RAC Dealers

[Beautiful South Martin 24]

Seem to getting bombarded with free gifts from the RAC dealer network at the minute, power bank for a mobile and a wireless mouse just arrived today. So Ive had a look at their website and its fill the form in and someone will call you to make an appointment. I quite like the strong RAC branding but just wondering if anyone on here is actually an approved dealer for them and if so any pitfalls? warranty cover/ claims etc, Is their approved PDI overly strict?....Any pointers gladly accepted.

[grant8064 219]

We were with them for just over a year. Had a good rep but getting a valid claim approved and then paid out on was a real hassle. We were just a branded warranty supplier so maybe it's better if you go the whole hog and adhere to their "Approved Garage" standards.

The branding is great, we'd originally moved to a new site which is why we used them; inspire confidence, be very visible etc. Since we left sales haven't dropped and no one seems to moan too much that we run our own pot.

[Linctrader 16]

What sort of costs are involved with getting signed as an approved garage?

And also are they fussy about what they will allow you to offer as approved - as in older things, higher power stuff etc?

We offered the warranties donkeys years ago and they were extremely fussy!

[JimmyGlen 13]

We're Scotlands first and longest established - BuySure Dealer. Basically, we've gone for it full blooded. In round figures, we're around 30-35k'ish a year with RAC. We put a min of 3month warranty on everything. Even stock thats literally just our of Manufacturers Warranty with 9k miles on. We focus on cars under 70k miles (most are under 50k) to allow us to put their 'value' product on. This basically gives the customer (and us!) an amazing level of cover and a claim limit which is the value of the car (today it was a 36.5k Boxster for example). 

5 years we've been with them and thoroughly enjoy the head space it gives me where after sales are concerned (the odd one still rears its head), as well as the additional sales I feel it gives, especially with distance customers. 

We have over the past year, really been working on selling up, and its working great. We find it easy to sell up something we believe is a good product, and I think customers pick up on that. With that in mind, so far this year, we've turned this from a cost, to a profit generator. You need to be strict with yourself though and 'not just be thankful for the sale'! Ask the customer, present the product and overcome objections! 

Taking the RAC up on their products, just for iffy cars, isn't going to work. They aren't stupid and will spot a suspect 'burn rate' a mile off. Work with them, embrace their products and prep standards and it really does work. 

Stevie