Just Getting Started

It’s hard to believe, but this year we celebrated our 5th anniversary. As we wrap up 2016, we wanted to take a moment to look back at some of the accomplishments we are most proud of. It is humbling to see how far we’ve come in such a short period, and we’d like to thank our amazing customers, and the dedicated and tireless RoadVantage team who work hard every day to make this company the best in the industry.

Even as we take this moment to look back and celebrate where we’ve been, make no mistake, RoadVantage is still looking forward. This is just the beginning.

We hit the ground running in 2011 establishing more than a few “firsts” for the F&I industry:

We “stole the show” at our very first F&I Conference in Las Vegas in 2011, when we drove the RoadVantage Bus right into the expo hall. We wanted to begin with a bang and get people talking about us from the very beginning.

At that conference, we were promoting a “90 days free” program, which allowed our dealers to set themselves apart from the competition in a major way. It was an instant hit, and set the stage for our philosophy of putting the customer first.

We were the first F&I provider to offer coverage for chrome and chrome clad wheels, followed by coverage for wheel covers (aka hubcaps) and aftermarket wheels with no surcharge.

We were also the first to offer coverage terms up to seven years for all products, extending the life of the contracts, and the value to the consumers.

The very first contract we sold was our Vantage Superior bundle, which included Tire & Wheel, Dent & Ding, Windshield Repair and Emergency Roadside Service. That contract is framed and holds a place of honor in our office, reminding us daily about where we started.

Building upon the success of our first contract, we were the first to offer a multi-option bundle where customers can choose between different bundles for different levels of coverage. This makes it far easier for F&I managers to demonstrate how the products work together to provide full, comprehensive coverage. That product line, which we call our Preferred bundle programs, is now our most popular program.

We were the first to offer True Coverage, in which we simplified contracts and removed the exclusions that typically cause claims headaches – covering damages occurring at construction zones, car washes, from metal plates on the road, tire pressure monitoring sensors, snow tires, hail damage and more. Eventually, we hope, this will become the industry standard.

We are a firm believer that a great company must start with great and experienced people. Founder and CEO, Garret Lacour, is a 30-year F&I industry veteran, while Senior VPs, Randy Ross and Reese Hillard, bring 65 years of combined megadealer experience to RoadVantage. Led by industry veterans with 95 years of experience, our executive team has a long history of success with dealers, dealerships and agents. Today, our talented people have come to us from all corners of the automotive market – and beyond, creating a culture of innovation and bringing fresh perspectives to the way we do things. We are all focused on finding ways to improve both our products and our customer experience for agents, dealers and consumers, and that is something we are exceptionally proud of.

But Wait…

…there’s more! Those accomplishments were just the beginning for us. Over the past five years, we have been the fastest-growing F&I provider, bar none. Our focus on the customer experience, eliminating loopholes and ensuring we always honor the spirit of the contract, not just the letter, has been incredibly well-received. Our mission has been to change the F&I industry from the ground up, and we believe we’re making a difference.

The testimonials we continue to receive from agents, dealers and employees confirm that we are on the right path. Across the board, we are exceeding expectations, and we intend to continue on that path for years to come.

We received an even bigger validation of our approach to F&I in 2015, just four short years after we first opened our doors. We won the Gold Dealers’ Choice Award in the F&I Products category. And this past year, we furthered that success, when we took home the Platinum Award in the same category.

We are also stepping up with our Internet and social media presence, as these platforms have become staples of the car-buying experience. Through this blog and social media channels, we strive to educate the market about relevant topics in the F&I industry. We have a YouTube channel, where we offer videos free of charge to dealers who want to educate consumers about the value of F&I products on their own websites or in their showrooms. We have a strong presence on LinkedIn and Twitter — two platforms that dealers, agents and consumers go to for their news and information — categories which have grown by 127.5{137f86425451f0eed4391b215cab1f0aedcc26ced4aeb45d9a5267c3194b8614} and 149{137f86425451f0eed4391b215cab1f0aedcc26ced4aeb45d9a5267c3194b8614} respectively year-over-year.

Our intention was never to be just being another voice lost in the sea of F&I products; we began this journey with the intention of making waves, and that is exactly what we are achieving. We have had a pretty amazing last five years, but that is just the start. The next five years, and beyond, we will continue to find new ways to serve our customers at all levels, and continue to not only find our own success, but lift up every customer we touch right along with us. Thank you for being part of our first five years, and we are excited to see what comes next.

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