AAA Travel expects a significant rebound in the number of Americans planning to travel this Memorial Day holiday weekend.

And if they haven’t already visited your service drive for maintenance, customers might be coming soon since AAA said more than 37 million people are expected to travel 50 miles or more from home, an increase of 60% from last year when only 23 million traveled, the lowest on record since AAA began recording in 2000.

But consumers already might have stretched their budgets to scratch the travel itch created by the pandemic.

To help alleviate concerns about vehicle repairs, DigniFi recently partnered with TruVideo to help service advisors explained what care might be needed — as well as a path to finance it.

AAA noted the expected traveling rebound this holiday weekend still isn’t bringing the industry back quite to what it was before COVID-19 arrived.

The organization said the expected strong increase in demand from last year’s holiday, which fell during the early phase of the pandemic, still represents 13% — or nearly 6 million — fewer travelers than in 2019. AAA urges those who choose to travel this year to exercise caution and take measures to protect themselves and others as the pandemic continues.

“As more people get the COVID-19 vaccine and consumer confidence grows, Americans are demonstrating a strong desire to travel this Memorial Day,” AAA Travel senior vice president Paula Twidale said in a news release.

“This pent-up demand will result in a significant increase in Memorial Day travel, which is a strong indicator for summer, though we must all remember to continue taking important safety precautions," Twidale continued.

Consumers wary of repairs

And certainly, part of those precautions could be making sure the vehicle is running properly.

Utires — a Chicago-based online retailer of used tires — recently surveyed 1,200 American vehicle owners to understand which tasks people are most likely to put off, how long the delay and why.

The survey found 92% of American car owners admit to putting off a car care task longer than they should.

The most commonly ignored vehicle problems include:

— Cracked windshield
— Wheels out of alignment
— Overdue oil change
— Bald or worn-out tires
— Check engine light illuminated.

The top reasons people avoid the repair shop include:

— Too busy to take the car for repairs
— Can’t afford repairs
— Repair is not urgent
— Length of repair and cannot be without the vehicle for that long
— Anxiety
— Don’t trust mechanics

DigniFi partners with TruVideo to help dealers

In an effort to address some of the concerns mentioned in the Utires survey and more, DigniFi, an automotive financing platform, this week announced a new partnership with TruVideo, a leading video and texting platform, to help service centers and dealerships close more repair orders by offering greater clarity and access to new finance options to customers with automotive repair needs.

The companies explained service advisors can explain needed repairs transparently to customers using TruVideo’s video-first texting platform and offer access to DigniFi finance options to pay for repairs.

As previously mentioned, two of the biggest obstacles service advisors face in closing orders with customers who need expensive repairs are a lack of trust and affordability. The DigniFi-TruVideo partnership is designed to address both barriers, streamlining conversations between service advisors and customers.

When service advisors show customers exactly what repairs are needed and provide a detailed explanation using the TruVideo platform, that process can address customers’ trust concerns.

When the video text includes an offer to finance the repair through the DigniFi platform, it can provide access to credit for customers which can be especially important in an uncertain economy.

DigniFi chief executive officer Richard Counihan stressed that service centers and dealerships that use these streamlined communication methods and financing options to get service done on the same day can build customer loyalty and trust. Counihan added in a news release that they can also reduce customer decline rates and increase acceptance of repair recommendations to generate more revenue.

“This is a strategic partnership that gives dealerships and service centers the power to close more deals while getting customers back on the road without worry,” Counihan said.

“TruVideo’s platform significantly improves the customer experience by making communication more direct and transparent, and by working together, we can tackle the finance side of the equation, too,” he went on to say.

Under the new partnership, service centers and dealerships that currently use the TruVideo texting platform will now be notified about new financing opportunities available to their customers through DigniFi.

Also, under the partnership, TruVideo capabilities are now available to service centers and dealerships that partner with DigniFi, increasing the potential customer base for the companies while helping service centers and dealerships close more repair orders and drive more revenue.

“We are excited about a partnership with DigniFi,” TruVideo CEO Joe Shaker said. “We’re both committed to helping service centers and dealerships increase revenue, and by giving customers an option to pay for the work overtime after the service advisor explains needed repairs, we can improve the customer experience.” 

DigniFi connects consumers with finance companies to help people more easily afford auto repairs, upgrades, accessories and trade-ins with flexible payment terms.

Customers simply use their personal smartphones to apply for financing and receive an instant decision from a lender.

Automotive businesses that offer DigniFi increase annual revenue by up to 20% on average, according to the company.

For more information, visit www.dignifi.com or truvideo.com.