vAuto Founder Dale Pollak Releases New Book, “Invested"

“Invested” introduces the new Variable Management strategy, which brings investment management principles to used vehicle operations, upending the fundamental beliefs and best practices. Read More.

Invested Offers a New Way Forward in Used Vehicles

Today’s an exciting one—we’re officially announcing the release of my seventh book, Invested: The New Science, Strategy and System of Used Vehicle Investment Management, at the NADA Show this...

The Power of Precision: Why Your Appraisal Accuracy Matters More Than Ever | vAuto

A Good News Story for Dealers Heading Into 2025

Every person who purchases a vehicle eventually arrives at a point of recognition: Now’s the time to pull the trigger and buy the car. Perhaps the best news for dealers as we head into 2025 is...

When the Right Money Goes Wrong in Used Vehicles

Let’s imagine your appraiser valued a trade-in at $15,500—smack dab in the middle of a range your inventory management solution recommended as the “right money” for the vehicle. Your inventory...

Doing Business the Way Today's Customers Prefer | vAuto

A Heartfelt Thank-You and a Clarifier

My heartfelt and sincere thanks for the outpouring of love and support following yesterday’s announcement that I’ll be leaving Cox Automotive at the end of 2025. My wife, Nancy, captured the...

How to Define the “Right Money” for Any Used Vehicle

An age-old and elusive question in the used car business is, “what’s the right money for a car?” I would submit that, in most dealerships and used vehicle departments, no one has a good answer....

A Current Events-Minded View of Vehicle Affordability

It’s encouraging to see some OEMs reduce MSRPs on incoming 2025 models to help address one of our industry’s top challenges—with an average transaction price for a new vehicle north of $47,000,...

A Disturbing Trendline in Used Vehicle ROI

Across the country, most dealers have seen their used vehicle gross profits decline this year to essentially land where they were in 2019, before the pandemic. Back then, the front-end gross...

Navigating Affordability Trends in this Automotive Market | vAuto

Reflecting on Cars and Mobility Moments

On our way home from dinner the other night in Austin, TX, my son, Samson, and I did a double take as we stopped at a red light along Cesar Chavez Street. A car pulled up alongside us that made us...

Can We Stop the “Chase” in Our Used Vehicle Pricing?

As I talk to dealers week after week about their aged and distressed inventory, it doesn’t take long to uncover a distinct pattern: Someone is pretending the vehicle deserves a shot to make gross...

Assessing Your Used Vehicle Acquisition Proficiency

This week, Cox Automotive reported that retail sales of used vehicles, while trending above last year’s sales volumes, have tapered off in recent weeks. The report also notes that the days supply...

Keeping An Eye Out for Opportunity and Showing Compassion

If you haven’t read former dealer Todd Caputo’s post on how the confluence of Hurricane Helene, the longshoreman strike (which, thankfully has been tentatively resolved), the escalating conflict...

Unlocking Dealership Success: Master OEM Incentives

A Closer Look at Unit Cost Variability in Used Vehicles

Since the dawn of the used car business, it’s been true that dealers make their money when they buy a car. This enduring truth was the first bit of advice my Dad passed onto me when I took over...

vAuto Enhances Conquest, Making it Easier for Dealers to Apply VIN-Specific Incentives to New Cars

Elevating Your Game: The Art and Science of an Optimal Inventory Mix

Effectively managing your dealership inventory has become an elusive target. Learn how the right tech and the right strategy can help keep your dealership on the path to profitability.