Which guide answers your question
| The decision | Rule of thumb | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Dealership CRM vs. DMS | CRM for selling, DMS for the books. Most franchise stores run both; many independents start with the CRM. | Read the guide |
| AI chatbot vs. BDC | AI for the first reply, after hours and routine follow-up; people for negotiation, credit and anything sensitive. | Read the guide |
| All-in-one vs. point tools | All-in-one when re-keying and logins are the pain; point tools when one department needs depth nothing else has. | Read the guide |
| AI phone agent vs. answering service | Voicemail loses the after-hours shopper; pick the option that can find the car and book the visit. | Read the guide |
| Independent dealer software checklist | Require one lead inbox, follow-up that runs itself, desking, inventory, your data out any time and no long contract. | Read the guide |
The guides
CRM vs. DMSDealership CRM vs. DMS: which one does your store need?What each system is for, and when a store needs one, the other or both.Read the guide AI vs. BDCAI chatbot vs. BDC: who should answer your dealership's leads?Which lead work AI should take, and which should stay with people.Read the guide All-in-one vs. point toolsAll-in-one dealership software vs. point tools: how to chooseOne connected system or a stack of specialist tools, judged on cost, data and daily use.Read the guide Phone AI vs. answering serviceAI phone agent vs. answering service vs. voicemail for dealershipsThree ways to cover the calls nobody on the floor can pick up.Read the guide Independent dealer checklistThe independent dealer software checklistWhat to require, what to ask and what to skip when a small store buys software.Read the guide
Before you compare vendors
- Write down where your store loses deals or time today: unanswered leads, missed calls, re-typed deals, slow month-end.
- Total what you pay now across every tool, including per-seat and per-lead fees. The dealership software pricing research lists published prices with sources.
- Decide which category fixes the problem, using the guides above.
- Ask every vendor the same questions in writing, and run the finalist on your own leads before cancelling anything. The switching guide covers a run-both plan.
Comparing specific products
If you are already down to named products, the dealership software comparison and the CarSales AI vs. TECOBI page cover those separately. For CarSales AI itself, what's included lists every feature on every plan and who we are not for says plainly when it is the wrong fit.