Dealer-Mate

What it is

Dealer-Mate is dealer management software offered as a cloud or web-based service and as a local desktop application. It lists DMS integration, SMS messaging, a mobile app, and lead source capture. The cloud plans are billed monthly, quarterly, or annually, while local options include a monthly desktop plan and a one-time local area network license for up to three workstations. Cloud Monthly costs $119 a month and can be cancelled anytime. Cloud Quarterly is $99 a month, billed quarterly for a total of 297.00 USD. Cloud Annual is $79 a month, billed annually for a total of 894.00 USD. Local Desktop Monthly is $65 a month. Local Area Network costs 350.00 USD once for up to three workstations. Dealer-Mate lists a 30-day trial and has no free plan. Its listed platforms are web, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. The company was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.

Who it suits. Dealer-Mate may suit dealers choosing between hosted cloud access and locally installed desktop options. Its listed mobile app and SMS capability may also fit teams that need those functions.

Your product? You can pay for an editorial review of Dealer-Mate; CarCody's editors write the verdict · from $99/mo. How it works →

Dealer-Mate is dealer management software for car, motorcycle, RV, heavy truck, boat and equipment dealerships. It suits dealerships that want sales, inventory, CRM and service work in one system, with a choice of cloud or local desktop access. Its breadth is appealing, but the billing structure and workstation limit deserve close attention before committing.

Overview

Dealer-Mate brings together deal creation, inventory management, lead handling, and parts and service workflows. It supports in-house, bank, lease and cash deals, with financing and insurance, and connects to Dealertrack for submissions to more than 1,000 lenders, including credit unions. That makes it relevant to a broad range of dealerships, not just passenger-car retailers.

Inventory records can be sorted and filtered, then published to dealer websites and third-party sites. Kelley Blue Book and Black Book integrations support inventory work, while automatic publishing reaches Craigslist, Cars.com, Autotrader.com, eBay Motors and Facebook. These connections are useful for dealers managing listings across several channels.

Key features

The web-based CRM combines Internet Lead Manager, Showroom Control Manager, Business Development Center, Auto-Trade, database and reporting modules. The maker says it charges no per-user fees, a useful distinction for teams that need multiple staff in the CRM. SMS messaging, lead source capture and DMS integration are also supported.

Parts & Service covers work orders, mechanic task scheduling, branded estimates and invoices, part barcodes and service histories. QuickBooks is offered as an extra module, with the maker describing its integration as seamless for Parts & Service. Dealers seeking a joined-up service workflow will find more here than a sales-only CRM provides.

Dealer-Mate offers data conversion from other DMS software, extracting and transferring data into the system. Its maker says the software is hosted on AWS Cloud and that version 2.0 requires no additional network or security configuration. Plans include online installation and training, technical support, software updates and forms programming; support is available at (323) 525-0747.

Pricing

Cloud pricing falls with longer commitments. Cloud Monthly costs $119 a month and can be cancelled anytime. Cloud Quarterly is $99 a month, billed at a total of $297, while Cloud Annual is $79 a month, billed at a total of $894. The annual plan is the lowest monthly rate, but asks for the longest commitment; quarterly billing reduces the rate without locking in for a full year.

The Local Desktop Monthly plan costs $65 a month. A Local Area Network option costs 350.00 USD as a one-time fee and covers up to 3 work stations; call for a larger network. That cap is central to the decision: smaller offices can evaluate the one-time network fee, while larger teams need to confirm the cost and setup before choosing it.

Dealer-Mate has no free plan and offers a 30-day trial. The demo account has most settings disabled, so it is a limited way to judge the full workflow; the maker directs prospective customers to request a live demo for a deeper review. Treat the trial as an initial look, not a complete assessment of configuration and day-to-day use.

Platforms

Dealer-Mate supports Android, iOS, macOS, web and Windows. Cloud buyers can use the web-based option, while local desktop plans provide a separate route. The range accommodates mixed device environments, though the choice between cloud and desktop affects both billing and workstation planning.

Who it's for

Dealer-Mate is a strong candidate for dealerships that need deal processing, broad inventory publishing and service operations alongside CRM, particularly when multiple staff need CRM access without per-user fees. Its support for several dealership types also makes it worth considering beyond conventional car lots.

It is less compelling for a buyer who wants to make a full evaluation through a self-guided demo account, or for a larger local network that has not confirmed workstation pricing. Cloud users should compare the higher monthly rate with the lower quarterly and annual rates against their willingness to prepay.

Pros and cons

• Broad dealership coverage: supports automotive, motorcycle, RV, heavy truck, boat and equipment dealerships, with sales, inventory and service modules.
• Useful sales and listing connections: Dealertrack lender submissions and automatic publishing across major listing destinations reduce the need to manage those routes separately.
• No per-user CRM fees: the maker's stated policy can suit dealerships with larger CRM teams.
• Cloud savings require commitment: the lowest cloud rate is $79 a month on an annual plan billed at $894.
• Local network capacity is explicit: the 350.00 USD one-time LAN fee covers up to 3 work stations, with larger networks requiring a call.
• Trial depth is limited: most settings are disabled in the demo account, making a live demo important for assessing the complete workflow.

Alternatives

For a dealership CRM shortlist, start with Dealership CRMs. MotorDesk is worth comparing if a small vehicle inventory is the priority: its Starter plan is £79 a month for 5 vehicles and 1 staff/email account, excluding online checkout and deal builder. Get My Auto CRM is another paid option, with a CRM + Ava plan at $695 a month after a 60-day free trial, cancel anytime.

Vital Software is a paid alternative for buyers comparing dealership software. VinSolutions is another paid option to consider.

Tekion ARC CRM is another paid CRM alternative. DealerCenter CRM is worth comparing when published monthly CRM pricing matters: CRM Plus is $99 a month with unlimited emails, 2,000 texts per month and no setup fee, while CRM Pro is $199 a month.

Verdict

Dealer-Mate is best suited to dealerships that want a broad DMS spanning deals, inventory, CRM and service, and can choose a billing term and deployment model that fit their operation. Its breadth, lender and listing connections, and no-per-user-fee CRM are the strongest reasons to consider it. Look elsewhere if you need a fully enabled self-guided trial or cannot confirm that the local network option fits your workstation count and budget.

Getting started

1. Visit https://dealer-mate.com/ and request a 30-day trial or live demo.
2. Choose cloud or web-based access, local desktop, or a local area network option.
3. Select a billing term that matches the chosen option.
4. Arrange online installation and training, included with plans.
5. Request data conversion if you are moving from another DMS.
6. Use Dealer-Mate on Android, iOS, macOS, web or Windows.

Limits

Dealer-Mate has no free plan and offers a 30-day trial. The demo account has most settings disabled; the Local Area Network option covers up to three workstations for $350 once.