Get a demo
Get a demo
Get a demo
Free White Paper

Turn Payment Transparency Into Profit

California’s CARS Act takes effect October 1, 2026. Every dealer will need to show a true, all-in price — in every ad, every conversation. The Transparency Dividend is the playbook top-performing dealers are already using to turn that requirement into a competitive edge.
What’s Inside
  • Why one great desk manager isn’t a system and what happens to your deals when they’re out
  • The real reason showing a transparent number wins more deals
  • What California’s CARS Act (and the FTC) actually require and the one system that already meets it
  • How much profit the average dealer leaves unclaimed in incentives every year (the number will surprise you)
  • Why “faster” isn’t just about speed it’s the difference between funding today and rewriting tomorrow
What’s Inside

The FTC’s national CARS Rule got struck down in court but enforcement never stopped, and states aren’t waiting. California’s own CARS Act takes effect October 1, 2026, requiring dealers to disclose a true, all-in price in every ad and customer communication. Other states are expected to follow. The dealers who get ahead of this are turning transparency into a selling point that builds trust and protects gross.

Who This Is For
Dealer principals, general managers, desk managers, and F&I directors who want to protect gross, move faster at the desk, and get ahead of new compliance requirements before they become a scramble.
Dealer Results

“SmartPencil is detailed and transparent in how it discloses payment details to customers. That makes customers trust us more and negotiate less. We’re seeing $500 to $1,000 more profit per financed deal.”
— General Sales Manager, Florida Hyundai Genesis Dealership

“SmartPencil’s recommendations save me from spending twenty minutes looking for inventory when I need to switch vehicles for a customer.”
— Tennessee Chevrolet Dealership

Get the Free White Paper

Trusted by 5,000+ dealerships nationwide.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Effective October 1, 2026, the California Combating Auto Retail Scams (CARS) Act (SB 766) requires dealers to disclose a vehicle’s true “total price” in every ad and initial customer communication.

Yes. Although a federal court struck down the FTC’s national CARS Rule in 2025 on procedural grounds, the FTC has kept enforcing against deceptive pricing and hidden fees under its existing authority. The white paper breaks down exactly what that’s looked like in 2026.

SmartPencil calculates accurate, compliant, credit-qualified payments instantly covering financing, leasing, incentives, and fees so every deal is transparent, fast, and profitable.

Industry audits show the average dealer misses multiple incentives per 100 deals reviewed, and each miss can cost more than one lost sale. The full breakdown is in the white paper.

Dealer principals, GMs, desk managers, and F&I directors who want to protect gross, speed up the desk, and stay ahead of new compliance requirements.