AutoRelay

What is AutoRelay and how does it work?

AutoRelay is a dealership vehicle acquisition platform that helps car dealerships acquire more vehicles through their service lanes. The platform engages service customers via AI-powered SMS — responding in under 5 seconds, 24/7 — and qualifies acquisition opportunities automatically. Unlike KBB, Cars.com, and Autotrader which share leads with multiple competing dealers, AutoRelay gives you exclusive access to your own service customers. The system integrates with your existing DMS, sends personalized messages, and tracks every conversation in a real-time dashboard.

How is AutoRelay different from KBB, Cars.com, or Autotrader?

The biggest difference is exclusivity. KBB Instant Cash Offer sends your customer's information to 3-5 competing dealers — so you end up bidding against other stores for your own customer. Cars.com and Autotrader work the same way. AutoRelay flips the model: it captures your service customers before they ever hit a third-party site, giving you first-mover advantage with zero competition. All for a flat monthly fee instead of per-lead charges.

What kind of ROI can I expect?

Most dealerships see a positive ROI within the first month. With a flat monthly fee for unlimited leads, acquiring just 2-3 additional vehicles per month more than pays for the platform. Traditional lead sources cost $2,000-$7,500/month for shared leads with lower close rates. AutoRelay targets service customers who already trust your dealership — with a 67% response rate, far above the industry average for cold leads from third-party platforms.

How long does setup take?

Most dealerships are fully live within 10 minutes. Drop the SMS widget on your website or connect a service list — no hardware to install, no IT department needed, no training required. AutoRelay integrates with your existing DMS and you can start engaging service customers the same day.

Does AutoRelay integrate with my DMS and CRM?

Yes. AutoRelay connects with major dealership management systems and CRMs including XTime, MyKaarma, and Tekion. Service appointment data flows in automatically, and engagement data flows back to your CRM so your sales team can follow up without switching systems. We also support custom integrations via API.

What is service lane acquisition?

Service lane acquisition is the practice of acquiring used vehicles from customers who are already visiting your dealership for service. These customers are warmer leads — they already trust your store and their vehicles are already on your lot. AutoRelay automates this by engaging service customers via text before competitors can reach them, with AI that responds in under 5 seconds around the clock.

Is there a contract or commitment?

No long-term contracts. AutoRelay starts with a 30-day free trial — no credit card required. After that, it's a flat monthly fee with no per-lead charges, no setup costs, and no hidden fees. You can cancel anytime. We believe the results speak for themselves.

How much do Cars.com leads cost compared to AutoRelay?

Cars.com charges $30-$60 per lead plus monthly subscription fees of $399-$1,299. At 100 leads/month, that's up to $7,299/month — and those leads are shared with competing dealers. AutoRelay is a flat monthly fee for unlimited exclusive leads from your own service lane — a fraction of the cost with better lead quality.