PHOENIX -

Dealers will now be able to take advantage of ClassicCars.com’s Certified Classic Vehicle program, announced the company late last week.

The program, which was previously limited to private sellers, has also gained quite a few dealer-specific enhancements through its recent expansion, noted company officials.

Additionally, ClassicCars.com also introduced a credit program for qualified dealers, allowing them to certify as many as 50 vehicles on their lots with no up-front costs.

"We see a great deal of pent-up demand among dealers for additional ways to gain a competitive edge," said Roger Falcione, president and chief executive officer of ClassicCars.com. "We’re thrilled to offer this service to our dealer network."

The enhanced program now allows classic and collector car dealers to certify consignment and dealer-owned inventory on their lots.

Falcione noted that during a soft launch, the company gained such positive feedback from dealers that "they had no question the program would be well accepted among remarketers."

Also, during the pilot, company officials picked up some interesting news about where a good chunk of classic cars sold by dealers are actually coming from.

"We found that more than half of the units sold by dealers were consignor-owned vehicles. Tapping into the consignor market is a great way for them to expand their business, and it seemed that including dealers was a perfect way to expand ours, as well, while meeting consumer’s needs," Falcione said Friday during an interview with Auto Remarketing. 

Now that the program is in full swing, the dealer-specific enhancements include on-vehicle and in-showroom promotional materials such as brochures and posters, as well as a comprehensive training kit for sales staff.

One dealer shared his enthusiasm for the program’s recent enhancements: "I am excited to offer the certification program for many of our classics," said Harry Clark, owner of Classic Promenade, a specialty dealership in Temecula, Calif.

"More than half of our business is overseas or from across the country, and it is rare that the buyers have an opportunity to fly out to personally inspect before buying. The independent certification offers our clients peace of mind. This will certainly increase our sales velocity and offers terrific value to our clients,” he continued.

The company stressed that listings for ClassicCars.com Certified Classic Vehicles “receive preferred placement in search results and bear an exclusive certification seal that clearly distinguishes them from non-certified vehicles.”

Moreover, certified listings come with a copy of a signed inspection report, details about the vehicle’s certification and its buyer benefits.

The company noted dealer vehicles will undergo the same certification process that private seller vehicles do and will be offered the same warranty and roadside assistance program.

The process— paid for by the dealer for dealer-owned inventory or consignor for consignor-owned vehicles — includes a 50-point inspection by an independent ASE-certified technician, and dealers are offered the 3-month/3,000-mile limited powertrain warranty and one year of nationwide roadside assistance at no additional cost to the buyer.

When asked what makes the program stand out, Falcione responded: "Peace of mind in the marketplace is a crucial element of making a sale in this economy. This program gives out of state or international customers, many of which will never see the vehicle in person before purchasing, confidence in the buying process.

"With the independent inspection and warranty offering, we think dealers will see the value in this program, as well," he concluded.

The certification process typically takes two to three days, and once certified, the vehicle remains certified until sold, the company noted.

Dealers interested in the ClassicCars.com Vehicle Certification Program can visit classiccars.com/certification, or for those interested in applying to the program, call (480)-285-1600.