Florida Automobile Dealers Association

What Florida Automobile Dealers Association does

FADA is a Tallahassee-based, member-driven nonprofit trade association founded in 1920 that represents nearly 900 franchised new car and truck dealers across Florida. Its functional mandate is the political, regulatory, and operational defense of the state's franchised auto retail channel, encompassing legislative lobbying in Tallahassee, regulatory advocacy before agencies such as the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, and coordinated national-level action through the dealer association network (e.g., FTC CARS Rule challenge, 2025 CAFE reset, H.J.Res. 88). It also operates a wholly-owned 501(c)(3) charitable foundation (FADCF, founded 2004) that delivers disaster-relief assistance to dealership employees.

Core products and services are largely non-technological: tiered dealer membership (dues scaled to prior-year vehicle sales volume across five tiers, plus $400 per affiliate location), a flat $800 associate membership for industry service providers, member-only bulletins and alerts, and an endorsed legal team (Kurkin Forehand Brandes, Quinton Paretti, Bass Sox Mercer) specializing in franchise and operational law. Adjacent product lines include the FADA Dealer Hall of Fame, the TIME Dealer of the Year nomination program, the FADA Certified Technician credential (administered via CTECS/E-SESS), CAR-PAC political action committee, and an Endorsed Partner program with vendors across eTitling, payments recovery, used-vehicle marketplace, compliance, benefits, and dealer management systems.

FADA's revenue model is subscription/dues-based: dealer membership recurring annual dues scaled to sales volume, plus a flat annual associate membership. The recurring revenue base covers the entire employee population of every member dealership (enterprise-wide membership), which supports engagement per physical rooftop. No external ownership, parent company, or funding rounds are disclosed; the association is governed by elected member-dealer officers, with Ted Smith serving as President and a rotating Chair (Chris Kraft for 2025-2026).

Name

Florida Automobile Dealers Association

Legal name

Florida Automobile Dealers Association

Website

https://flada.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1920

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Florida Automobile Dealers Association is a Tallahassee-based nonprofit trade association founded in 1920 that represents nearly 900 franchised automobile dealers across Florida through legislative advocacy, franchise protection, regulatory representation, and tiered membership services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tallahassee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Dealer Membership Dues: Annual membership dues for franchised new car and truck dealerships in Florida. Single membership dues are based on the number of new vehicles sold in the previous year across five tiers. Group membership includes dues for the parent location plus a flat fee for each additional affiliate store.
2. Associate Membership Dues: Annual dues of $800 for businesses affiliated with the retail automotive trade industry in Florida. Associate members receive access to approximately 1,000 franchised Florida member dealers, password-protected news and alerts, company listing on FADA's website, and exclusive advertising and sponsorship opportunities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Florida Automobile Dealers Association (FADA) is a statewide trade association that advocates for and protects the interests of nearly 900 franchised new car and truck dealerships in Florida. Its core offerings include legislative representation before the Florida Legislature, regulatory advocacy with state agencies, franchise protection under Florida's franchise laws, access to a specialized legal team, and a Certified Technician certification program. The association also runs the FADA Dealer Hall of Fame, the TIME Dealer of the Year award program, CAR-PAC (political action committee), and the Florida Automobile Dealers Charitable Foundation (FADCF) for disaster relief.

Product overview

The Florida Automobile Dealers Association (FADA) is a statewide trade association, not a technology product company. Founded in 1920, FADA serves nearly 900 franchised new car and truck dealers across Florida. FADA's core offerings include legislative advocacy and franchise protection, regulatory compliance support, and access to legal counsel specializing in dealer franchise law. The association operates member-focused programs including the Dealer Hall of Fame induction ceremony, TIME Dealer of the Year award nominations, and the Certified Technician industry certification program. FADA provides endorsed partner solutions through vetted service providers including DLRdmv (eTitling and registration), Priority DMS (payment processing recovery), ACV Auctions (used vehicle marketplace), ComplyAuto (regulatory compliance and privacy tools), American Fidelity (employee benefits), and Reynolds and Reynolds (dealer management systems). Membership is available in two tiers: Dealer Members for franchised dealerships and Associate Members for industry-affiliated businesses. The association also operates CAR-PAC for political advocacy and the Florida Automobile Dealers Charitable Foundation for disaster relief.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Dealer Membership
• Associate Membership
• FADA Certified Technician Program
• Florida Automobile Dealers Charitable Foundation (FADCF) 501(c)(3) charitable foundation established in 2004 (EIN: 20-1636810) that provides emergency financial assistance to employees of dealer member stores affected by natural disasters.
• Legislative Representation and Advocacy Core service providing lobbying, grassroots advocacy, legislative tracking, and representation before the Florida Legislature, state regulatory agencies, and liaison with automobile manufacturers to protect dealer interests and promote pro-dealer legislation.
• Dealer Member Legal Team Access Member benefit providing access to a team of attorneys (Kurkin Forehand Brandes, Quinton Paretti, Bass Sox Mercer) specializing in motor vehicle franchise law, litigation, dealership transfers, terminations, relocations, and administrative law.
• FADA Dealer Hall of Fame Annual recognition program inducting outstanding Florida automobile dealers for their contributions to the industry and community. Inaugural class held in 2023 with subsequent 2024 and 2026 classes.
• TIME Dealer of the Year Award Program Annual award program (with TIME Magazine and NADA) recognizing new-car dealers who demonstrate exceptional performance and community service. FADA nominates Florida's candidate for national recognition.
• CAR-PAC (Political Action Committee) FADA's political action committee supporting pro-dealer candidates in Florida elections, with tiered giving clubs including Legacy Club ($75,000+), Dealer 50 Club ($50,000+), and Ambassador level ($1,000+).
• Endorsed Partner Program Curated program offering FADA member dealers pre-negotiated discounts and vetted solutions from endorsed service providers including DLRdmv (eTitling), Priority DMS (payment processing), ACV Auctions (used vehicle marketplace), ComplyAuto (compliance), American Fidelity (employee benefits), Reynolds and Reynolds (DMS), and The McDavid Group (F&I products).

Quantifiable outcome

• Florida's automobile dealers generated over $1 billion in total sales in 2020, equating to 16% of Florida's sales tax

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• DLRdmvcoreTechnology or IntegrationFlorida's leading eTitling provider. Their market-leading technology brings the DMV into the dealership, allowing customers to get plates when they buy a vehicle. DLRdmv is a certified Electronic Filing System (EFS) and Electronic Title Registration (ETR) provider in Florida, trusted by thousands of dealers for lightning-fast, compliant title and registration processing.
• Priority DMScoreTechnology or IntegrationAutomotive leader in managed surcharge programs, helping dealers transform credit card fees into a cost-recovery engine. Their compliant technology allows 1,000+ dealerships to recover $5,000-$15,000 per month per rooftop without impacting CSI. Also offers a Universal Wallet providing 10 payment methods including Venmo and Klarna.
• ACV AuctionscoreTechnology or IntegrationFull-service automotive marketplace powered by innovative technology and superior customer service. ACV has built the most trusted, efficient digital marketplace along with data solutions for sourcing, selling and managing used vehicles. Serves more than 16,000 active dealers, selling millions of vehicles.
• ComplyAutocoreTechnology or IntegrationCloud-based compliance solutions helping dealerships with state privacy and federal compliance goals including GLBA's Safeguards Rule. Offers technical solutions (intrusion detection, MFA, device encryption, DLP monitoring) and non-technical requirements (third-party contracts, vendor risk assessments).
• ComplyAuto SafetycoreTechnology or IntegrationAutomated EHS (Environmental Health and Safety) software designed to reduce dealership risks and keep employees safe. Provides on-site audits by certified inspectors and comprehensive training library, all in a simple cloud-based platform.
• American FidelitycoreTechnology or IntegrationBenefits provider designed specifically for the automotive industry. Works with over 2,800 automotive employers, offering benefit plans that meet specific industry needs. Their team becomes an extension of dealers' HR departments for benefits administration, communication and education.
• Reynolds and ReynoldscoreTechnology or IntegrationIndustry leader in automotive technology and digitization for automotive retailers. Features the industry's only Retail Management System, providing dealers with DMS choice plus retailing tools that streamline operations and improve customer satisfaction. Also manufactures and distributes business forms and promotional items.
• Central Florida Automobile Dealers Association (CFADA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMetro association serving dealers in Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Lake, Volusia and Brevard counties. Led by Evelyn Cardenas, PhD., CAE, PMP at (407) 708-2780. Affiliated with FADA for regional coordination.
• South Florida Automobile Dealers AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMetro association serving dealers from the Palm Beaches to the Keys. Led by Debra Koebel at 305.981.1448. Affiliated with FADA for regional coordination.
• Jacksonville Automobile Dealers AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMetro association serving dealers in Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties. Led by Nancy Toman at (904) 215-9854. Affiliated with FADA for regional coordination.
• Kurkin Forehand Brandes (FADA Legal Team)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFADA's endorsed legal team specializing in motor vehicle franchise law, litigation, business transactions and administrative law. Represents dealers in disputes with manufacturers, regulatory agencies, dealership transfers, terminations, and relocations. Members include Alex Kurkin, John Forehand, and Craig Spickard.
• Quinton Paretti (FADA Legal Team)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFADA legal partner focused on representation of Florida automobile dealers. Led by A. Edward Quinton III, Esq., with experience representing high-volume dealers in franchise matters, termination defense, and buy-sell transactions.
• Bass Sox Mercer (FADA Legal Team)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFADA legal partner with Rich Sox, Esq. specializing in automobile franchise law. Represents dealers in manufacturer-sponsored and judicial mediation, state-mandated administrative proceedings, and state and federal court.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA): The national trade association for franchised new-car dealers in the United States. NADA is FADA's national counterpart, operating the same advocacy, member services, and dealer recognition model at the federal level — referenced explicitly by FADA for shared PAC coordination and TIME Dealer of the Year administration.

Direct peers

• Texas Automobile Dealers Association (TADA): State-level trade association for franchised automobile dealers in Texas — the most direct functional peer to FADA given similar membership-based advocacy, franchise-law defense, and joint litigation track record (co-plaintiff with FADA on the FTC CARS Rule challenge).
• California New Car Dealers Association (CNCDA): State trade association representing California's franchised new-car dealers. Operates the same membership, legislative, and dealer-recognition model as FADA in a much larger but more EV-disrupted state — a comparable advocacy vehicle facing analogous regulatory pressures.
• Georgia Automobile Dealers Association (GADA): Georgia's state-level franchised automobile dealer trade association. Closely comparable to FADA in size, Southeast regional footprint, and advocacy focus, serving as a natural peer benchmark for membership economics and legislative strategy.
• New York State Automobile Dealers Association (NYSADA): Trade association representing franchised new-car and truck dealers in New York State. Comparable in scope and member-services model to FADA, including legislative advocacy, dealer education, and endorsed partner programs.
• North Carolina Automobile Dealers Association (NCADA): State trade association for franchised automobile dealers in North Carolina. Operates the same core service mix as FADA — legislative representation, dealer-member services, and industry advocacy — with comparable scale and Southeast US geographic dynamics.
• Illinois Automobile Dealers Association (IADA): State-level trade association serving franchised new-car dealers in Illinois. Comparable member-services model and advocacy focus to FADA, operating in a similarly large but distinct legislative environment.
• Pennsylvania Automotive Association (PAA): Trade association for franchised automobile dealers in Pennsylvania. Closely analogous to FADA in mission, membership model, and core services including legislative representation and dealer recognition programs.
• Ohio Automobile Dealers Association (OADA): Ohio's state-level franchised automobile dealer trade association. Direct functional peer to FADA — same advocacy-based value proposition, member-services structure, and franchise-law focus in a comparable Midwestern regulatory environment.
• New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers (NJ CAR): New Jersey's trade association for franchised new-car and truck dealers. Directly comparable membership, advocacy, and dealer-services model to FADA, operating in a similarly dense consumer market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/flada
• Xx.com/FADAOfficial

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Florida Automobile Dealers Association