As a car dealer, keeping your customers happy should be your primary goal. Not only does quality service guarantees their satisfaction, it also keeps your customers coming back. What’s more, these people will be more than happy to refer you to their friends and relatives, which means more profit for you.
What’s a car maintenance plan?
Reputable car dealers offer service plans to their customers. These are different from warranty which focuses on the manufacturer’s errors and failure. Service plans cover scheduled vehicle services generally provided within the first few years of purchase. However, service plans usually just cover the basic car services. For wears and tears, a maintenance plan is more appropriate.
In addition to the benefits of a service plan, a maintenance plan also provides protection for repairs and replacements needed in the vehicle due to wear and tear. Sometimes, it provides for a longer coverage because many of wears and tears don’t occur until after several years of vehicle use. Some of the most important parts that are covered by this type of plan are the battery, brake pads, engine, exhaust, clutch, and the steering components
Car repairs can be costly. Thankfully, there are various ways to pay for major repair services, such as auto title loans and credit cards, etc. But for normal wear and tear problems, a maintenance plan saves the day.
Offering a car maintenance plan to your customers does not only give you another opportunity to earn more and grow your business. It is also a wonderful way to provide quality service. Since it is paid in advance through a monthly premium, by the time your customers need repair services in the future, they won’t have troubles paying for it anymore. This gives great relief to car owners by providing stability to household budgets.
Making your car maintenance plan more customer-oriented
Provide easy payment terms. What prevents many car owners from availing service plans is the cost. It is important to assure your customers that once they sign up for this plan, there will be no unexpected costs. Make it transferable to new buyers to make it even more appealable. It would be better if the payment for this plan can be included in their monthly car payments.
Top-notch repair is important. It is important that your technicians specialize in all vehicles that you sell. When customers purchase a maintenance plan, they expect quality service each time they bring their car into the shop for repairs. It is crucial that all your staff understand their products more than anyone else. Whether it’s changing tires and engine lights or repairing brakes and clutches, your technicians should be able to address the issue promptly and properly.
Offer customer service and support. For many people, service plans and maintenance plans can be confusing. Before purchasing a plan, the customer should first know what is included in the package, what the recommended service intervals are, how much those services cost from local mechanics, and whether there are hidden/additional fees. Providing reliable support whenever customers have questions or clarifications is an important aspect of offering a car maintenance plan that keeps the customer happy.
Provide flexible options. Consider offering both regular and prepaid maintenance plans to your customers. Most busy car owners may opt for a a prepaid plan because they have one less thing to worry about. However, it has some limitations. It would be better to offer a plan that can be tailored to meet the customer’s unique needs.
Offer some perks. Many dealerships offer special perks and benefits with their car maintenance plan. The most popular is free oil changes throughout the life of the vehicle. Do set limits. You can provide this freebie for just a few number of times or for a year. Get creative and try to offer something unique. Whatever it is, it should be cost-effective and will help increase or maintain customer retention.
Make it convenient. Lastly, make your services convenient to your customers. For example, if they are not available during the workweek, offer to pick up the car from their workplace or home and return it right after fixing. Your shop should be available most of the time to cater to your customers’ needs.
By maintaining a good relationship with your customers, they are more likely to return to your dealership. A car maintenance plan is a great way to make and keep your customers happy. Consider these tips to create a nice offer that will make them take advantage of your offer.