Insights for Auto Dealers

Truist Dealer Insider

Wherever you are in your dealership's lifecycle, Truist is here to partner with you and offer strategic advice to support you in capital structuring, auto finance, M&A strategy, and business and family transition planning.

Close the gap on warranty reimbursements

Warranty service can have a meaningful impact on service margins when OEM reimbursements keep pace with the true cost and value of the work performed. As OEMs look for new ways to manage warranty and recall costs, dealers need to take a closer look at their reimbursement practices and identify opportunities to boost revenue capture.

Staying current on OEM programs, retail labor rates, parts reimbursement, and state-law protections can help dealers maximize the value of warranty work. Discover steps you can take to address reimbursement gaps and receive more of the revenue your service department earns in this edition of the Truist Dealer Insider.

Articles in this issue

Staying ahead of OEM warranty reimbursement changes.

Featured article

How Dealers Can Profit From Payments

How Dealers Can Profit From Payments

Auto Dealers Card and merchant services drive margin gains

Practical ways to boost profits, streamline operations, and enhance customer experience.

Article
06/25/2026
How Dealers Can Profit From Payments

Learn how dealerships can increase profitability through virtual cards, merchant services, stronger controls, and streamlined payments.

How Dealers Can Manage Rate Risk in 2026 and 2027

How Dealers Can Manage Rate Risk in 2026 and 2027

Auto Dealers Managing Rate Risk

Use scenario planning, hedging, and debt targets to stay ready for rate swings.

Article
05/04/2026
How Dealers Can Manage Rate Risk in 2026 and 2027

Fed uncertainty, inflation pressure, and higher-for-longer borrowing costs make planning essential for dealership balance sheets.

NADA Vice Chair Sandy Fitzgerald-Angello’s Leadership Playbook

NADA Vice Chair Sandy Fitzgerald-Angello’s Leadership Playbook

Auto Dealers Lessons in leadership from NADA’s Vice Chair

Five decades in automotive retail shaped a leadership framework built on trust, execution, and adaptability.

Article
01/23/2026
NADA Vice Chair Sandy Fitzgerald-Angello’s Leadership Playbook

From operator to NADA Vice Chair, Sandy Fitzgerald-Angello outlines the seven principles that define resilient, high-performing leaders.

How the OBBB Affects Tax Strategy for Auto Dealerships

How the OBBB Affects Tax Strategy for Auto Dealerships

Auto Dealers OBBB Tax Changes Every Dealer Must Know

Key tax shifts affecting auto retailers—from QBI and R&D to bonus depreciation and estate planning.

Article
11/12/2025
How the OBBB Affects Tax Strategy for Auto Dealerships

Discover how the OBBB impacts bonus depreciation, floorplan interest deductions, towables, QBI strategies, estate planning, and buy-sell outcomes for auto dealers.

Expert strategies to strengthen cybersecurity for dealerships

Expert strategies to strengthen cybersecurity for dealerships

Industry expertise After CDK: What auto retailers must know about cybersecurity

Experts share how auto retailers can strengthen defenses, avoid costly breaches, and protect customer data.

Article
10/28/2025
Expert strategies to strengthen cybersecurity for dealerships

Experts outline key steps auto dealers must take to strengthen cybersecurity and protect against future threats.

Auto Dealers Stress-test Plans With Modeling

Auto Dealers Stress-test Plans With Modeling

Auto Dealers Scenario planning prepares dealers for uncertainty

Dealerships face uncertainty—financial modeling and expert planning can prepare you for what’s ahead.

Article
08/07/2025
Auto Dealers Stress-test Plans With Modeling

Discover how scenario planning helps auto dealers manage uncertainty, optimize capital, and respond quickly to market changes.

Dealership Design and Construction

Dealership Design and Construction

Auto Dealers Building tomorrow’s dealerships

Facility upgrades face extended timelines—these four strategies keep dealership projects moving.

Article
07/01/2025
Dealership Design and Construction

Extended timelines are the norm for facility projects facing regulatory, permitting and OEM approval hurdles. Four smart strategies can keep a project on track.

Boost Your Dealership’s Warranty Reimbursements

Boost Your Dealership’s Warranty Reimbursements

Auto Dealers Maximize your dealership’s warranty service reimbursements

Employ these best practices to optimize reimbursed service revenue.

Article
04/06/2025
Boost Your Dealership’s Warranty Reimbursements

Maximize profits with 6 best practices to improve warranty reimbursement pricing and processing for your dealership's service department.

Payments Power Digital Transformation In Auto Retail

Payments Power Digital Transformation In Auto Retail

Auto Dealers How payments are powering digital transformation in auto retail

Simpler, speedier, and safer payments reshape the customer experience from purchase to service delivery.

Article
06/04/2025
Payments Power Digital Transformation In Auto Retail

Digital tools that deliver simpler, speedier, and safer payments can transform the customer buying experience, reduce operating costs, and lower risk of fraud.

Plan now for a smooth business transition later

Plan now for a smooth business transition later

Auto Dealers Plan now for a smooth business transition later

Learn strategies to avoid 7 common pitfalls when preparing for dealership transition.

Article
10/30/2024
Plan now for a smooth business transition later

Preparing for business transition can help dealerships get ahead of issues when it’s time to exit. Learn strategies to avoid pitfalls when transitioning.

Protect your dealership from fraud and cyber threats

Protect your dealership from fraud and cyber threats

Auto Dealers Protect your dealership from fraud and cyber threats

Learn about the latest cyberthreats, how to defend against fraud, and what to do if you’re attacked.

Article
06/04/2024
Protect your dealership from fraud and cyber threats

Fraud is on the rise and auto dealers are often targets. Understand the latest threats, set measures to prevent a cyber-attack, and have a response plan ready.

Capital Options for Funding Dealership Acquisitions

Capital Options for Funding Dealership Acquisitions

Auto Dealers Expanded capital options fuel dealership growth

Learn how loan syndications and high-yield debt can provide the capital dealer groups need to fund large-scale growth initiatives.

Article
09/10/2024
Capital Options for Funding Dealership Acquisitions

As the capital needs to support acquisition strategies grow, loan syndications and high-yield debt can provide the flexibility and funding auto retailers need.

How AI is transforming the auto dealership business

How AI is transforming the auto dealership business

Auto Dealers AI transforms the auto dealership business

Learn about the groundbreaking impact that AI can have on the way you do business.

Article
09/13/2024
How AI is transforming the auto dealership business

Dealerships are looking for ways to enjoy the benefits of AI. Truist talks to one of the industry’s leaders in using AI to transform the customer experience.

Dealers renew focus on F&I profit participation strategies

Dealers renew focus on F&I profit participation strategies

Auto Dealers Dealers renew focus on F&I profit participation strategies

Learn what steps auto dealers can take to find the F&I profit program that best meets their goals.

Article
09/10/2024
Dealers renew focus on F&I profit participation strategies

Auto dealers often overlook the wealth creation possibilities that F&I programs offer. Learn how to find an F&I profit participation program to meet your goals.

Planning for dealership succession

Planning for dealership succession

Auto Dealers Planning for dealership succession

Dealership succession planning combines the complexities of maximizing business value with managing family dynamics as owners prepare for a smooth transition that keeps the family and business strong.

Article
12/17/2023
Planning for dealership succession

Dealership succession planning combines the complexities of maximizing business value with managing family dynamics as owners prepare for a smooth transition that keeps the family and business strong.

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    Meet the team

    Jason W. Smith

    Head of Truist Dealer Commercial Services
    Follow me on LinkedIn

    Fred Reherman

    Head of Truist Indirect Lending
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    Stay informed and get connected

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