Dealership Development

What Dealership Development does

Dealership Development, LLC is a US-based, privately held company founded in 1989 and headquartered in Barrington, Illinois, that sells a portfolio of Finance & Insurance (F&I) profit solutions and Attorney General compliance services to automotive dealerships. Its core offerings span vehicle service contracts (comprehensive, wrap, high-mileage, reinsurance and retro programs), GAP coverage, tire and wheel, key replacement, lease wear and tear, window etch, appearance protection, bundles, dealer-owned maintenance, and customer retention programs, supported by services in compliance management, F&I business development, aftermarket income development, automotive sales training, and recruiting. The company operates an in-dealership delivery model in which its retail F&I specialists work on-site at client dealerships alongside dealer staff to deliver hands-on training and product penetration. Dealership Development's technology stack includes proprietary online platforms such as Perfect Delivery software installed on each salesperson's computer, the E-LOG reporting system, VS2000 & Value Care, an E-CONTRACTING tool, and a Compliance Testing system that mirrors CFPB examination categories. The firm earns revenue through a mix of professional service fees, transaction fees on customer-paid maintenance and retention programs, and licensing/royalty-style fees on reinsurance and retro arrangements where it charges administrative and insuring fees per policy to administrators, while bundling free training, software, and consulting to drive product sales.

Name

Dealership Development

Legal name

Dealership Development, LLC

Website

https://dealershipdevelopment.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Dealership Development is a US automotive dealership F&I profit solutions and compliance company founded in 1989 that provides vehicle service contracts, GAP, appearance protection, training, and compliance services delivered on-site at client dealerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive F&I and Dealership Compliance Services

NAICS

Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers (441)

SIC

Retail-Auto Dealers & Gasoline Stations (5500)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYFSAJALAD

Dealer-Sold & F&I Administered Service Contracts (Dealer Obligors)

Financial & Insurance/Insurance — Motor, Property & Casualty/Warranty & Service Contract / Mechanical Breakdown Insurance

SECONDARYFSAKADAL

Vehicle Protection & Add-on Product Financing (Warranties, GAP, Service Plans)

Financial & Insurance/Lending & Consumer Finance/Auto Lending & Vehicle Finance

Keywords

• Automotive F&I solutions
• Dealership compliance services
• F&I training
• Vehicle service contracts
• Dealer development consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Barrington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. F&I Training and Business Development Services: Cutting-edge F&I training and compliance services for automotive dealerships. Revenue generated through service fees for on-site training, compliance audits, and business development support.
2. Reinsurance and Retro Programs: Vehicle service contract profit-participation solutions including producer-owned reinsurance company (P.O.R.C.) programs and retrospective programs. Administrative fees and insuring fees per policy are charged to administrators.
3. Dealer Owned Maintenance Program: Customized maintenance and customer contact programs built at no charge. Dealership Development only receives fees when the customer buys the program and pays the dealership directly.
4. Customer Retention Program: Customized maintenance and customer contact programs. Dealership Development receives fees when customers purchase the program from the dealership.
5. Aftermarket Products and Training: Sales training, pay plans, customized software, and appearance protection products provided at no charge to dealerships. Revenue generated through product penetration and increased front-end profits.
6. Recruiting Services: F&I Specialist placement and emergency fill-in services for dealerships. The company offers free F&I Specialists and emergency fill-in service as part of partnership arrangements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Dealership Development provides F&I (Finance & Insurance) Profit Solutions and Attorney General Compliance services to automobile dealerships. Its core offerings include F&I and automotive sales training delivered on-site by retail experts, a Compliance Management System with audits and documentation, an aftermarket income development program paired with proprietary Perfect Delivery software, and a portfolio of vehicle protection products (vehicle service contracts, GAP, tire & wheel, appearance protection, key replacement, lease wear & tear, window etch, customer retention, and dealer-owned maintenance). The company also brokers A-rated insurance carriers and administers reinsurance and retro programs for dealers.

Product overview

Dealership Development offers a comprehensive F&I (Finance & Insurance) Profit Solutions and Attorney General Compliance platform for automobile dealerships. The product portfolio includes 12 core vehicle protection products: Vehicle Service Contracts (comprehensive, wrap, and certified wrap), Appearance Protection (VS2000), GAP Programs, Tire & Wheel, Key Replacement Programs, High-Mileage Service Contracts, Lease Wear & Tear, Window Etch, Bundles, Customer Retention Program, Dealer Owned Maintenance, and Reinsurance & Retro Programs. Supporting services include Compliance Management System (audits, training, documentation, complaint resolution), F&I Business Development (in-dealership training), Aftermarket Income Development (with Perfect Delivery software), and Automotive Training (Consultative Selling, Advanced Sales Professional, Sales Management, F&I). The company serves as a brokerage for service contracts, matching dealers with A-rated insurance carriers, while offering free in-dealership programs paid for through product sales commissions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Vehicle Service Contracts Vehicle service contract coverage including comprehensive coverage, wrap coverage, and certified wrap coverage options to protect customers against repair costs, brokered to A-rated insurance carriers for automotive dealerships.
• Appearance Protection Interior and exterior vehicle appearance protection with no age limitation, renewable at no charge for life, covering vehicles under 80,000 miles with 5-year coverage, sold through automotive dealerships.
• GAP Programs Guaranteed Asset Protection insurance covering the difference between insurance settlement and loan/lease balance up to 150% of retail vehicle cost including deductible, offered through automotive dealerships.
• Tire & Wheel Tire and wheel protection plans that repair or replace damaged tires and wheels due to road hazards with no deductible, available in 3-year and 5-year terms through automotive dealerships.
• Reinsurance & Retro Programs Vehicle service contract profit-participation solutions including producer-owned reinsurance company (P.O.R.C.) formation and retrospective (Retro) programs for dealers to retain underwriting profits, administered through established Administrator Obligors on a nationwide basis.
• Customer Retention Program Customized maintenance and customer contact program built for dealers at no charge, with the dealer controlling the money, customization, and service work to drive customer loyalty.
• Bundles Product bundles combining multiple F&I and vehicle protection offerings to increase dealership profit while enhancing vehicle value for consumers.
• Key Replacement Programs Key recovery program offering replacement keys with 24/7 emergency road service, emergency delivery, and emergency battery service for lost or stolen car keys, sold through automotive dealerships.
• High-Mileage Service Contract High-mileage vehicle service contracts with bumper-to-bumper coverage up to 150,000 miles, any year/mileage qualification, and nationwide coverage through an A-rated insurance carrier.
• Dealer Owned Maintenance Dealer-controlled customized maintenance program where the dealer sets terms, coverages, costs, and performs all service work, built at no charge by Dealership Development.
• Lease Wear & Tear Lease wear and tear coverage protecting customers from costly penalties at lease expiration, covering interior and exterior items including upholstery, carpet, audio, paint, glass, and seals, sold through automotive dealerships.
• Window Etch VIN glass etching program reducing vehicle theft by approximately 65 percent, increasing recovery rates, with up to $5,000 coverage for out-of-pocket expenses if stolen.
• Compliance Management System Comprehensive compliance division offering third-party audits (Safeguard Rule, Deal Jacket Audits), solutions implementation, ongoing training, documentation archiving, and automated complaint resolution systems aligned with the CFPB examination manual.
• F&I Business Development In-dealership F&I training with retail experts who process deliveries while dealer managers observe and learn, plus off-site seminars in controlled classroom environments for automotive dealerships.
• Aftermarket Income Development Aftermarket profit solutions program including sales training, pay plans, customized software, Perfect Delivery training software, and state-of-the-art appearance protection products provided to dealerships at no charge.
• Automotive Training Training curriculum including Consultative Selling (3-day workshop), Advanced Sales Professional (2-day), Sales Management Coaching, and Finance & Insurance training covering menu psychology and compliance for automotive dealership staff.

Quantifiable outcome

• Average PVR increase of $300 per vehicle
• +3 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• All State Dealer ServicescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorClaims administration partner for Vehicle Service Contracts and GAP coverage. Provides claims processing, fax services, and mailing address for claims submissions. All State handles VSC claims (866-219-9344) and GAP claims (866-378-6409).
• Alpha WarrantycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorClaims administration partner providing claims number (800-662-5519) and fax services (801-571-8964) for claims processing.
• AAGI (AutoGuard/Wheelz/Wear & Tear)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMulti-product claims administration including AutoGuard (888-306-7115), Wheelz (800-858-6324), and Wear & Tear (866-910-5547) claims processing.
• Allegiance AdministratorscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorClaims administration with claims number (877-895-1414), fax (614-726-3170), and email ([email protected]). Located at 5500 Frantz Road, Suite 100, Dublin, OH 43017.
• APPIcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorClaims administration partner with claims number (888-366-3774), fax (225-612-6731), located at 17732 Highland Rd, Ste. G158, Baton Rouge, LA 70769.
• ASI/DMSCcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorClaims administration for Tire and Wheel (877-850-0444), GAP/TLP (800-242-7316), Mechanical Claims (800-242-7316), and VSC Claims (877-638-4680).
• AutoSavecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorClaims administration with claims number (800-684-1175) and fax (800-785-3607) for vehicle protection claims.
• AutoXcelcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorClaims administration partner with claims number (877-340-4227) and email [email protected].
• AxiomcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorClaims administration with claims number (844-252-0937). Customers can access contracts through the COVI App.
• Century Service CorpcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorClaims administration with claims number (877-793-7123) and fax (505-883-9658).
• EasyCarecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorClaims administration with claims number (800-538-4181), credit card payment (770-246-2415), check payment (770-246-2468), and mailing address PO Box 888050, Atlanta, GA 30356.
• InterstatecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorClaims administration partner with claims number (800-942-0400).
• Nation Safe DriverscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorClaims administration for GAP/Theft (888-272-5517) and other products (888-684-9327). Claims center located at 800 Yamato Rd., Suite #100, Boca Raton, FL 33431.
• Pinnacle Protection PlancoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNon-Florida claims (888-442-9755), Florida claims (800-866-6090) through Old United Casualty Co. Mail to PO Box 634, Shawnee Mission, KS 66201.
• PortfoliocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMulti-product claims including GAP/Theft (877-705-4001), VSC (800-527-3426), Elite Protective VSC (800-323-5771). Addresses in Lake Forest, CA and Dallas, TX.
• RoadVantagecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorClaims administration with claims number (855-902-5246), fax (512-795-9069), located at 8834 N Capital of Texas Hwy., Suite 250, Austin TX 78759.
• Royal GuardcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorClaims administration with fax number (973-547-3320) for claims processing.
• SafeGuard ProductscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorComprehensive claims administration for T&W, Lease, Ultimate Vehicle Protection, GAP, and Precision Care products. Multiple contact numbers including 800-890-7211. Located at Two Concourse Parkway, Suite 500, Atlanta, GA 30328.
• United Car CarecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorClaims administration with claims number (720-207-0111), toll-free (800-571-2016), fax (303-306-1922). Mail to PO Box 3988, Greenwood Village, CO 80155-3988.
• VS2000coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorClaims administration with claims number (866-781-4374), fax (847-382-1083), email [email protected]. Located at 1250 S Grove Ave, Suite 305, Barrington, IL 60010 (same as company HQ).
• Wise F&IcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGAP claims administration with claims number (800-856-2320), fax (636-680-0048), email [email protected]. Located at 1670 Fenpark Drive, Fenton, MO 63026.
• Federal Trade CommissionminorOthersRegulatory resource providing compliance guidance including the Dealer’s Guide to the Used Car Rule, Data Breach Response Guide, and Start with Security guidelines for businesses.
• Consumer Financial Protection BureauminorOthersRegulatory resource for consumer and employee protection compliance information.
• National Automobile Association (NADA)minorOthersIndustry association resource linked in the resources section for dealership information.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Allstate Dealer Services: F&I product provider (VSC, GAP, tire & wheel) sold through franchised auto dealers. Listed as a claims-administration partner of Dealership Development but also competes for the same dealer wallet.
• American Financial & Automotive Services (AFAS): F&I product administration, training, and dealer development services for automotive dealers. Direct competitor offering vehicle service contracts, GAP, and ancillary products with dealer training.
• EFG Companies: Provides F&I products, training, and reinsurance/retro programs to dealerships — overlapping directly with Dealership Development's reinsurance, GAP, and service contract offerings.
• EasyCare: F&I products (VSCs, GAP, tire & wheel, key replacement) and dealer training services — overlapping product by product with Dealership Development's portfolio.
• JM&A Group: Subsidiary of JM Family Enterprises providing F&I products, training, and reinsurance solutions to auto dealers nationwide. Comparable product portfolio including VSCs, GAP, and ancillary products plus performance-driven dealer training.
• United Development Group (UDG): F&I training, compliance, and profit solutions provider to automotive dealerships. Most direct competitor in the dealer F&I consulting space with a similar in-dealership service delivery model.
• Accelerated Dealer Services: Provides F&I training, reinsurance, and product solutions to franchised auto dealers with a similar in-dealership consulting model.
• APC Integrated: Reinsurance and F&I solutions provider for dealers, including agent-owned reinsurance (P.O.R.C.) programs — directly comparable to Dealership Development's reinsurance/retro offering.

Broad incumbents

• Zurich Dealer Solutions: Broader insurer offering F&I products (GAP, VSC, tire & wheel) and dealer training through North American dealer networks — competes for the same dealer accounts with greater capital backing.
• Assurant: Large public insurance and protection-products provider with a Global Automotive segment that offers F&I and dealer protection products at much greater scale than Dealership Development.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DealerDevelop1

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Dealership Development