Leading into next week’s National Convention and Expo, online pre-qualified monthly payment marketing technology provider DriveItNow joined with the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association as its latest National Member Benefit partner.

NIADA explained as part of Tuesday’s announcement that this product offering is designed to help independent dealers compete more effectively with franchise operations in online vehicle sales.

“Independent dealers are trying to play catch-up with regard to online digital retailing,” DriveItNow president Tarry Shebesta said. “Franchise dealers have been using DriveItNow with great success for years, and now those same services can help independents compete head-to-head in the online digital marketplace.”

DriveItNow can offer credit pre-qualification and digital marketing tools to help engage online monthly payment shoppers. Pre-qualified monthly payments are instantly calculated using the vehicle shopper’s actual credit bureau, trade-in equity, bank finance programs and VIN-specific dealer inventory.

Officials insisted credit bureau data is retrieved without requiring a Social Security Number or date of birth and with no impact on the shopper’s credit score.

The program includes:

—Short-form instant finance pre-qualification

—Pre-qualified monthly payment buttons on vehicle inventory

—Shop-by-payment on all inventory

—Trade-in equity calculation

—Real-time “soft-pull” full credit bureau reports

DriveItNow features can be accessed through a website, email marketing and retargeting campaigns, social media, on the lot or in the showroom.

“DriveItNow is a leader in the digital retailing marketplace and will help our members create a digital shopping experience that drives consumer engagement and corresponding sales growth,” NIADA senior vice president of member services Scott Lilja said.

“The new program will propel qualified and profitable leads to our members and help them compete more effectively with franchise dealerships — all a big win for our members,” Lilja went on to say.