Price Transparency Risk: What Recent FTC Activity Means for Dealers
Vehicle pricing has always required coordination between sales, finance, accounting, and compliance. Recent Federal Trade Commission activity is a reminder that advertised prices are not only a sales issue. They are also a risk management issue. In March 2026, the FTC announced that it had sent warning letters to 97 auto dealership groups regarding decept
FTC Safeguards Rule Checkup: Is Your Dealership’s Customer Data Program Ready?
Dealerships collect a significant amount of sensitive customer information through the sales, financing, and leasing process. Credit applications, income details, Social Security numbers, account information, insurance records, and lender communications may all pass through the store before, during, and after a transaction. That makes data protection more
Form 8300 Cash Reporting: A Year-End Deal Jacket Self-Audit
Large cash transactions are not unusual in the dealership environment. Customers may use currency, cashier’s checks, money orders, bank drafts, or other payment methods as part of a vehicle purchase, down payment, lease transaction, or related add-on. When those payments cross certain thresholds, Form 8300 reporting requirements can become part of the complia
LIFO Inventory Planning in a More Volatile Vehicle Market
Vehicle inventory has become harder to predict. Dealers are managing changing supply levels, elevated vehicle costs, shifting incentives, tariff-related pricing pressure, and the normal challenges that come with model-year transitions. For dealerships using the LIFO inventory method, these factors can have a meaningful impact on year-end tax planning. LIF
Headlights Newsletter – Q3 2026
The latest issue of Headlights, a publication of the AutoCPA, is now available. Click here to access the newsletter.
Floorplan Interest and Depreciation: A Year-End Review for Dealership Owners
Year-end planning gives dealership owners an important opportunity to look beyond sales results and focus on two areas that can have a meaningful impact on financial performance: floorplan interest and depreciation. Both can affect cash flow, taxable income, and how leadership evaluates the cost of carrying inventory and investing in the business. This re
How Often Should Dealers Really Review Their Financial Statements?
For many dealerships, financial statements are reviewed once a month, often after the accounting close. That monthly review is important, but it should not be the only time leadership looks at performance. In a dealership environment where inventory, floor-plan interest, incentives, gross profit, and cash flow can shift quickly, waiting until month-end may
What High-Performing Dealerships Do Differently With Their Financials
Dealership performance is often measured by sales volume, gross profit, and customer satisfaction. Those numbers matter, but they do not tell the full story. The strongest dealerships tend to separate themselves through the financial habits behind the results. They have a clear view of cash, timely reporting, disciplined expense management, and a lead
Headlights Newsletter – Q2 2026
The latest issue of Headlights, a publication of the AutoCPA Group, is now available. Click here to access the newsletter.
The Future of Dealership Marketing: Digital Strategies to Drive Sales
Auto dealerships are operating in a more competitive and data-driven environment than ever before. As vehicle inventory fluctuates, incentives shift, and consumer expectations continue to evolve; marketing can no longer function as a support role. It must directly contribute to revenue performance, margin protection, and inventory turnover. Forward-thinking dea