Appraisal Landmines Costing Dealers $1,000's — And How To Defuse Them | Industry Spotlight
Welcome to Industry Spotlight—a focused series hosted by Sam D’Arc, highlighting standout dealerships and innovative companies, and exploring the trends driving success in today’s automotive market. Today, Sam sits down with Terry Chechakli, Director of Operations at Smith Auto Group, and Frederick Grimm, Co-founder of FIXD.
This episode of the Car Dealership Guy Podcast is brought to you by AppraisalPRO:
AppraisalPRO - Stop getting hammered on hidden trade-in costs. AppraisalPRO instantly reveals repair costs, alerts you to recently cleared codes, and integrates directly with vAuto— meaning diagnostic data populates automatically in your appraisals. Our comprehensive scans take seconds, not minutes, and are simple enough for anyone on your team to use. Join dealers saving $10,000s per month with the fastest and most accurate OBD2 appraisal solution in the market. Special deal for CDG listeners: FREE 1-week trial, then just $195/month with no setup fees and OBD2 scanners included. Visit @ http://www.getAppraisalPRO.com
Check out Car Dealership Guy’s stuff:
For dealers:
Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com
Dealership recruiting ➤ http://www.cdgrecruiting.com
Fix your dealership’s social media ➤ http://www.trynomad.co
Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com
For industry vendors:
Advertise with Car Dealership Guy ➤ http://www.cdgpartner.com
Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com
Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com
Topics:
01:22 Smith Auto's growth and acquisition strategy?
02:10 Biggest used car acquisition challenges?
03:12 Auctions vs. alternative inventory sources?
06:28 How AppraisalPro improves transparency?
10:30 Appraisal Pro's financial impact?
21:59 How do OBD scans help?
24:52 From fault codes to recon estimates?
27:31 Benefits of transparent dealings?
38:35 Future developments for AppraisalPro?
Car Dealership Guy Socials:
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Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
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Outside The Box – Expert F&I Roundtable | Daily Dealer Live
Today's show features:
Jonathan Blain, F&I Manager at Goldy Auto
Trevor Caulfield, F&I Manager at Pine Belt Chevrolet
Dennis Gingrich, Sales & Finance Director at The Niello Company
Wade Higgins, Regional Sales Director at GSFS Group
This episode is brought to you by:
AppraisalPRO – Stop getting hammered on hidden trade-in costs. AppraisalPRO instantly reveals repair costs, alerts you to recently cleared codes, and integrates directly with vAuto— meaning diagnostic data populates automatically in your appraisals. Special deal for CDG listeners: FREE 1-week trial, then just $195/month with no setup fees and OBD2 scanners included. Visit getAppraisalPRO.com to get started.
Car Dealership Guy is back with our second annual NADA Party—happening in Las Vegas on Thursday, February 5th. It’s the hottest ticket at NADA 2026. Spots are limited and unfortunately we can't invite everyone —so RSVP today at https://carguymedia.com/cdglive and we hope to see you in Vegas!
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Check out Car Dealership Guy’s stuff:
CDG News ➤ https://news.dealershipguy.com/
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Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
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Stop Bleeding Margin: 3 Red Flags in Dealership Ops — and How to Turn It Around | Jim Roche, CEO of WarrCloud
Today I’m joined by Jim Roche, CEO of WarrCloud. We dig into the $100K+ most dealers miss in warranty work, why surging warranty volume has made WarrCloud one of the fastest-growing companies in America (#1 in Missouri), and how you can retain techs and boost profits at the same time—plus much more.
This episode is brought to you by:
1. Matador AI - Discover why the biggest dealership groups in America are using Matador AI to enhance their Sales and BDC teams to sell and service more cars than ever before. Right now, podcast listeners get the first 30 days risk-free with an included white-glove onboarding, so you can experience the difference in your store. This offer is only available until the end of the month, so don’t wait! Head to @ http://www.matador.ai and book your demo today.
2. Digital Dealer - Digital Dealer Conference & Expo – Get real strategies that work in marketing, advertising, AI, fixed ops and more when you register to attend. Plus, the expo hall is packed with top exhibitors, quick-hit expert talks, and hands-on workshops that’ll help you turn ideas into action. Mark your calendars for October 14-15, 2025 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas and register today @ http://www.digitaldealer.com/registration
3. WarrCloud - Your warranty claims process shouldn’t drain your profits—or your people. Our award-winning AI technology transforms OEM warranty processing, helping you capture every dollar you’ve earned. Dealers reduce costs, speed up reimbursements, and uncover new revenue opportunities—while consistently improving OEM claim scores. The future of fixed ops belongs to those who adapt. Let’s talk about automating your warranty processing today. Visit @ https://warrcloud.com/get-an-analysis
Check out Car Dealership Guy’s stuff:
For dealers:
Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com
Dealership recruiting ➤ http://www.cdgrecruiting.com
Fix your dealership’s social media ➤ http://www.trynomad.co
Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com
For industry vendors:
Advertise with Car Dealership Guy ➤ http://www.cdgpartner.com
Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com
Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com
Topics:
00:47 Current auto sales and service trends?
01:38 Why the shift towards vehicle service?
02:18 How to interpret market forecasts?
04:44 Warranty vs customer pay dynamics?
09:58 AI and RPA's role in dealerships?
18:06 How to optimize warranty claims?
28:05 Key insights for business growth?
31:38 Future trends for dealerships?
Car Dealership Guy Socials:
X ➤ x.com/GuyDealership
Instagram ➤ instagram.com/cardealershipguy/
TikTok ➤ tiktok.com/@guydealership
LinkedIn ➤ linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy
Threads ➤ threads.net/@cardealershipguy
Facebook ➤ facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683
Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
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Riley on Ford Recalls, Aviloo CEO on Used EV Market, Mathis on Curbing Turnover | Daily Dealer Live
Today's show features:
Kelsey Riley, Operations Director at Lasco Auto Group
Wolfgang Berger, Founder of Aviloo
Fabiola Mathis, Director of Learning and Development at Principle Auto Group
This episode is brought to you by:
AppraisalPRO – Stop getting hammered on hidden trade-in costs. AppraisalPRO instantly reveals repair costs, alerts you to recently cleared codes, and integrates directly with vAuto— meaning diagnostic data populates automatically in your appraisals. Special deal for CDG listeners: FREE 1-week trial, then just $195/month with no setup fees and OBD2 scanners included. Visit getAppraisalPRO.com to get started.
AVILOO Inc. – AVILOO Inc. helps you transform EV and PHEV batteries from being the #1 risk into the #1 trust builder and sales driver in the used EV market by offering independent and instant cell-level diagnostics in just 3 minutes. Visit aviloo.com and get 10% off your first-year license by enter code CDGNEWS (offer ends November 30, 2025.) and find out, how an independent battery certificate can support your business and help you to boost your profit.
Car Dealership Guy is back with our second annual NADA Party—happening in Las Vegas on Thursday, February 5th. It’s the hottest ticket at NADA 2026. Spots are limited and unfortunately we can't invite everyone —so RSVP today at https://carguymedia.com/cdglive and we hope to see you in Vegas!
—
Check out Car Dealership Guy’s stuff:
CDG News ➤ https://news.dealershipguy.com/
CDG Jobs ➤ https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/
CDG Recruiting ➤ https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/
My Socials:
X ➤ https://www.twitter.com/GuyDealership
Instagram ➤ https://www.instagram.com/cardealershipguy/
TikTok ➤ https://www.tiktok.com/@guydealership
LinkedIn ➤ https://www.linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy/
Threads ➤ https://www.threads.net/@cardealershipguy
Facebook ➤ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683
Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
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The #1 Bottleneck in Car Sales: Broken Tech Integrations—and How to Fix Them | Sanjiv Yajnik, President of Financial Services at Capital One
Today I’m joined by Sanjiv Yajnik, President of Financial Services at Capital One. We cover why tech integrations are still the biggest challenge for F&I, how lenders are anticipating an EV market slowdown, why "6%" is the most important number in dealership leads and much more.
This episode is brought to you by:
1. vAuto - As the industry’s premier provider of end-to-end inventory management solutions, vAuto gives every dealer—from a single point store to the largest groups—the data, insights and tools they need to maximize returns from the new and used vehicle inventory investments.
Known for its game-changing inventory management innovations, vAuto provides AI-powered predictive data science to help dealers see their future and consistently make the right, ROI-minded decisions with every vehicle they appraise, acquire, price and retail. Visit @ https://www.vauto.com
2. WarrCloud - Your warranty claims process shouldn’t drain your profits—or your people. Our award-winning AI technology transforms OEM warranty processing, helping you capture every dollar you’ve earned. Dealers reduce costs, speed up reimbursements, and uncover new revenue opportunities—while consistently improving OEM claim scores. The future of fixed ops belongs to those who adapt. Let’s talk about automating your warranty processing today by visiting @ https://warrcloud.com/get-an-analysis
3. Capital One – Many dealers believe digital tools can help boost sales. But early findings from a recent Capital One Auto survey revealed operational challenges dealers are still navigating and how trust is shaped. Listen for insights as to what’s been uncovered and where the research is headed. Learn more: https://www.capitalone.com/cars/auto-financing/dealer
Check out Car Dealership Guy’s stuff:
For dealers:
Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com
Dealership recruiting ➤ http://www.cdgrecruiting.com
Fix your dealership’s social media ➤ http://www.trynomad.co
Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com
For industry vendors:
Advertise with Car Dealership Guy ➤ http://www.cdgpartner.com
Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com
Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com
Topics:
00:51 Last year's predictions: right or wrong?
02:21 What is the future of EVs?
04:51 Dealerships' role in the EV transition?
07:28 How does tech create transparency?
13:45 Biggest tech integration challenges?
16:37 How to improve the F&I process?
23:13 How do downturns impact dealerships?
29:00 Best dealership tech stack recommendations?
40:34 Top predictions for dealerships' future?
Car Dealership Guy Socials:
X ➤ x.com/GuyDealership
Instagram ➤ instagram.com/cardealershipguy/
TikTok ➤ tiktok.com/@guydealership
LinkedIn ➤ linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy
Threads ➤ threads.net/@cardealershipguy
Facebook ➤ facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683
Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
The Car Dealership Guy Podcast Network is your front-row seat to the people, companies, and trends shaping the future of automotive retail—delivered across three focused formats:
The Car Dealership Guy Podcast (Tuesdays & Thursdays)
Hosted by Yossi Levi, these deep-dive interviews feature top dealers, operators, and innovators driving the industry forward.
Daily Dealer Live (Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays)
Our live-streamed show, also released here in audio format, brings real-time news, sharp takes, and high-impact guests—think CNBC for car dealers.
Industry Spotlight
Hosted by Sam D’Arc, this segment highlights standout dealerships and vendors with tactical insights and stories from the front lines.
Follow us on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for highlights and behind-the-scenes content from every episode.