From the DBJ Archives: What Changed in Dealer Licensing Over the Years
Getting a motor vehicle dealer license may seem like a straightforward administrative step today, but dealer licensing has evolved significantly over the years. For independent and Buy Here Pay Here dealers, licensing is especially important because the requirements governing who can operate a dealership, where the dealership can operate, and what records must be maintained […]
From the DBJ Archives: Early BHPH Compliance Standards Explained
Buy Here Pay Here dealerships have changed significantly over the years. As dealers began taking a more active role in financing customers directly, compliance became an increasingly important part of dealership operations. Many of the principles that guided early BHPH compliance programs remain relevant today: accurate advertising, consistent credit practices, clear disclosures, proper documentation, responsible […]
From the DBJ Archives: The History of Dealer Financing Regulations car
Dealer financing has changed dramatically over the past several decades. What was once a relatively simple arrangement between a customer and an automobile dealer has developed into a highly regulated area involving credit disclosures, advertising, privacy, fair lending, credit reporting, and consumer protection. For independent and Buy Here Pay Here dealers, understanding this history is […]
From the DBJ Archives: Lessons From Past Used Car Market Downturns
The used car market has experienced its share of difficult periods. Economic recessions, changing interest rates, supply disruptions, inflation, and shifts in consumer demand have all tested independent dealers. But downturns also provide valuable lessons. Looking back at previous market cycles shows that successful dealers rarely rely on one strategy. Instead, they adjust inventory, control […]
From the DBJ Archives: How BHPH Dealerships Started
The Buy Here Pay Here model has been part of the American used-car industry for decades. What began as a way for dealers to sell vehicles when traditional financing was difficult to obtain eventually developed into a specialized form of automotive retail and consumer finance. Today, BHPH dealerships serve customers who may have limited or […]
Federal Regulations Impacting Independent Car Dealers This Year
Independent car dealers operate under a range of federal consumer-protection, financing, privacy, and advertising requirements. In 2026, dealers should pay particular attention to changes and enforcement activity involving advertised vehicle pricing, consumer credit, fair lending, credit reporting, and customer data security. Not every federal development is a brand-new rule. Some are existing requirements receiving updated […]
2026 Outlook for the Buy Here Pay Here Industry
The Buy Here Pay Here industry enters 2026 with a combination of opportunity and pressure. Consumers continue to face elevated vehicle and financing costs, making affordable used transportation particularly important. At the same time, dealers must manage credit risk, inventory costs, funding requirements, and changing customer expectations. The broader used-vehicle market remains an important source […]
How Interest Rate Changes Affect BHPH Dealerships
Interest rates can have a significant effect on a Buy Here Pay Here dealership, even when the dealership finances customers directly. Unlike a traditional dealer that generally sends a financed transaction to a bank or finance company, a BHPH dealer typically keeps the receivable and collects payments from the customer. Federal Reserve research describes BHPH […]
New CFPB Rules on Subprime Auto Lending: What Changed
Independent dealers and Buy Here Pay Here operators continue to face important federal consumer-finance obligations when they arrange or provide auto financing. However, dealers should be careful about headlines claiming that the CFPB introduced a sweeping new set of rules specifically for subprime auto lending in 2026. The CFPB’s current materials show several important developments, […]
Used Car Market Trends Independent Dealers Should Know
The used vehicle market in 2026 continues to present both opportunities and challenges for independent dealers. Affordability remains a major concern for consumers, while inventory levels have improved from some of the tighter periods earlier in the year. At the same time, lower-priced used vehicles remain difficult to find, and pricing continues to vary significantly […]