TORRANCE, Calif. — The publishers of Auto Dealer Today announced the winners of the 12th annual Dealers’ Choice Awards. The awards are based on a comprehensive survey that allowed dealers and dealership personnel to recognize their favorite vendors, suppliers and finance companies in 34 categories.

Voters must write in the name of each provider and score them in a number of areas related to performance, customer service, and the likelihood the voter would recommend each company to another dealer.

“This year’s winners include Dealers’ Choice Awards regulars as well as a number of new companies that have emerged as major players in a variety of categories,” said David Gesualdo, publisher of Auto Dealer Today and F&I and Showroom magazines. “But they all have one thing in common: They have earned the loyalty and praise of dealers, and they deserve our congratulations.”

The 2016 Dealer’s Choice Awards winners are:

New-Vehicle Lead

• Diamond: Autotrader

• Platinum: Dealer.com

• Gold: Cars.com

Used-Vehicle Lead

• Diamond: Autotrader

• Platinum: Cars.com

• Gold: CarsDirect

Special Finance Lead

• Diamond: CarsDirect

• Platinum: DealerLink

• Gold: Auto Credit Express

Digital Marketing

• Diamond: Digital Air Strike

• Platinum: ELEAD1ONE

• Gold: eBizAutos

Website Provider

• Diamond: eBizAutos

• Platinum: VinSolutions

• Gold: Dealer.com

Chat Provider

• Diamond: ActivEngage

• Platinum: Client~ConneXion

• Gold: Contact At Once!

Mobile Media

• Diamond: Dealer.com

• Platinum: eBizAutos

• Gold: Dealer Synergy

Social Media Management

• Diamond: Ally

• Platinum: Naked Lime

• Gold: DealerClickz

Reputation Management

• Diamond: Dominion Dealer Solutions

• Platinum: CDK Global

• Gold (tie): DealerRefresh

• Gold (tie): DMEautomotive

Direct Mail

• Diamond: ProMax Unlimited

• Platinum: Action Integrated

• Gold: Strategic Marketing

Virtual BDC

• Diamond: ELEAD1ONE

• Platinum: DealerStrong

Online Inventory Listing Management

• Diamond: Dominion Dealer Solutions

• Platinum: eBizAutos

• Gold: Auction123

Inventory Management

• Diamond: Dealertrack

• Platinum: vAuto

• Gold: FirstLook Systems

Hiring and Recruitment

• Diamond: GSFSGroup

• Platinum: Hireology

Sales Training

• Diamond: Ziegler SuperSystems

• Platinum: Ally

• Gold: Joe Verde Group

Internet Training

• Diamond: Dealer.com

• Platinum: Dealer Synergy

• Gold: Ally

Compliance Training

• Diamond: American Financial & Automotive Services (AFAS)

• Platinum: United Development Systems Inc. (UDS)

• Gold: Mosaic Compliance Services

F&I Training

• Diamond: United Development Systems Inc. (UDS)

• Platinum: American Financial & Automotive Services (AFAS)

• Gold: Reahard & Associates

Special Finance Training

• Diamond: DealerStrong

• Platinum: NCM Associates

• Gold: Ally

Fixed Ops Training

• Diamond: DealerPro Service Solutions

• Platinum: CDK Global

• Gold: The Cardone Group

F&I Products

• Diamond: IAS

• Platinum: RoadVantage

• Gold: National Auto Care

Service Contract

• Diamond: CNA National

• Platinum: Protective Asset Protection

• Gold: AUL Corp.

Service Contract Reinsurance

• Diamond: Portfolio

• Platinum: GSFSGroup

• Gold: CNA National

F&I Desking Software

• Diamond: ProMax Unlimited

• Platinum: Reynolds and Reynolds

• Gold: Dealertrack

F&I Technology

• Diamond: F&I Express

• Platinum: MaximTrak

• Gold: StoneEagle

CRM 

• Diamond: ProMax Unlimited

• Platinum: ELEAD1ONE

• Gold: Reynolds and Reynolds

DMS 

• Diamond: Dealertrack

• Platinum: Reynolds and Reynolds

• Gold: Auto/Mate

Data Mining

• Diamond: ELEAD1ONE

• Platinum: Dominion Dealer Solutions

• Gold: AutoAlert

Online Auction for Purchasing Inventory

• Diamond: Manheim

• Platinum: SmartAuction

• Gold: ADESA

Traditional Auction

• Diamond: Manheim

• Platinum: ADESA

Prime Captive Finance Company

• Diamond: GM Financial

• Platinum: Honda Financial Services

• Gold: Toyota Financial Services

Prime Non-Captive Finance Company

• Diamond: Ally

• Platinum: Chase

• Gold: Wells Fargo

Subprime Finance Company

• Diamond: Wells Fargo

• Platinum: Regional Acceptance

• Gold: Capital One

Biweekly Payments

• Diamond: U.S. Equity Advantage

• Platinum: SMART Payment Plan

• Gold: Economic Advantages Corp. (EAC)

More detail about this year’s awards will appear in a Special Awards Section in the July issue of Auto Dealer Today. The winners will be honored in a special ceremony in August at Industry Summit in Las Vegas.

For sponsorship opportunities, contact David Gesualdo via email or at (727) 947-4027.