TORRANCE, Calif. — The publishers of Auto Dealer Today announced the winners of the 13th annual Dealers’ Choice Awards. First-place Diamond, second-place Platinum and third-place Gold honors are awarded based on a comprehensive online survey open only to dealers and dealership professionals.

Voters must manually enter the company names of their favorite vendors, suppliers, trainers and finance companies and score them on performance, value and whether they would recommend each company to another dealer. This year’s program includes 34 categories.

“Thank you to all the dealers who took the time to complete the survey and honor their industry partners. I know how much the awards mean to these companies,” said David Gesualdo, publisher of Auto Dealer Today and F&I and Showroom. “Congratulations to each of our winners.”

The winners of the 2017 Dealers’ Choice Awards are:

New-Vehicle Lead

  • Diamond: Autotrader
  • Platinum: Cars.com
  • Gold: Dealer.com

Used-Vehicle Lead

  • Diamond: Cars.com
  • Platinum: Autotrader
  • Gold: CarsDirect

Special Finance Lead

  • Diamond: CarsDirect
  • Platinum: Auto Credit Express

Digital Marketing

  • Diamond: ELEAD1ONE
  • Platinum: eBizAutos
  • Gold: Digital Air Strike

Website

  • Diamond: Dealer.com
  • Platinum: eBizAutos
  • Gold: VinSolutions

Chat

  • Diamond: Client~ConneXion
  • Platinum: ActivEngage
  • Gold: Contact At Once!

Mobile Media

  • Diamond: eBizAutos
  • Platinum: Dealer.com
  • Gold: Dealer Synergy

Social Media

  • Diamond: Ally
  • Platinum: Cartifex (fmr. DealerClickz)
  • Gold: Naked Lime

Reputation Management

  • Diamond: CDK Global
  • Platinum: Dominion Dealer Solutions
  • Gold: Digital Air Strike

Direct Mail

  • Diamond: ProMax Unlimited
  • Platinum: Strategic Marketing
  • Gold: Credit Mail Experts

Virtual BDC

  • Diamond: ELEAD1ONE
  • Platinum: AllCall Multi-Channel BDC

Online Inventory Listing Management

  • Diamond: eBizAutos
  • Platinum: Dominion Dealer Solutions
  • Gold: Auction123

Inventory Management

  • Diamond: Dealertrack
  • Platinum: vAuto
  • Gold: MAX Digital (fmr. FirstLook Systems)

Hiring and Recruitment

  • Diamond: Automotive Personnel Placement
  • Platinum: Hireology
  • Gold: GSFSGroup

Sales Training

  • Diamond: American Financial & Automotive Services
  • Platinum: Ziegler SuperSystems
  • Gold: Joe Verde Group

Internet Training

  • Diamond: Ally
  • Platinum: American Financial & Automotive Services
  • Gold: Dealer Synergy

Compliance Training

  • Diamond: American Financial & Automotive Services
  • Platinum: United Development Systems (UDS)
  • Gold: Compli

F&I Training

  • Diamond (tie): American Financial & Automotive Services
  • Diamond (tie): United Development Systems (UDS)
  • Platinum: Reahard & Associates
  • Gold: Ally

Special Finance Training

  • Diamond: DealerStrong
  • Platinum: NCM Associates
  • Gold: American Financial & Automotive Services

Fixed Ops Training

  • Diamond: DealerPRO Service Solutions
  • Platinum: CDK Global
  • Gold: The Cardone Group

F&I Products

  • Diamond: RoadVantage
  • Platinum: IAS
  • Gold: National Auto Care

Service Contract

  • Diamond: CNA National
  • Platinum: Protective Asset Protection
  • Gold: AUL

Service Contract Reinsurance

  • Diamond: CNA National
  • Platinum: Portfolio
  • Gold: SouthwestRe

F&I Desking Software

  • Diamond: ProMax Unlimited
  • Platinum: Dealertrack
  • Gold: Reynolds and Reynolds

F&I Technology

  • Diamond: F&I Express
  • Platinum: StoneEagle
  • Gold: MaximTrak

CRM

  • Diamond: ProMax Unlimited
  • Platinum: Reynolds and Reynolds
  • Gold: ELEAD1ONE

DMS

  • Diamond: Reynolds and Reynolds
  • Platinum: CDK Global
  • Gold: Dealertrack

Data Mining

  • Diamond: Dominion Dealer Solutions
  • Platinum: ELEAD1ONE
  • Gold: AutoAlert

Online Auction for Purchasing Inventory

  • Diamond: Manheim
  • Platinum: Ally SmartAuction
  • Gold: ADESA

Traditional Auction

  • Diamond: Manheim
  • Platinum: ADESA

Prime Captive Finance Company

  • Diamond: GM Financial
  • Platinum: Ford Motor Credit
  • Gold: Honda Financial Services

Prime Non-Captive Finance Company

  • Diamond: Ally
  • Platinum: Capital One
  • Gold: Wells Fargo

Subprime Finance Company

  • Diamond: Wells Fargo
  • Platinum: Capital One
  • Gold: Regional Acceptance

Biweekly Payments

  • Diamond: U.S. Equity Advantage
  • Platinum: SMART Payment Plan

More detail about this year’s awards will appear in a Special Awards Section in the August issue of Auto Dealer Today.

Originally posted on F&I and Showroom

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