Georgia Automobile Dealers Association

What Georgia Automobile Dealers Association does

Georgia Automobile Dealers Association (GADA) is a nonprofit trade association founded on April 21, 1937, in Macon, Georgia, and headquartered at 2060 Powers Ferry Road SE in Atlanta. GADA represents approximately 500 franchised automobile dealerships in Georgia—accounting for more than 90% of new vehicles sold in the state—along with 50 to 75 associate member companies that supply products or services to dealerships. The association is led by President & CEO Lea Kirschner, operates with 11–50 employees, and is governed by a board elected from its dealer membership.

GADA's core service portfolio spans four pillars: (1) regulatory advocacy, anchored by the CARD of Georgia Political Action Committee, which has shaped Georgia franchise law and dealer-relevant tax and employment legislation; (2) the GADA Group Self-Insurance Workers' Compensation Fund, established in 1982 as the first such trade-association fund in Georgia and which has returned more than $140 million in dividends to member dealers; (3) GADA Insurance Services, an in-house licensed agency launched in 2006 offering property/casualty, group health, dental, vision, and life coverage; and (4) operational services including state-authorized Temporary Operating Permits (TOPs), title processing, business forms, publications, and education courses. The association is operated through its wholly owned subsidiary GADA Services, Inc., which consolidates member-facing commercial activities.

GADA's business model is membership-subscription-driven (annual dealer and associate dues), supplemented by transaction fees (TOPs, forms), insurance commissions, and the financial returns generated by the self-insurance fund. The association also maintains an Endorsed Services Network of vetted third-party providers (DLRdmv, American Fidelity, Armatus, Smart Source, Guardian, NADA/Empower, Assurant, ComplyAuto) and runs workforce development programs in partnership with the Technical College System of Georgia and the Georgia GOAL Scholarship Fund. Technology is limited to internal operational systems (TOPs ordering site, member portal, forms store) rather than customer-facing AI or software products.

Name

Georgia Automobile Dealers Association

Legal name

Georgia Automobile Dealers Association

Website

https://gada.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1937

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive Trade Association

NAICS

Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers (441)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Insurance Program Administration & MGA/MGU Services (FSAEADAK)

Keywords

• Automobile dealer association
• Trade association services
• Workers compensation fund
• Title processing services
• Insurance services

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Dealer Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from approximately 500 franchised automobile dealerships doing business in Georgia. Membership provides access to advocacy, insurance services, title services, forms purchasing, publications, education courses, and other member benefits.
2. Associate Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from 50 to 75 associate member companies that provide products/services for automobile dealerships.
3. TOPs Sales: GADA serves as a state-authorized vendor for Temporary Operating Permits (TOPs), selling these to member dealers through their specialized TOPs website.
4. Business Forms Sales: GADA sells business forms directly to member dealerships through the GADA Forms Store.
5. Insurance Services: GADA Insurance Services offers comprehensive property and casualty insurance, group health plans, dental, vision, life insurance, and voluntary benefits. The agency is staffed by GADA employees and earns commissions from endorsed insurance providers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Georgia Automobile Dealers Association (GADA) is a nonprofit trade association serving approximately 500 franchised automobile dealerships in Georgia, representing more than 90% of new vehicles sold in the state. GADA provides member services including state-authorized Temporary Operating Permits (TOPs) sales, vehicle title processing, a group self-insurance Workers' Compensation Fund established in 1982, and full-service insurance agency offerings covering property/casualty, group health, dental, vision, and life insurance. The association also engages in legislative advocacy through its CARD of Georgia PAC and supports workforce development and dealer education.

Product overview

Georgia Automobile Dealers Association is a trade association serving approximately 500 franchised automobile dealerships in Georgia, representing over 90% of new vehicles sold in the state. GADA offers a portfolio of member services including TOPs (Temporary Operating Permits) and Title Services for dealership operations, a self-insured Workers' Compensation Fund established in 1982, and full-service Insurance Services for employee benefits and property/casualty coverage. The association provides Forms Purchasing, Publications and Email Alerts, Education Courses, Annual Conventions, and District Meetings. Through its Workforce Development Programs and NextGen Program, GADA supports talent acquisition and professional development. GADA also operates a CARD of Georgia PAC for political advocacy and maintains an Endorsed Services Network connecting members with vetted third-party providers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• TOPs (Temporary Operating Permits) State-authorized permit service allowing Georgia franchised dealers to purchase and process Temporary Operating Permits through GADA's specialized TOPs website for vehicles awaiting registration.
• Title Services Handles vehicle title-related matters for dealerships including duplicate titles, title transfers, rejected applications, bonded titles, and in-person application processing at Georgia Motor Vehicle offices.
• Workers' Compensation Fund Group self-insurance workers' compensation fund owned by participating dealers and staffed by GADA employees, offering stable rates, in-house claims management, loss prevention specialists, and dividends returned to Fund members (more than $140 million since inception).
• GADA Insurance Services Full-service in-house licensed insurance agency offering property and casualty insurance, group health plans, dental, vision, life insurance, and voluntary benefits through endorsed provider American Fidelity, earning commissions from endorsed insurance providers.
• Forms Purchasing Direct purchasing of business forms through GADA's online forms store for member dealerships.
• Education Courses In-person beginner and advanced title clerk training opportunities along with other educational programs for dealership staff.
• CARD of Georgia PAC Committee of Automobile Retail Dealers political action committee supporting pro-dealer legislators in Georgia through campaign contributions and direct engagement.
• Endorsed Services Network Network of vetted service providers including DLRdmv (electronic titling), American Fidelity (insurance), Armatus (warranty reimbursement), Smart Source (printing), Guardian (promotional products), NADA Retirement (retirement services), Assurant (F&I training), and ComplyAuto (privacy/cybersecurity).

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and endorsed.

• Georgia GOAL Scholarship FundcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014GADA has partnered with GEORGIA GOAL since 2014. The program, established in 2008, provides scholarship opportunities to K-12 Georgia students. Throughout its partnership, the GADA-GOAL Scholarship Fund has helped 24 Georgia students achieve their education goals, with 77 total scholarships awarded since 2014.
• MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) - Georgia ChaptercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013GADA has partnered with the Georgia chapter of MADD since 2013. GADA is a statewide sponsor of MADD and annually sponsors two of the biggest MADD events: Golden Shield Honors awards banquet and Mercedes Benz Stadium 5K/Walk Like MADD. MADD provides support for victims of drunk and impaired driving accidents and advocates for stronger laws.
• Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGADA partnered with TCSG to establish a $100,000 scholarship fund for auto technicians. This workforce development initiative helps kickstart careers in automotive technology and addresses workforce needs in Georgia dealerships.
• DLRdmvendorsedGTM or Marketing PartnerEndorsed provider of Electronic Titling & Registration (ETR) services. DLRdmv is #1 among Franchise dealers in Georgia and #1 overall in Florida. Provides superior product for titling process with knowledgeable customer service and account management.
• American FidelityendorsedGTM or Marketing PartnerEndorsed provider of Insurance Services including voluntary disability insurance, cancer, accident, life, and hospital indemnity insurance. Partnered with GADA for three decades. A+ rated from AM Best. Offers Section 125 'Cafeteria Plan' compliance.
• Armatus Dealer UpliftendorsedGTM or Marketing PartnerEndorsed provider of Retail Warranty Parts & Labor Reimbursement Submission Service. Provides proprietary software for optimal parts markup and labor rates, with over 600 years of combined automotive industry experience.
• Smart SourceendorsedGTM or Marketing PartnerEndorsed provider of Printing and Distribution services. One of the nation's largest providers of operational print and marketing communications with annual volume in excess of $125 million.
• Guardian ProductsendorsedGTM or Marketing PartnerEndorsed provider of Promotional Products. Major supplier of specialty advertising and promotional products to the automobile industry since 1981. Offers customization from license plates to embroidered merchandise.
• NADA Retirement from EmpowerendorsedGTM or Marketing PartnerEndorsed retirement services through NADA's affinity relationship with Empower Retirement. The second-largest retirement services provider in the U.S., offering competitive retirement plans specifically designed for dealers and their employees.
• Assurant Dealer ServicesendorsedGTM or Marketing PartnerEndorsed provider of F&I Training. A division of Assurant, Inc. (NYSE: AIZ), with over 60 years of auto industry track record. Provides tailored development plans, profit-maximizing F&I products, and immediate-impact training.
• ComplyAutoendorsedGTM or Marketing PartnerEndorsed provider of Privacy/CyberSecurity services. Dealer-focused suite of tools helps achieve state privacy and Gramm Leach Bliley Act Safeguards Rule compliance. Backed with 60 years of dealer experience.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• DLRdmv: Endorsed provider of electronic titling and registration services for GADA members. Directly comparable technology/service overlap with GADA's own title services business, but operating as a third-party vendor rather than competing association.
• American Fidelity Assurance Company: A+ AM Best-rated insurance carrier that has partnered with GADA for three decades as an endorsed provider of voluntary disability, cancer, accident, life, and hospital indemnity insurance for dealer employees. Direct overlap with GADA Insurance Services distribution model.

Direct peers

• Florida Automobile Dealers Association: State-level trade association serving Florida's franchised auto dealers. Operates the same model of advocacy, insurance services, title/registration support, and member benefits as GADA. FADA is referenced directly in the GADA dataset through endorsed partner DLRdmv, which is #1 in Florida among franchise dealers.
• Texas Automobile Dealers Association: Texas state trade association for franchised auto dealers offering advocacy, insurance programs, education, and dealer-member services. Operates a near-identical model to GADA at larger scale in the Texas market.
• California New Car Dealers Association: California's state-level trade association for new-car dealers. Operates the same advocacy + member-services model as GADA, including insurance programs, education, and legislative representation for franchised dealers.
• South Carolina Automobile Dealers Association: South Carolina's state trade association for franchised automobile dealers, providing similar advocacy, member services, and regulatory representation as GADA. Geographic and demographic comparable to Georgia.
• National Automobile Dealers Association: National trade association for franchised new-car dealers. GADA is effectively a state-level affiliate operating under the NADA umbrella and leveraging NADA's affinity partnerships (e.g., NADA Retirement from Empower is an endorsed partner of GADA). Both serve franchised auto dealers with advocacy, education, and member services.
• Alabama Automobile Dealers Association: Alabama's state-level franchised auto dealer trade association. Adjacent Southeast state with comparable dealer base, regulatory environment, and association structure to GADA.
• North Carolina Automobile Dealers Association: North Carolina's state trade association for franchised auto dealers. Operates the same dealer-advocacy, insurance, and member-services model in a neighboring Southeast market to Georgia.
• Tennessee Automobile Dealers Association: Tennessee's state-level trade association for franchised new-car dealers, operating an analogous advocacy, insurance, and member-services model to GADA in a neighboring Southeast state.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/GA_AutoDealers

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Georgia Automobile Dealers Association