TL;DR
The buy-here-pay-here (BHPH) market for rented, leased, and financed vehicles is growing, and GPS tracking is making it more economical for dealers. These devices track your vehicles in real time and alert you to unauthorized towing and other unusual activity. That keeps every vehicle in your fleet findable and makes low-conflict resolutions possible before accounts go bad.
Your Money Is on the Road
If you run a buy-here-pay-here lot, you already know every car that leaves is essentially a loan to a customer. Unlike a franchise dealer who gets paid by a bank or finance company, you carry the financial weight yourself.
When a customer goes quiet or stops answering the phone, you’re chasing an asset you’ve already paid for, not one a bank is responsible for recovering.
That’s where GPS tracking comes in. Northland Auto Solutions, based in Burnsville, MN and serving independent dealers nationwide, helps BHPH, rental, and lease-to-own dealers fit GPS tracking devices for security and peace of mind.
What Northland’s GPS Devices Do
Northland’s BHPH devices do much more than report location.
24/7/365 Real-Time Location
See where your vehicles are any time of day, 365 days a year, right from your desk.
Customizable Speed Alerts
Set thresholds that notify you when a driver exceeds a set limit, helping you spot driving behavior that increases the risk of claims.
Tow Detection
Get alerts when a vehicle is lifted and moved with the ignition off, so you know about unauthorized tows right away.
Optional Remote Starter Interrupt
Prevent a vehicle from restarting after it’s been switched off, in line with your customer agreements.
Protecting Payments
In most cases, customers aren’t trying to dodge payments or commit fraud. Often, they’ve had a bad month and simply don’t have the funds.
With a starter interrupt device, you can keep a vehicle from restarting to protect your property, in line with your customer agreement and state law. That stops a vehicle from being used for days on end while no payments come in.
Sometimes recovery is the only option. In those situations, GPS tracking turns a difficult job into something that can often be done the same day. You know exactly where the vehicle is, you can confirm it’s there, and a recovery agent can retrieve it for you, cutting recovery costs significantly.
Managing a Fleet
GPS tracking is also a fleet management tool. It tracks all of your units wherever they are and reports whether they’re sitting idle or being driven hard. You get mileage data that shows whether your fleet is earning its keep, plus alerts that flag drivers who are costing you extra in maintenance and repairs.
Better Together
Northland does more than install GPS on BHPH vehicles. We offer a full suite of products and services designed to improve your operations.
For example, you can come to us for dealer insurance and leasing programs for independent dealers. We can also review your fleet data and provide useful analytics, giving you a single point of contact for more business intelligence.
FAQs
How does remote starter interrupt work?
Starter interrupt technology prevents a vehicle from starting again after it’s been switched off. It’s safe and reliable, and it won’t activate while the vehicle is being driven.
Is GPS tracking legal for financed vehicles?
If you are the lienholder, you’re generally allowed to track a vehicle you have a security interest in. However, check your state’s rules on disclosure and consent, especially when using a starter interrupt device. If you’re not sure what’s allowed, speak to our team.
How quickly can a vehicle be located for recovery?
Right away. With our GPS systems, the vehicle’s location appears on your dashboard, and you can request a live locate at any time.
Does GPS tracking help with insurance costs?
Generally speaking, tracked fleets have better recovery rates and lower theft losses than untracked fleets. Insight into driver behavior can also help characterize risk, potentially leading to lower premiums.
What’s the setup process for a dealer’s whole lot?
We work with you to install devices on your existing inventory and set up custom alert rules.
Secure Your Payments and Protect Your Inventory
Get help with GPS tracking from Northland Auto Solutions. Call 800-879-3433 or contact us online today.