UCDA is now the United Car Dealers Association.

UCDA, known for more than four decades as the Used Car Dealers Association of Ontario, officially confirmed its name change on Monday, just before the opening of Canada’s Used Car Week in Toronto.

For the organization founded in 1984 by seven dealers as a not-for-profit association, one of the most important parts of the name change is being able to retain its logo, “which I think is more recognizable to people than, frankly, our long name,” executive director Jim Hamilton told Cherokee Media Group on Monday.

Hamilton acknowledged the organization’s previous name was “kind of trippy, so we thought that we’d like to shorten it, and United Car Dealers Association fit the bill.”

Hamilton elaborated about how UCDA — which now represents almost 5,000 members with an 11-person board of directors and a staff of 20 professionals — decided a name change was merited.

“Not to denigrate used-car dealers, but there’s a stigma, a stereotype. You say used-car dealer and people picture some guy in a checkered jacket with a cigar. We were tired of trying to get out from under that,” Hamilton said.

“It’s about businesses selling good products, standing by them, being ethical, being professional,” he continued, noting that UCDA isn’t just independent dealers. The membership also includes franchised dealers, lessors and rental-car companies, as well as associated businesses like recyclers, banks and other lenders.

“The name is more inclusive and reflective of our membership,” Hamilton said.

And UCDA’s members voted unanimously to modify the name.

“The feedback I’ve been getting is that people like the name,” Hamilton said.

One of organization’s first initial public appearances as the United Car Dealers Association will be during Canada’s Used Car Week, which begins on Tuesday at the Delta Hotels Toronto Airport & Conference Centre.

Hamilton is set to have a conversation with Associate Solicitor General of Ontario, Zee Hamid that will explore the Ontario government’s ongoing efforts to combat auto theft, including key progress on enforcement, legislative reforms, and bail policy changes.

And now as the United Car Dealers Association, Hamilton is upbeat about the future of UCDA.

“I think that it’s going to be more welcoming to stakeholders, government and regulators, and people we engage with and will engage with in the future,” Hamilton said. “We think it’s a more modern name. We’re trying to position ourselves for future developments in terms of how we promote our members and their products and advances that we’re making in education and compliance going forward. We see that the future for aftermarket vehicles is very positive.”