CARY, N.C. — The Pre-Owned Automobile Dealers Alliance reached a significant milestone for its membership this week, as it welcomed its 500th dealer member to the alliance, just nine months after the first dealer joined POADA. 

"We are thrilled to see that in less than a year, 500 dealers have recognized the value of what we and our Partners have to offer and are claiming their free membership in POADA," said Bill Zadeits, managing director of POADA. "As more dealers choose to be a part of our alliance, we can provide greater value both to our members and to our Partners. There truly is strength in numbers." 

So far in 2010, the alliance has added 370 members, or an average of about two dealers a day. A significant number of POADA's dealer members represent multiple stores, so the alliance represents 600 or more locations with those 500 memberships. And membership is expected to continue to climb with the introduction of the alliance's independent certification program, CarMark Certified, in July. CarMark is only available to POADA members. 

"CarMark is an important piece of the puzzle for POADA dealers," said POADA founder Ron Smith. "It provides them with the opportunity to certify more of their vehicles with a national certification program, which provides value to the consumer and helps dealers sell cars faster and for more money. As this program goes into effect, there's no question that even more dealers will begin to see the true value of their free POADA membership." 

POADA is a national alliance of dealers and service providers specializing in servicing the pre-owned marketplace — late-model, pre-owned vehicles ranging from current to four model years old that have less than 100,000 odometer miles at time of resale. To find out more, visit www.poada.biz/explained. For more information about the CarMark Certified program, call APCO at (800) 628-4635 or e-mail info@carmarkcertified.com.