-brand automotive dealership group operating 18 locations across Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia, representing 10 brands plus powersports, lawn equipment, collision repair, and commercial vehicle upfitting for retail and business customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive Dealership

NAICS

Other Motor Vehicle Dealers (4412), Motorcycle, ATV, and All Other Motor Vehicle Dealers (441227), Tire Dealers (441340), Automotive Parts, Accessories, and Tire Retailers (4413)

SIC

Retail-Auto Dealers & Gasoline Stations (5500), Services-Automotive Repair, Services & Parking (7500)

akta.pro primary industry

Tire & Wheel Services (Mount/Balance/Alignment) (TLAKAAAD)

Keywords

• Automotive dealerships
• New vehicle sales
• Pre-owned vehicles
• Commercial vehicle sales
• Auto service repair

Headquarters

HQ city

Preston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices25 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. New Vehicle Sales: Sale of new vehicles from 10 automotive brands including Ford, Hyundai, Mazda, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, RAM, Toyota, Chevrolet, and Lincoln
2. Pre-Owned Vehicle Sales: Sale of pre-owned vehicles classified under Gold, Silver, and Bronze tiers through the Preston Pre-Owned Program
3. Service and Parts: Vehicle maintenance, repairs, tire sales, and parts distribution across multiple service locations including Quick Lane and Auto Express
4. Auto Body Repair: Collision center services through Preston Autobody, Cambridge Autobody, Dover Autobody, Wilmington Autobody, and Snow Hill Autobody
5. Commercial Vehicle Sales and Upfitting: Sale of commercial vehicles with upfitting services through partnerships with Knapheide and Dejana, including dump bodies, service bodies, cutaway vans
6. Powersports and Outdoor Equipment: Sale of motorcycles, ATVs, outdoor power equipment, and service solutions through Preston Powersports and Preston Lawn & Equipment

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Preston Automotive Group is a multi-brand automotive dealership group that sells new, pre-owned, and commercial vehicles across 10 brands at 18 locations in Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia. It also provides vehicle maintenance and repair, parts distribution, auto body collision repair through five collision centers, and complementary retail including powersports and outdoor power equipment. The group differentiates through at-home delivery and test drives, mobile service vans, and a tiered pre-owned vehicle classification program.

Product overview

Preston Automotive Group is a multi-brand automotive dealership group operating 18 dealership locations across Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia, representing 10 automotive brands (Ford, Hyundai, Mazda, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, RAM, Toyota, Chevrolet, and Lincoln). The group offers a comprehensive portfolio of vehicle sales (new, pre-owned, and commercial), automotive service and maintenance, auto body repair, and complementary services including vehicle financing, parts sales, and customer loyalty programs. Additionally, the group operates non-automotive retail divisions including Preston Powersports (motorcycles, ATVs), Preston Lawn & Equipment (outdoor power equipment), and Sound FX (car audio). The company provides convenience-focused services such as at-home vehicle delivery, mobile service vans, and online parts purchasing through prastonparts.com. The Preston Pre-Owned Program classifies vehicles into Gold, Silver, and Bronze tiers based on inspection criteria, while the Preston For Life loyalty program offers ongoing benefits to customers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Preston For Life: Customer loyalty program offering discounts, complimentary service, and premium membership benefits to preferred customers.
• Preston Pre-Owned Program
• Preston Cares
• Preston Business Alliance
• Preston At Home Services

Products and services

• New Vehicle Sales Sale of new vehicles from 10 automotive brands (Ford, Hyundai, Mazda, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, RAM, Toyota, Chevrolet, Lincoln) across 18 dealership locations in Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia, with at-home delivery and nationwide shipping.
• Pre-Owned Vehicle Sales Sale of pre-owned vehicles classified into Gold, Silver, and Bronze tiers under the Preston Pre-Owned Program, with inventory spanning price points including vehicles under $20K and under $30K.
• Commercial Vehicle Sales and Upfitting Sale of Ford commercial vehicles including Super Duty, Transit, and Transit Connect, with upfitting services for dump bodies, service bodies, and cutaway vans through partnerships with Knapheide and Dejana.
• Vehicle Service and Maintenance Vehicle maintenance, oil changes, brake service, battery replacement, scheduled maintenance, and tire services performed at Quick Lane, Auto Express, Midway Tire & Auto, and full-service dealership locations, plus mobile service vans for at-location servicing.
• Auto Body Collision Repair Collision center and auto body repair services delivered through five dedicated locations across Maryland and Delaware.
• Vehicle Finance and Leasing

Quantifiable outcome

• Top 10 commercial dealer in the nation
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• KnapheidecoreTechnology or IntegrationCommercial vehicle upfitting partner providing dump bodies, service bodies, and enclosed service bodies installed on Ford commercial vehicles sold at Preston Ford's Commercial Vehicle Center.
• DejanacoreTechnology or IntegrationCommercial vehicle upfitting partner providing service body solutions and upfitting capabilities for Ford commercial vehicles at Preston Ford's Commercial Vehicle Center.
• LOCASHminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCountry music duo partnership for marketing and brand awareness. Partnership page available on Preston Automotive Group website.
• Bobby TrossetminorGTM or Marketing PartnerExclusive offers partnership providing special deals and pricing for Preston customers through Bobby Trosset exclusive offers program.
• Kyle HamiltonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership mentioned in sitemap for exclusive offers and deals through Preston Automotive Group.
• Preston Business AlliancecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal business alliance established for over 40 years, based on the principle that local businesses supporting local businesses create the strongest communities. Operates at pr estonbusinessalliance.com

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• AutoNation: AutoNation is the largest automotive retailer in the United States, operating hundreds of franchised dealerships across more than 20 brands. It is broadly comparable to Preston as a multi-brand, multi-location dealership group with new/used vehicle sales, service, parts, and F&I operations, though at vastly greater national scale.
• Lithia Motors: Lithia Motors is one of the largest dealership groups in North America, pursuing an aggressive acquisition-led growth strategy across dozens of OEM brands. Like Preston, Lithia operates franchised new-vehicle stores, used-vehicle operations, and finance/insurance businesses, making it a useful public-market comparable for valuation and capital strategy benchmarking.
• Group 1 Automotive: Group 1 Automotive is a Fortune 500 multi-brand automotive retailer with operations across the U.S. and U.K. Its franchise portfolio, F&I capture, and fixed-ops emphasis closely mirror Preston's model, and its reporting provides a public reference point for mid-sized dealership group economics.
• Sonic Automotive: Sonic Automotive operates a large network of franchised dealerships and the EchoPark used-vehicle standalone brand. It is a directly comparable multi-brand dealership peer, with particular overlap to Preston's franchise mix, used-vehicle operations, and growing emphasis on omnichannel retail.
• Asbury Automotive Group: Asbury Automotive Group operates over 150 franchised dealerships across the Sunbelt and Southeast U.S., with Total Care Auto F&I and Clicklane digital retailing. It is a directly comparable multi-brand dealership operator with similar revenue mix across new, used, F&I, and fixed operations.
• Hendrick Automotive Group: Hendrick Automotive Group is the largest privately held dealership group in the U.S., with over 100 franchises across multiple states. It is a closely comparable privately held, multi-brand dealership operator at meaningfully larger scale, providing a useful private-market comp for growth trajectory and capital allocation.
• CarMax: CarMax is the largest used-vehicle retailer in the U.S. with a national footprint, fixed-price no-haggle model, and integrated financing. It is an adjacent comparable to Preston's pre-owned vehicle business and Gold/Silver/Bronze classification program, though its pure used-vehicle focus and scale make it more of a strategic adjacency than a direct competitor.

Regional players

• DARCARS: DARCARS is a multi-brand dealership group headquartered in the Mid-Atlantic with locations across Maryland, Virginia, and neighboring states. It directly competes with Preston in the same regional market with an overlapping brand portfolio (Ford, Toyota, Honda, luxury), making it the closest direct regional peer.
• Koons Automotive: Koons Automotive is a large family-owned dealership group operating across Maryland, Virginia, and the Washington, D.C. metro area. It is a highly comparable regional peer to Preston given overlapping Mid-Atlantic territory, similar multi-brand franchise approach, and comparable size and family-ownership structure.
• Bob Bell Automotive: Bob Bell Automotive is a Mid-Atlantic dealership group with locations primarily in Maryland. It competes with Preston in the same regional market with an overlapping set of domestic and import brands, providing a useful direct regional benchmark for store-level performance and brand mix.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• TikToktiktok.com/@prestonautogroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/preston-automotive-group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries30 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Preston Automotive Group