What's New -May 2026
Posted Thursday, April 30, 2026
Auction sales reach highest level in nearly 6 years
Posted Thursday, April 30, 2026
7-year car loans grows as buyers ‘work harder to make the numbers fit,’ expert says
Posted Thursday, April 30, 2026
- The share of car buyers in the first quarter who signed a loan for 84 months or longer reached about 23%, up from 10% a decade ago, Edmunds data shows.
- The share of new-car buyers with annual income below $100,000 was 37% last year, down from 50% in 2020, according to Cox Automotive.
- Depreciation can lead to being “underwater” on the loan, which can lead to carrying that so-called negative equity into a new car loan if you trade it in.
For a growing share of car buyers, paying for a vehicle is a seven-year commitment.
A record 22.9% of financed new-car purchases in the first quarter involved loans of at least 84 months, according to new data from car shopping and research site Edmunds. That’s up from 21.2% a year prior. A decade ago, it was 10%.
The average amount financed for new cars also reached a record high, climbing to $43,899 in the first quarter, up from $41,473 a year earlier, Edmunds data shows.
As the amount continues to climb, “consumers are having to work harder to make the numbers fit — a clear sign of how strained affordability has become,” said Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds’ head of insights.
Average sticker price staying above $50k
The average sticker price on a new car in March reached $51,456, marking the 12th consecutive month that it’s been above $50,000, according to Kelley Blue Book. The average transaction price after incentives was $49,275, up 3.5% from a year earlier.
That amount is “reflective of a market that favors large, expensive vehicles,” said Erin Keating, an executive analyst for Cox Automotive.
The share of new-car buyers earning less than $100,000 was 37% last year, down from 50% in 2020, according to Cox Automotive.
‘Think twice’ about a seven-year loan
Higher vehicle prices come as many households have been clobbered by ongoing high inflation that has yet to settle down to the Federal Reserve’s target of 2%. The consumer price index, a key inflation measure, rose 3.3% in March from a year earlier, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ latest reading, released Friday. That’s up from 2.4% in February.
For car buyers whose budgets need to accommodate higher costs in many areas, stretching out their auto loan for as long as possible may be the only way to afford the payments, said Matt Schulz, chief consumer finance analyst at LendingTree.
“For a lot of people, it’s all about the monthly payment, but the extra cost for financing that car for seven full years is really high,” Schulz said.
“Generally speaking, a seven-year auto loan is something that you really need to think twice about because it’s so expensive,” Schulz said. “If the only way you can afford that vehicle is to finance it for seven years, it may be worth thinking about whether you may be buying a little too much car for you.”
To illustrate the cost of financing: A $43,899 loan at 6.9% — the average in the first quarter, Edmunds found — for 84 months would result in a monthly payment of $660 and would cost you $11,575 in interest over the full life of the loan, according to Bankrate’s auto loan calculator.
A five-year loan (60 months) at the same rate would mean paying $8,132 in interest over the life of the loan — $3,443 less. But the monthly payment would jump to $867.
If you don’t have good credit, the interest rate you’re charged is higher. By way of example: To finance that same amount ($43,899) for 84 months at 13.17% — a recent average rate for borrowers with a credit score of 501 to 600, according to Bankrate — the monthly payment would be $803, and the interest paid over the life of the loan would be $23,525.
And, typically, the longer the loan, the higher the interest rate, Schulz said.
Of course, other factors are considered in the lending decision, including your income, employment and existing debt, as well as how much of your income the monthly payments would eat up.
Depreciation can lead to being ‘underwater’ on your loan
Because of how quickly new cars depreciate, Schulz said, there’s a risk of being “underwater” on your loan fairly quickly when you opt for a longer repayment term. That is, you owe more on the car than it’s worth, also known as negative equity. New cars typically lose about 20% of their value in the first year after purchase and about 55% over five years, according to Kelley Blue Book.
When consumers trade in a car with negative equity, that balance typically gets rolled into a loan for the new car. That larger balance can make it more likely that a buyer will choose a longer loan.
About a third of buyers owe more than their trade-in is worth and roll the remaining amount into the loan on their new car, according to JD Power. That share is similar to pre-pandemic behavior.
About 40.7% of new-vehicle purchases involving negative equity are now financed with 84-month loans, according to Edmunds data.
Source: CNBC
Car-Mart closing 42 more stores
Posted Thursday, April 30, 2026
Last Tuesday marked the end of the road at another 42 buy-here, pay-here dealerships operated by America’s Car-Mart.
Car-Mart president and chief executive officer Doug Campbell explained in a letter to shareholders that the company shuttered 31% of its store footprint that impacted about 18% of its outstanding customer base that is part of its $1.5 billion portfolio of outstanding receivables.
“We did not make this decision lightly and are taking these steps because they are the right thing to do for the long-term health of this business,” Campbell said in that letter about the move approved by Car-Mart’s board on April 7. “Our approach is to preserve liquidity and protect the runway this business needs to reach a sustainable outcome. This includes carrying less inventory than we would in a normalized operating environment and tightening underwriting standards, both of which will result in reduced origination volumes in the near term.
“We will continue to evaluate our entire store portfolio and will take additional action where needed,” he continued. “These are deliberate trade-offs designed to responsibly manage our capital position until additional financing is secured.”
In January, Car-Mart wound down operations at 13 locations after beginning a footprint reduction in November.
Campbell reiterated Car-Mart’s three priorities going forward include:
Protect the company’s servicing and collections infrastructure
“Our approximately $1.5 billion finance receivables portfolio generates significant monthly cash collections,” Campbell said. “Maintaining the teams, technology, and processes that service these accounts is our highest priority.
—Keep cost structure in alignment with the company’s current scale
“The store closures and support staff reductions are designed to do exactly that,” Campbell said.
—Continue to pursue a warehouse credit facility or other revolving asset financing
“To this end, we have engaged with additional potential warehouse lenders,” Campbell told shareholders.
Car-Mart still has more than 90 rooftops in its footprint that’s concentrated in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Missouri.
“I believe in this business because our customers need transportation and financing,” Campbell said. “Our associates are committed to serving our customers and communities every day.
“The buy-here, pay-here model is durable, and the credit quality improvements we have built over the past two years are real,” he added. “The actions we are taking are designed to protect what we have built and position Car-Mart for the future.”
Source: Autoremarketing
The 10 Vehicles Most Likely To Get Stolen In The US
Posted Thursday, April 30, 2026
Chevrolet
There's no shortage of "these are the most stolen cars" articles, and they're usually grounded in research by the National Insurance Crime Bureau. The problem with these lists is that the NICB is looking at aggregate theft data (that is, how many of each model are stolen across the country in a year). There are certainly trends to observe — the organization has been keeping an eye on the Hyundai/Kia situation for years — but while a vehicle could top the list by being a laughably stealable security risk, it can also get there by being a Honda Accord, which took the No. 2 spot (between two Hyundais) on the NICB list in 2025 despite having no widely recognized security vulnerabilities. There are just a whole lot of Accords out there, so a whole lot of Accords get stolen.
A new study from the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI), published via the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), flips that script by measuring thefts relative to how many of each vehicle actually exist. The result is a look at vehicle thefts through a whole new lens, with the top 10 including few of the perennial "hottest car" list favorites. There are no hilariously vulnerable Kias or Hyundais, no relentlessly common Hondas or Toyotas, and not a punchline of an Altima to be found. So sit back, scan your block for nefarious car thieves, and find out if it's time to buy The Club for your ride.
10. Ram 1500 Crew Cab Short Wheelbase 4WD
This is just the 10th most stolen vehicle on the list, but we're going to point out a trend that will pop up a few times before we're done. Four-wheel-drive crew cab pickups are in danger.
The combustion-powered Ram 1500 is surprisingly complicated, with its various drivetrain and cab configurations spread out over 10 trim packages, from the humble Tradesman to the illustrious Tungsten, which carries an $88,800 suggested price before options and $2,595 destination charge. We bring that up just to point out that modern workhorse pickup trucks can also carry borderline luxury energy, with price tags to match. The infotainment screens alone have proven irresistible to thieves, and while that doesn't contribute to the theft totals we're discussing today, it does demonstrate that the bad guys have an eye on the Rams.
They also have the key fobs. Or at least clones of them. Like the compromised Mercedes cars in "Gone in 60 Seconds," in recent years hundreds of vehicles across multiple states have been boosted by a handful of criminals who managed to make their own copies of Dodge fobs, including those of the Ram 1500. To add insult to injury, they then dumped their ill-gotten autos on the illicit market for as low as $3,500. Anyway, before we move on, here's how to protect yourself from keyless car theft.
9. Land Rover Range Rover 4WD
First of all, as part of our ongoing public service education work, we'll point out that Range Rover is a subbrand of Land Rover, which is a subbrand of Tata motors. It's a little confusing, but necessary if you want to accurately point fingers about an ongoing security vulnerability that left its $100,000-plus luxury SUVs vulnerable to being stolen after having their key fob signals intercepted over the air. The result was a $20-million effort announced in 2023 to roll out software updates and work with affected owners to get them installed.
But here's the thing. That whole mess was limited to vehicles manufactured between 2018 and 2022, with the problem resolved under a new electronic architecture in place since. So while no manufacturer wants to show up on a list like this, it probably stung especially in the case of Land Rover. We mean Range Rover. No, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), wholly owned subsidiary of the Tata Group. That's because the model years that showed up in the new HLDI data ran from '22 to '24, firmly in what Land Rover calls its "resilient to theft" era. Better luck next year?
8. Dodge Durango 4WD
As Durango Hellcat owners lose their lawsuit over their "limited edition" vehicle investments, we've kind of formally adjudicated that treating your Durango as a collector's item isn't a great idea. But that doesn't mean it isn't an attractive theft target.
Matt Moore, chief insurance operations officer at HLDI and IIHS, points out that "Muscle cars have often topped this list, as thieves are attracted to vehicles with high horsepower." And while maybe car thieves are scoping up Durangos because of impressive towing capacity and pleasantly surprising infotainment system, it's also possible that it has to do with the Durango being what Car & Driver describes as "the closest thing to a three-row muscle car," even if you don't opt for the definitively-not-collectible Hellcat edition.
Oh, it doesn't really help that you can carefully remove the windshield from the outside and then program a new key fob on the spot, as some folks in Pennsylvania discovered when they came outside to their Durangoless windshield lying thoughtfully (and unhelpfully) on the ground. As additional evidence of key fob vulnerabilities, a couple of guys in Michigan are accused of stealing more than 25 Durangos right off of dealership lots. Evidently, the criminal underbelly yearns for a powerful three-row SUV.
7. Chevrolet Silverado 3500 Crew Cab 4WD
See? We told you 4WD crew cabs weren't safe. The Chevrolet Silverado HD is built to tow and haul, but that won't do you much good if you come outside to an empty parking spot (or two; we see how some of you animals park these things). While it's possible this is simply more evidence of highly capable heavy-duty American trucks getting plucked for their utility, there's also some evidence that General Motors has a key fob issue of its own, with a whole bunch of Silverados and (spoiler alert for the next entry on our list) GMC Sierras ending up stolen and headed to Mexico using electronic security compromises similar to the ones that have come up already.
Vulnerabilities aside, the 3500 Crew Cab 4WD compares well to the more entry-level Ram we began with above. This is a serious work truck and thieves are apparently going quite deep into the more capable end of Chevy's lineup — these start at $53,595 plus $2,795 destination charge, and can easily exceed $75,000 before options with the High Country variant.
When it comes to the key fob attacks, there's presumably not much different in terms of effort when you jump from the base model Silverado to something like this, so maybe it's not that surprising, but it's still a little fun to think about the apparently plausible scenario of some black-market truck buyer weighing how much extra he's willing to pay for one with the Duramax 6.6 that can tow 36,000?pounds (of additional stolen merchandise, perhaps?).
6. GMC Sierra 3500 Crew Cab 4WD
If you really know what you're doing, you can walk up to a GMC Sierra 3500, disable the horn through the grill (and thus kill the alarm noise), and make off with the truck in under three minutes. That's just one super-specific example of a wider trend in GMC truck thefts, and it wouldn't be a crazy leap to assume there's some overlap with the electronic vulnerabilities already established under the General Motors umbrella with the Chevys discussed already.
From a GM brand standpoint, it's maybe worth an internal PowerPoint slide somewhere that the Sierra 3500 and the Silverado 3500 — product portfolio siblings with essentially identical underpinnings — landed right next to each other in the HLDI data. Perhaps at the end of the day people actually aren't that discriminating when it comes to what badge you slap on the front, at least not if you're just hustling out of the suburbs and across the southern border. Anyway, did we mention that a version of the GMC Sierra 3500 HD now starts at over $100,000?
5. Acura TLX 2WD
We don't really know what to say about this one. Acura killed the TLX after only selling 7,478 of them in 2024 and apparently a good chunk of them were stolen anyway. Together with the even higher-ranking 4WD TLX, you'll notice that the Acura is the only sedan on today's list. Even if you zoom out to the top 20, you'll still only find one other, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class (long wheelbase) down in the 18th spot — and still with the caveat that we're talking about relative theft frequency. A long-wheelbase S-Class isn't exactly a Ford F-150 in terms of sales volume.
Anyway, there doesn't seem to be an obvious, widely documented smoking-gun behind TLX theft rates. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration previously exempted it from federal parts-marking requirements after concluding its standard immobilizer-based anti-theft system was likely to be effective. But there isn't a specific vulnerability stemming from that, so your guess is probably as good as anybody's.
4. GMC Sierra 2500 Crew Cab 4WD
This is, mercifully, the last of the pickups on this list. Even though the other GM variants we've already discussed share the same vulnerabilities and ultimately the same fate, this is the model that made the biggest media splash in the "they're comin' for your pickups" genre of local news. That said, expensive, work-focused trucks surely seem to remain highly desirable in illicit markets.
Like its smaller sibling, the 1500, you can push these quite high in terms of suggested price with the available Denali packages, except in this case the Denali Ultimate can get you all the way up to $94,200 before options and $2,795 destination charge.
But for those of you who enjoy some rampant speculation to go with their data-driven actuarial analysis of insurance data, we'll at least attempt to oblige. Based strictly on the data set, the off-roading GMC Sierra 2500 HD AT4X falls under the "GMC Sierra 2500 Crew Cab 4WD" umbrella, meaning that we can't say that these theft numbers aren't driven purely by the enthusiasm of nefarious characters who simply appreciate the awesome capability of one of the coolest all-terrain trucks you can buy from the factory. So maybe it's that? (It's probably not that.)
3. Chevrolet Camaro
Finally! We were getting a little frustrated with that HLDI guy we quoted back in the Durango section, who promised muscle cars before providing nothing but pickup trucks and an Acura sedan ever since — until now. The (since discontinued) Chevy Camaro marks a shift into performance territory, with a look and feel finally worthy of Grand Theft Auto opening the door to, well ... grand theft auto.
So why a Camaro and not a Mustang, or maybe one of those Challengers with the lip guard still on the front splitter? It's that key fob vulnerability again. GM issued a recall (sorry, we mean "customer satisfaction program") on this one, offering a body control module update after some areas reported Camaro thefts spiking more than 1,000%, directly attributable to key fob cloning, sometimes perpetrated by literal children.
Except this time, instead of snatching signals out of the air or gaining access to an actual fob, thieves are managing to pull key codes directly from the OBD-II port, taking advantage of a diagnostic interface that really probably shouldn't include access to that sort of thing. So since we're not sure if the Camaro will ever come back as a Chevy offering, you might want to go out of your way to keep yours safe if you have one.
2. Acura TLX 4WD
You didn't lose your place. It's a slightly different TLX. The Acura TLX 4WD has doubled up Acura near the top of our list here, and it's frankly kind of annoying that the HLDI made this distinction between the two drivetrains. There are no obvious security exploits or electronic vulnerabilities that apply to the 4WD as compared to the 2WD and really the story here is that people want these Acura sedans badly enough to steal them, yet not enough to purchase them in sufficient volumes to keep them in the lineup. All that said, we did put some thought into what might be at least a contributing factor for what's going on here and didn't come up completely empty-handed.
This entry in the data would include the Type S. The Acura TLX Type S is a different kind of AWD sport sedan. It has performance that's Machines With Souls compared to "a four-door NSX," and if that doesn't at least put it into the sports car conversation with a base model Camaro, we're not sure what does.
But importantly, every Type S is all-wheel drive, meaning that if (big, big if, to be clear) would-be car thieves are looking for a high-performance good time, perhaps with some legendary Japanese reliability, then they might opt for a TLX Type S, and in doing so boost the theft rate reflected in the "Acura TLX 4WD" data. It's a theory, anyway. Call us next time you want to dig into the story behind the story, HLDI.
1. Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
(Boss music plays.) Putting a satisfying bow on this whole data-driven exercise, it's the Camaro ZL1. It's exactly the kind of vehicle that gets overlooked in the usual "most stolen cars" lists because there simply aren't that many of them, and frankly it's a little bit fun to imagine Nicolas Cage doing a "Gone in 60 Seconds" reboot that includes tearing off in a 650-horsepower supercharged V8 hero car with a manual transmission for those quick cinematic shots from inside the pedal box.
The ZL1 has all of the same security vulnerabilities as the base model Camaro we covered earlier, plus the fierce looks and exceptional performance that make it an icon worthy of risking jail time. Taken together, the result is that the Chevy Camaro ZL1 is 39 times more likely to be stolen than the average car and gaps the competition in taking its spot at the top of this list. Well done, Chevy. If only you'd keep making 'em.
Source: Jalopnik
What's New -April 2026
Posted Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Sales
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New Feature – Faster Sales Search with Aged Sales Option
To improve performance and usability, the Sales search screen now includes a new option: “Include Aged Sales” (displayed in red).
By default, older sales are excluded, allowing the system to load results faster and prioritize more recent deals—commonly what most users are searching for.
If you prefer to view all sales, simply check the box and perform a search. The system will remember your selection and continue displaying the full list each time you access the search screen.
This enhancement gives you both speed and flexibility based on your workflow.
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New Feature – CRM Status Filtering & Export Visibility
The Sales search screen now includes a new CRM Status filter, giving you greater visibility into deal progress.
This status is pulled directly from Line #34 in the Buyer screen and includes:
In Process, Approved, Conditional Approval, Denied, and Dead Deal.
With this enhancement, you can quickly filter and locate deals based on their current stage.
Additionally, when exporting your search results, the CRM Status is now included in the file—appearing in Column J. This allows you to review the full list of deals and their statuses without needing to apply filters within the system.
Settings
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Introducing AI Texting for Smarter Collections
Meet your new virtual collector.
The AI Texting feature, located in Settings > Defaults > Payment Reminder, automatically reaches out to customers, responds to their messages, and keeps payment conversations moving—all without manual effort.
When paired with ePayment, AI can even help customers complete payments during the conversation.
If you manage BHPH or finance deals, this feature can dramatically improve efficiency and consistency in your collections process.
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New Feature – Cleaner Accounting Reports for Multi-Lot Companies
Managing multiple lots just got easier.
When a lot is marked inactive and only associated with Balance Sheet accounts (with no revenue or expense activity), the system will now automatically hide the “Unassigned” category in your accounting reports—keeping your reports cleaner and more relevant.
Additionally, a new option is available under Settings > Company Info:
“Hide from Accounting Report”
When selected, this allows you to exclude inactive lots from accounting reports, provided there have been no transactions for that lot within the past 3 years.
This enhancement helps reduce clutter and improve report clarity for multi-lot operations.
Shop
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New Feature – Simplified Customer Communication for Retail ROs
Service shops now have more flexibility in how they communicate with customers.
Within “Text RO Updates to Customer” for Retail ROs, you can choose to manage communication manually. This allows your team to send updates when needed, rather than relying on automated messages.
When accessing the customer portal, simply click [Text Customer]—this will automatically copy the Portal URL to your clipboard, making it easy to paste into a text message and share with the customer.
This feature provides a streamlined way to send customers a direct link to view their Repair Order (RO), without using the full automated texting functionality.
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New Feature – Service Mileage Tracking Options
A new default setting is now available for service operations to better manage mileage tracking.
You can configure mileage requirements as:
- None
- Out Only
- Both (In & Out)
When Out Only is selected, technicians may enter 0 for the In Miles, while recording the actual mileage in Out Miles. Typically, In Miles represent the vehicle’s mileage upon arrival, while Out Miles reflect any changes during the service process.
This added flexibility helps improve accuracy and consistency in service records.
Software Tip – Customer Deposits in Buyer Tab
When using the Customer Deposit button in the Buyer tab, note the following:
- If Deposit Type (Line 3) is set to E-Payment, the Deposit Date (Line 1) cannot be modified.
- For all other payment methods, the Deposit Date can be edited as needed.
Also, be aware that the default setting is “Apply Towards Down Payment (Deferred First)”. If this default remains unchanged, the system will automatically apply the deposit to a deal when one is later created for that buyer. This means the deposit will no longer remain in the Customer Deposit account (Account 2120).
If you intend to keep the deposit in Account 2120, you will need to manually correct it later through the Bookkeeping Adjustment tab.
Taking a moment to understand these differences upfront can help minimize the need for adjustments later.
Latest System Update
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The Upcoming version is 7.0.19.12 —Our newest update is rolling out in phases. If you don’t see it yet, no action is needed; it will arrive automatically. Once updated, you’ll have access to the latest features and improvements to keep your system running at its best.
FTC warned 97 auto dealers about deceptive pricing and hidden fees
Posted Monday, March 30, 2026
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sent warning letters to 97 auto dealership groups on March 13, 2026, signaling a major crackdown on deceptive "bait-and-switch" pricing and hidden junk fees.
Core Warning: "All-In" Pricing
The FTC's primary demand is that any advertised vehicle price must be the total price a consumer is required to pay, with the only exception being government-mandated charges like taxes.
- No Hidden Fees: All mandatory dealer-imposed fees must be included in the upfront advertised price.
- Price Matching: Advertised online or promotional prices must exactly match the final price charged at the dealership.
- Transparency: Dealers are prohibited from concealing mandatory fees, add-ons, or financing conditions until the final stages of the purchase.
Identified Illegal Practices
The letters specifically identified six practices that the FTC considers potentially unlawful under Section 5 of the FTC Act:
- Excluding Mandatory Fees: Advertising a price that does not reflect all required costs.
- Selective Rebates: Using discounts in ads that are not available to all consumers (e.g., military or student-only rebates applied to the base price).
- Hidden Down Payments: Failing to disclose that an additional down payment is required to get the advertised price.
- Financing Conditions: Making a low price contingent on using the dealer's specific financing.
- Undisclosed Add-ons: Requiring consumers to buy extra items (like VIN etching or fabric protection) that weren't in the original ad.
- Phantom Inventory: Advertising vehicles that are unavailable or do not exist.
Broader Impact and Enforcement
This move follows the 2025 vacating of the broader "CARS Rule" (Combating Auto Retail Scams) by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Despite that legal setback, the
Federal Trade Commission is using its existing authority to target these 97 groups, which include major nationwide names.
The agency highlighted recent enforcement actions against Lindsay Chevrolet, Leader Automotive Group, and Asbury Automotive Group as examples of conduct they will continue to pursue.
Source: GoogleNews
TX DMV quietly passes legal status rule for vehicle registration, renewal
Posted Monday, March 30, 2026
A new vehicle registration/renewal rule implemented by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles will result in more uninsured vehicles on the road and place a costly unfunded mandate on county tax offices, according to the state’s Mexican American Legislative Caucus (MALC).
In a statement released March 6, MALC said the DMV board of directors on Feb. 12 unanimously adopted amended rule changes imposing new ID requirements for registration/renewal that require applicants to prove legal status, a policy targeting illegal immigration.
But MALC argues the impact will be much broader, affecting Texans regardless of legal status.
The DMV board attempted to slip the changes through in November, though critics demanded a legislative hearing, which took place in January but didn’t significantly change the board’s view, according to state District 38 Rep. Erin Gamez, who recently spoke with The Brownsville Herald. Gamez is MALC vice chair.
Although portions of the new rule implementation were delayed to March 5 and Jan. 1, 2027, and documentation options expanded by the board to address concerns raised by lawmakers, county officials and industry stakeholders, “significant concerns remain about the rule’s impact on county tax assessor-collectors, small automobile dealers, and immigrant communities,” according to MALC.
Gamez said changes this sweeping should have been debated in the Legislature, not enacted at the department level.
“These are unelected bureaucrats, unelected administrators, essentially passing policy,” she said. “They initially did it without a public hearing. In November they tried to do it that way, and you just woke up one morning and went, boom, here are the new rules.”
MALC vehemently disagrees with the new rules, Gamez said, describing it as “a trend to shift immigration status determination … enforcement onto all type of administrative agencies.”
“What possible equipment, what possible readiness does your tax assessor/collector’s office have to now essentially become a determiner or an arbitrator of immigration status? This is an unfunded mandate on the county offices across the state, and that’s what folks don’t understand,” she said. “This doesn’t just affect the immigrant community. This affects every Texan who intends to renew their registration status.”
Gamez said making it impossible for a large segment of the population to register a vehicle or renew registration doesn’t mean they’ll stop driving to work or the store. It just means they’ll be doing it in an unregistered, probably uninsured vehicle, she said.
“And if they did (stop), that is going to have a terribly detrimental effect on our local economy as well,” Gamez said. “Think about the burden that we’re shifting on the small business owners. … Secondly, if people aren’t going and paying their registration fees, that’s money that your county, that’s multiple millions of dollars that counties across the state of Texas are now losing.”
While county offices will be required to manually verify identification documents without any extra funding or statutory guidance from the Legislature, automobile dealers have expressed concern that obstacles to vehicle registration/renewal will result in “higher loan delinquencies, returns and abandoned vehicles,” MALC said.
Gamez said it seems like another example of local control being eroded at the state level, and said she hopes the issue will be revisited at the legislative level.
“We’re already feeling the push of attempting to … eliminate every form of local control we have from the top down,” she said. “That’s tough for me, when we … pass these sweeping policies without considering the economic detriment to local control and to our local communities. Aside from making your life more burdensome and difficult, it also makes our roads unsafe. I mean, there’s a myriad of problems.”
State District 90 Rep. Ramon Romero Jr., who serves as MALC chairman, issued this statement:
“The DMV’s job is to keep Texas roads safe, not to act as an arm of immigration enforcement. This rule shifts costs to counties, creates new barriers for drivers, and makes it more likely that unregistered and uninsured vehicles will be on our roads.
“That does not make Texas safer. If changes of this magnitude are necessary, they should be debated in the Legislature, not imposed through administrative rule-making. That is not public safety.”
Source: MyRGV.com
13% hike in used EV, hybrid searches at CarMax
Posted Monday, March 30, 2026
Used-car shoppers are marching to electric and hybrid vehicles this month, it appears.
Citing internal data, used-car retailer CarMax said searches for electric vehicles and hybrids on its website from March 2 through Sunday were up 12.8% from Feb. 1 to March 1.
This “statistically significant lift” in shoppers looking for these rides indicates, “rising gas prices may be prompting more consumers to explore fuel efficient options,” CarMax senior vice president of retail Wes Dunn said in comments emailed to Auto Remarketing.
“As gas prices rise, they can serve as a starting point for consideration, but whether shoppers move beyond initial interest depends largely on how confident they feel about what EV ownership looks like in practice,” Dunn said.
“Consumers are weighing practical questions around range, charging access, battery durability, and overall cost of ownership as they assess whether an electrified vehicle fits their needs and lifestyle.”
With growth in charging infrastructure and a clearer picture on range, some of the concern among consumers has mellowed, Dunn says.
However, there still needs to be education and transparency around EVs, especially for those who are new to the segment, he said.
“Affordability also plays an important role, and for many consumers, used EVs can offer a more approachable way to explore electric vehicles without the commitment of buying new,” Dunn said. “Ultimately, the more informed and confident customers feel, the more likely they are to consider whether a used EV is the right option for them.”
According to the latest EV Market Monitor from Cox Automotive, there were 30,879 used EVs sold in February, which beat January figures by 4.2% and prior-year figures by 28.8%. Used EV days’ supply of 42 was down 9.8% month-over-month and down 10.2% year-over-year, the Cox report showed.
Average used EV prices fell 1.9% month-over-month and 8.5% year-over-year, coming in at $34,821. Used EVs were just $1,334 pricier than their internal combustion engine counterparts in February. In fact, Cox said used EV prices were lower than used ICE vehicle prices in 18 of the 26 brands included in its data set.
“February underscored the EV market’s new reality, with new EV sales sharply lower year over year and used EV momentum continuing to build,” said Cox Automotive director of industry insights Stephanie Valdez-Streaty, who authored the report.
“Inventory levels tightened from January and prices were pushed lower across both new and used segments, highlighting a market increasingly driven by affordability and demand alignment.”
Source: AutoRemarketing
With additional insight about affordability, FICO watches average credit scores tick lower again
Posted Monday, March 30, 2026
It probably doesn’t take a doctorate in economics to make the connection of affordability challenges to another drop in average credit scores.
Those trends are among the findings included in the spring 2026 edition of the FICO Score Credit Insights report, which showed the average U.S. FICO score declined to 714, continuing a gradual downward trajectory since 2023.
But perhaps illustrating the slice of consumers who are doing well in this environment showing up in certain trends, FICO also said a record 48.1% of consumers now have FICO scores of 750 or higher.
FICO explained the findings point to an increasingly segmented credit market consistent with a K-shaped economy, with a growing share of consumers maintaining strong credit profiles while challenges persist for lower-scoring borrowers, particularly amid elevated inflation and higher interest rates.
“The resumption of required student loan payments and a continued, modest rise in mortgage delinquencies nudged the average score slightly lower,” said Ethan Dornhelm, head of scores analytics at FICO.
“What makes this particularly interesting is that we’re simultaneously seeing a record share of consumers demonstrating strong, consistent credit behaviors,” Dornhelm continued in a news release. “The result is a credit market that’s both more challenging for some and more rewarding for others — a dynamic that requires more nuanced strategies from lenders.”
Other key findings from the spring 2026 report that’s available online included:
—Average FICO score slips to 714: The national average FICO score continued a downward trend, falling 2 points in the last year, driven primarily by resumed student loan delinquency reporting and a modest increase in mortgage delinquencies.
—Delinquencies stabilize across most products: Auto, credit card, and personal loan delinquency rates leveled off or improved, while mortgage delinquencies continued to rise to pre-pandemic levels.
—Student loan delinquency growth slows: After a sharp increase earlier in 2025 coinciding with the resumption of student loan delinquency reporting, student loan severe delinquency rates rose only marginally between April and October.
—Score distribution reflects a K-shaped economy: As mentioned, 48.1% of U.S. consumers now have FICO scores of 750 or higher, up from 43.3% in 2019. The share of consumers in the middle score ranges continued to decline as both high-score and lower score segments expanded, reflecting divergent credit outcomes.
—Gen Z leads credit card openings: More than 25% of Gen Z consumers with a valid FICO score opened at least one credit card in the past year, the highest rate of any age group.
Along with those findings, FICO shared new consumer research conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of the company.
The research determined Americans are highly focused on improving their financial health, with 83% saying maintaining or improving their credit scores is a priority for them this year.
However, FICO pointed out that affordability challenges exist, with nearly one in four — 24% to be exact — reporting they made less than their minimum payment or skipped a credit card or loan payment in the past 12 months due to inflation.
Despite these financial challenges some are experiencing, the research found that consumers are thinking strategically about credit decisions, with more than three-quarters (77%) factoring interest rates into the timing of credit applications and 29% saying they won’t apply unless rates drop to a certain point.
Yet while consumers demonstrate sophistication in timing applications around rates, FICO discovered fundamental knowledge gaps remain about the credit behaviors that actually qualify them for those better terms.
The research showed 67% of participants either incorrectly believe income directly affects credit scores or acknowledge they are unsure whether it does. Experts explained that’s a misconception that could prevent consumers from recognizing that credit improvement is achievable through behavioral changes rather than higher paychecks.
FICO added this knowledge gap underscores continued demand for transparency and education, particularly as 77% report that being able to continuously monitor their credit scores provides them peace of mind.
“The findings point to a shift in how consumers relate to credit. It’s no longer passive, it’s intentional,” said Jenelle Dito, vice president of consumer empowerment programs and partnerships at FICO.
“People are monitoring their credit and thinking strategically, but many still lack clarity on the fundamentals. Closing that knowledge gap is critical because consumers aren’t just seeking better financial outcomes. They’re seeking peace of mind, making this as much about emotional well-being as credit health,” Dito went on to say.
Source: Subprime
What's New -March. 2026
Posted Monday, March 2, 2026
Sales
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New Feature: Lender-Specific Insurance Deductibles
You can now assign unique insurance deductibles for lenders selected in a deal. When generating the Agreement to Furnish Insurance, the system will automatically print the required minimum deductibles for collision and comprehensive coverage.
How it works:
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Two deductible values can now be entered on line 17 of the Finance Company setup screen for applicable lenders.
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When you select a finance company in a deal, the system will check for these lender-specific values.
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If values exist, you’ll be prompted whether to apply them instead of the standard defaults, ensuring compliance with the lender’s requirements.
This enhancement streamlines insurance documentation and ensures consistency across deals.
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RTA Calculation Restored for WA Dealers
The RTA calculation resumed after the state URL change that previously interrupted services for Washington dealers.
Impact:
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Sale-F&I Tab: Redesigned Bushing Page
The Bushing page has been redesigned with several important updates to improve tracking, compliance, and reporting:
Key Updates:
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New “Ignore” button added. All actions—including Ignore, Decline, and Approve—are now logged. Each LAW 553 print requires one of these responses.
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Phone carrier displayed for reference. Texting to work numbers is not allowed, and phone calls do not count as official Decline or Approval.
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Communication log now links directly to each Bushing log.
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Overall status:
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Complete once all Bushing logs are approved, declined, or ignored
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Incomplete if any remain pending.
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Reporting: BushingAge is now included in custom reports.
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Restrictions:
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Undo, and vehicle changes are restricted if a Bushing is pending.
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Bushing changes cannot switch stocks if the LAW 553 was printed.
These updates streamline compliance, improve visibility, and ensure accurate tracking for all Bushing activity.
Bookkeeping
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AI Text Responses Enhancing Collections
Our AI-generated text responses are now improving efficiency for financed loan customer collections.
How it works:
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Texts are generated based on account details, prior notes, and previous communications.
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Once you confirm that the AI texts achieve over 90% accuracy, they can be automated for specific account status groups.
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This allows collectors to focus on more challenging accounts, while AI handles lower-touch interactions, increasing efficiency and prompting timely collections.
This enhancement streamlines communication and helps your team prioritize accounts that need more attention.
Reports
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Custom Reports: Title Received Indicator
In the Custom Report Tab for All Vehicles as the report source, we’ve added a new field: TitleReceived_YesOrNo.
What it does:
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Allows you to customize reports using the vital information from Inventory → CMV Title Info, line 17.
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Quickly see whether a vehicle’s title has been received, helping with tracking and reporting efficiency.
This makes it easier to monitor title status across all inventory in your reports.
Shop
This feature was previously rolled out in the Shop section of CRM for new ROs and Tech notes, improving clarity and consistency in technician documentation. Now, advisors can enjoy the same efficiency and polish directly in the RO screen.
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Service Shop: Return RO Enhancements
The “Return RO” feature now displays the returned amount in addition to the Grand Total and Balance Due.
What’s new:
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Refunds are now clearly shown below the balance due in red font.
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Provides a quick view of the total refunded amount for each RO, helping staff track returns accurately.
This update improves transparency and makes return tracking faster and easier for service shop staff.
System Auto Texter: Delivery Status Update
The System Auto Texter now shows delivery status in addition to the text’s time sent.
What this means:
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You can now see whether a text was successfully delivered.
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This helps you quickly identify if a customer didn’t receive a claim-related message, so you can follow up proactively.
This update gives you better visibility and control over your communications with customers.
Latest System Update
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The Upcoming version is 7.0.19.4 —Our newest update is rolling out in phases. If you don’t see it yet, no action is needed; it will arrive automatically. Once updated, you’ll have access to the latest features and improvements to keep your system running at its best.
The California Combating Auto Retail Scams (CARS) Act (SB 766)
Posted Monday, March 2, 2026
The California
Combating Auto Retail Scams (CARS) Act (
SB-766), signed by Governor Newsom on October 6, 2025, is a major consumer protection law designed to eliminate deceptive sales tactics and hidden fees in the car-buying process.
Key Provisions
- 3-Day Right to Cancel: For the first time, buyers of used vehicles priced at $50,000 or less have a mandatory 3-day cooling-off period to return the car for any reason.
- Limits: The car must be driven less than 400 miles.
- Fees: Dealers can charge a restocking fee ranging from $200 to $600.
- Upfront "Total Price" Disclosure: Dealers must clearly state the full cash price in advertisements and their first response to a customer. This price must include all non-optional charges, excluding only government taxes and fees.
- Ban on "Junk" Add-Ons: It is illegal to charge for products or services that offer no benefit to the consumer, such as:
- Oil change packages for electric vehicles.
- Nitrogen-filled tires with less than 95% purity.
- Catalytic converter markings for cars that do not have one.
- Informed Consent: Dealers must obtain express, informed consent before charging for any item, prohibiting tactics like pre-checked boxes or buried terms.
- Recordkeeping: Dealers are required to maintain records of all advertisements, written communications, and compliance documents for two years.
- No Arbitration Required: Consumers do not need to go to arbitration or prove they were cheated to exercise this right.
This law also mandates clear, upfront, and transparent pricing without hidden fees and prohibits selling add-on products that offer no benefit to the consumer
Dealers have reported that attorneys are already hosting workshops to educate—and perhaps pressure—them into using their services. These sessions charge fees for information that's freely available on the state website. Here are the
details of the full SB 766 bill.
Advocates and trial lawyers are leveraging the
California Combating Auto Retail Scams (CARS) Act (SB 766) by framing it as a new "gold rush" for consumer litigation, particularly as it introduces strict compliance mandates that are easy for dealers to miss.
Here is how legal professionals are positioning themselves to benefit:
- Exploiting Vague Compliance Requirements: Trial attorneys argue that the bill's "vague and ambiguous" directives create unworkable requirements for dealers. Lawyers are already hosting webinars to teach peers how to spot these technical violations—such as improper "total price" disclosures in initial written communications—to initiate costly claims.
- Private Right of Action "Get Rich Quick" Schemes: Industry groups like the California New Car Dealers Association claim the bill's private right of action serves as a "power grab" for trial attorneys to extort local businesses through frivolous lawsuits that prioritize attorney fees over consumer relief.
- Targeting "Junk" Add-Ons: Lawyers are specifically looking for "valueless" add-ons prohibited by the act, such as nitrogen-filled tires with less than 95% purity or oil changes for electric vehicles. Even minor errors in disclosing these as "optional" can trigger litigation.
- Leveraging Mandatory Record Retention: The act requires dealers to retain specific records for two years (originally proposed as seven). Lawyers can use the absence of these records as a "gotcha" to prove non-compliance, even if no actual consumer harm occurred.
ASN plans to implement many of the requested changes in the software to help dealers comply with the rules.
Return to stability in auction lanes last month
Posted Monday, March 2, 2026
While the holiday season can often bring Griswoldian buzz and chaos, tidings were calm in the auction lanes last month.
In analyses this week, industry observers described December’s wholesale vehicle price activity as being stable, flat and “returning to normal seasonal patterns.”
Cox Automotive’s Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index came in at 205.5, which beat year-ago figures by 0.5% and November’s index by 0.1%, when adjusting for mix, mileage and seasonality.
Non-adjusted, they were up 0.5% from December 2024 and down 0.4% month-over-month, Cox said.
Typically, the market is flat in December, as it was last month, the company said in the analysis, noting that the numbers “reflect a market that has largely stabilized.”
In an analysis around the index, Cox Automotive interim chief economist Jeremy Robb said, “Consumer spending trends showed signs of a slowdown in December, as affordability concerns caused many to pull back on the spending reins, translating to depreciation trends catching up a bit in wholesale markets over the month.
As we moved into the holiday period, we saw seasonal patterns in used retail sales slowing down, while new retail sales increased against November trends but remained lower compared to 2024,” Robb said.
Over at Black Book, the Used Vehicle Retention Index fell 5.2% year-over-year to 140.3 but was even with November.
“After steep declines in late October and throughout November, depreciation slowed in December, returning to normal seasonal patterns and resulting in a flat index reading for the month,” Black Book vice president of data & analytics Laura Wehunt said in the analysis. “To close out 2025, many larger independent dealers were actively purchasing units, signaling optimism for the start of 2026.”
Source: AutoRemarkting
Tax season presents a boom-or-bust test for U.S. auto sales
Posted Monday, March 2, 2026
Key Points
- Many Americans could receive higher tax returns this season thanks to changes in tax law under Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
- Auto industry experts anticipate that some buyers, who have been priced out of the new-vehicle market, could use the extra cash to purchase a car or truck.
- March is historically one of the top months for U.S. vehicle sales, but a complicated macroeconomic environment could mean Americans save or spend that money to pay down debt.
DETROIT — The strength of the U.S. automotive industry will face an early test this spring that has nothing to do with cars or trucks.
With tax season starting, industry experts are projecting that some Americans, many of whom have been priced out of the new-vehicle market, will use anticipated higher tax returns to purchase a new or used vehicle.
Extra cash on hand could lend a needed boost to an industry that’s suffering from slowing vehicle sales — or it could reveal continued problems for the automotive industry with inflated prices and consumers still reluctant to spend on big-ticket items.
“Their new tax bill is actually going to be less, and they’re going to be getting more in their tax return. It’s going to be a little bit of a surprise, we think, for a lot of potential buyers out there,” said Cox Automotive senior economist Charlie Chesbrough at a recent auto analyst conference.
The average IRS tax refund is up 10.9% so far this season, compared with the same point in 2025, according to early filing data. As of Feb. 6, the average refund amount was $2,290, compared with $2,065 reported about one year prior.
Source: CNBC
Auto Loan Forecast Bucks Market Trend
Posted Monday, March 2, 2026
TransUnion forecasts that auto loan originations, or annual growth, will fall by 1.5% this year, a lending category exception in its 2026 Credit Originations Forecast.
According to the outlook, credit card, mortgage and unsecured personal loans are expected to increase.
The information and insights company released the forecast in conjunction with its fourth-quarter Credit Industry Insights Report. The expected decline in auto loans comes after 2025 gains it says were driven by consumers motivated to finalize purchases before the end of the federal electric-vehicle tax credit and anticipated trade tariff price hikes.
According to the report, auto loan originations rose over 6% year-over-year in the third quarter. Every credit risk tier posted year-over-year gains, led by subprime and super-prime tiers.
“Much of the growth in subprime and super prime can be attributed to an increase in the growing number of consumers in each tier,” the company said.
More consumers in high-risk and low-risk credit tiers could be reflective of an ongoing widening affordability gap that's been noted in other areas, including auto insurance.
The report also noted that the average monthly payment for new and used vehicles continued to rise in the third quarter, along with financed amounts. And in the fourth quarter payment delinquencies rose by three basis points, mostly in used-vehicle loans.
“Rising vehicle prices continue to push loan sizes and monthly payments higher, shifting a greater share of new loan originations to super prime consumers, who are better positioned to absorb these increases," said TransUnion Senior Vice President Satyan Merchant.
"These trends underscore persistent affordability pressures that make it harder for many consumers to manage the total cost of ownership. While tariffs add to these challenges, broader pricing dynamics suggest affordability constraints are likely to persist if current patterns continue.”
Source: F&I Magazine