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Every day, customers unknowingly leave personal data behind in vehicles after test drives, loaner car use, or trade-ins. Modern vehicles store phone contacts, GPS locations, Bluetooth connections, and even personal app logins, creating potential privacy and security risks.

Mobile service has evolved from a niche OEM-driven initiative into a game-changing dealership advantage. While brands like Tesla and Ford have pioneered mobile service with OEM-backed programs, independent dealerships are now recognizing its profitability, customer convenience, and operational benefits.

Trust is the foundation of any successful dealership-customer relationship. Whether it’s test drives, loaner vehicles, or vehicle rentals, customers expect transparency and security when they interact with a dealership. However, insurance verification gaps can create risks for both dealerships and customers, leading to financial liability, compliance issues, and disputes.

Toll charges on loaner vehicles, rentals, and service fleets can quickly add up, costing dealerships hundreds or even thousands of dollars per year. When customers believe tolls are covered by the dealership—or if toll tracking is unclear—they are more likely to use toll roads freely, leaving the dealership to absorb the costs.

When customers bring their vehicles in for service, they expect a hassle-free experience, including a smooth transportation solution. Traditional loaner cars and shuttles, while valuable, often create delays, limited availability, and frustration—leading to a negative impact on customer satisfaction (CSI) scores.

Providing a shuttle service is an excellent way for dealerships to enhance customer satisfaction, but if not managed properly, it can become an expensive and inefficient operation. Rising fuel costs, excessive vehicle downtime, inefficient routing, and high labor expenses can quickly erode profits.

Managing a service loaner fleet effectively is critical for dealership profitability and customer satisfaction. Without the right insights, dealerships risk overextending their fleet, incurring unnecessary costs, and missing opportunities to improve efficiency. That’s where data-driven decision-making comes in.

Many dealerships offer courtesy loaners as a customer service perk, but what if those same vehicles could generate revenue instead of just being an expense? By transitioning from a free loaner model to a paid rental program, dealerships can create a new profit center, offset fleet costs, and offer customers more transportation options.

Optimize dealership operations with a lot management solution. Reduce vehicle loss, improve inventory tracking, and enhance customer experience with Connexion Mobility.

Offering courtesy transportation is a valuable service that enhances customer satisfaction, but it comes at a significant cost to dealerships. Managing a fleet of loaner vehicles or operating shuttles requires continuous investment in fuel, insurance, maintenance, staffing, and vehicle depreciation.