FADA News: Future Dealer Protections, New LAW Contract, Recalls, Dealer Frames --->

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FADA Organizes for Future Dealer Protections

After the demise of our incentives bill in the 2019 Session of the Florida Legislature, your Officers and Directors took two steps back and we are evaluating the retail auto climate in Florida with some new insights. The most important one is a need to get our rank and file FADA members more involved with the 160 Legislators who live and work in your backyard.

Florida’s franchise law is one of the best in the nation but this year we experienced some issues that will make it difficult to move forward and protect you in the future by revising those important laws.

Make no mistake, your future is absolutely connected to the Florida Legislature. Some of your biggest assets are the result of law changes supported and mandated by your local legislators.

But this year the two ingredients for a successful legislative agenda were met with an overwhelming response by your factories and others in the Legislature.

It takes a good game plan, financial resources and most importantly, local relationships to seek new legislation in this new Florida Legislature.

The Future of Your Dealership Demands a New Involvement

Most Florida Senate and House members from your home districts may not know what the Florida franchise law is.

They certainly may not know why it is needed.

Many of these new legislators are young and super sharp, but they view government intrusion into business as something to be avoided at all costs.

They view our franchise law as that form of government intrusion.

They don’t know that our franchise law allows consumers to win.

FADA Launches Connect 2019

The two things that must change for us to be successful involve you completely!

For us to move the needle in Tallahassee we need you to do two things now:

1) Meet and tell your story to your local Florida citizen legislators, and

2) Help us raise financial support for CAR-PAC so that we can help those who see the vision for your future.

Your House and Senate members back home may know your name, but they don’t know you. Let’s change this! You must talk about the investments in your business and your challenges when OEMs try to take control of your dealer operations.

Please Participate in Factory Surveys Coming From NADA

All responses are confidential and the OEMs will not know who responded or any individual responses. These surveys are the best way to let NADA execs give your factories a vision of their dealer-friendly status. They pay attention to the results and how they rank relative to their competition.

Governor DeSantis Vetoes Funds to Assist Dealers Seeking Auto Techs

Despite an active campaign that places value on non-college bound kids and their career paths, the Governor vetoed a budget measure passed by the House and Senate to help shine light on career paths in the retail auto industry. His staff responded that dealers have sufficient resources to promote our need for techs.

FADA provides the State and the Department of Education with tremendous resources currently as we train auto instructors annually from 130 auto school programs in Florida, but was seeking additional funds to address the growing crisis of insufficient skilled workers in our industry.

New Reynolds LAW contract coming September 19

FADA has been working with Reynolds and lenders to revise the Florida LAW contract and a new version is due on September 19, that will add the statutory disclosures for dealers who wish to disclose their dealer fees on a separate line on the LAW contract. While the need for this change is debatable, this will put an end to legal issues involving disclosure under Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act.

Congress Wants To Ground Used Vehicles With An Open Recall

On June 26, Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) introduced the Used Car Safety Recall Repair Act (S. 1971), which would indiscriminately ground consumer trade-ins under recall—even for minor matters such as a peeling sticker. This legislation would cripple the used-car market and push unrepaired vehicles into the unregulated private market. NADA opposes S. 1971 and instead supports the goal of a 100% recall completion rate, as well as initiatives to improve consumers’ response to vehicle recall notices.

Are Your Dealership License Frames In Violation of Florida Law?

Your options are somewhat limited if you are still using dealer tag frames that cover any alpha-numeric symbols on a Florida tag. This has been a discussion topic for years and the issue involves public safety for police officers so revising the law to allow numbers or letter to be covered up is not in the cards. So you must resign yourself to pay the fines when your customers are stopped or simply purchase new thinner frames that do not violate the law.

Have You Purchased Cyber Liability Coverage For Your Dealership?

Is your dealership safe from cyber attacks? Just today we learned of a huge virus and cyber theft at a Florida store that was totally unexpected. We have no details at this writing but please check with your vendors to ensure you have a safe firewall.

Hyundai and Genesis New Programs

Hyundai and Genesis have new programs restricting dealer advertising practices and requiring new capital outlays for Genesis brand identity programs. FADA's Legal Team is evaluating these requirements.

Dealers Fighting for Data Control

Arizona, Oregon and Montana passed bills recently giving dealers more control over data stored in the DMS and preventing software providers from charging a fee to third parties. Good news for dealers who should determine who has access to their DMS.

FADA is evaluating this legislation as the next step following the data bill passed in Florida in 2016. OEM’s and CDK/Reynolds opposed the legislation citing security issues. Dealers wore the white hats in this debate.

FADA Linemake Meetings in Tampa

Dealers representing General Motors and Jaguar Land Rover met in Tampa Bay and discussions included OEM programs and policies relative to existing Florida law. FADA staff and attorneys responded to dealer questions and will be targeting specific programs for legal review. We appreciate the excellent turnout and participation by our members.

New Car Buyers in Illinois Get Bad News

The current full trade-in credit for sales tax was modified and capped at $10,000. The Legislature just limited trade-in values to $10,000. Any trade-in exceeding $10k does not reduce the sales price of the new vehicle for sales tax calculation.

Anniversary Plans Underway

Please stay tuned as FADA prepares to announce our official plans for our 100-Year Anniversary Celebration. This will be a very special opportunity to celebrate the people who have made FADA so strong over the years. We want to thank every FADA retired Director and Officer and our faithful members whose support has enabled us to impact our industry for the past century.

Plans include inducting legendary Florida Dealers into our first ever Automotive Hall of Fame as well as recognizing dealerships with 50, 75 or 100 year anniversaries.

Nothing is as powerful as a celebration that brings together friends and competitors in a lively and entertaining environment to honor what makes us great! Interested Member Dealers respond HERE if you've not already.