Reynolds and CARFAX team up to add service records to vehicle history reports
Two of the used-car industry’s heavy hitters have teamed up to make more information available to dealers and consumers.
Dealership software provider Reynolds and Reynolds and CARFAX announced a collaboration to simplify dealerships’ integration with CARFAX.
Through the Reynolds Certified Interface program, dealerships that opt into CARFAX Car Care will have service records automatically added to the vehicle history report.
That process, the companies said, will save dealerships significant time and effort, benefiting both dealers and consumers. For dealers, the records being included in the 450 million Carfax vehicle history reports that are viewed annually promotes the participating dealers’ service lanes.
Consumers, meanwhile, can use CARFAX reports to track their service and show their vehicle has been well maintained when it’s time to sell.
“The ability for dealerships to use data effectively is paramount to finding ways to improve productivity throughout the store,” Reynolds president Chris Walsh said. “Removing the task of manually uploading service vehicle and repair order information opens up more time for employees to focus on more profitable endeavors.”
The integration is designed to give consumers meaningful information about a vehicle they’re considering buying. In many cases, the companies said, consumers will not only have a history of the vehicle’s maintenance and repairs, they’ll know where that work was done.
Using the CARFAX Car Care program, they can keep track of their vehicle’s service history and get alerts when service is needed – pointing them back to the dealership.
“This arrangement between CARFAX and Reynolds and Reynolds is a win-win for dealers like me,” said Jason Thoenen, sales manager of Lambert Buick GMC in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.
“Consumers win because well documented service makes their car worth more over the long haul, and my team wins by saving valuable time.”