The Fast Lane to More Deals: 4 Financing Moves Top Dealers Use
Discover how top-performing dealerships are leveraging AI and automation to streamline the auto financing processes, enhance customer experience, and gain a competitive edge.
With interest rates still high and buyers more informed than ever, one factor is separating top-performing dealerships from the rest: speed, not just on the sales floor, but in financing. Price, inventory availability, and customer experience will always matter; however, the dealers who can move customers from test drives to finalized documents fastest are winning the deal.
Meet the modern car buyer.
Today’s car shoppers aren’t showing up unprepared. They’ve done their homework—often weeks in advance, comparing interest rates, calculating monthly payments, and reading market trends. They are more financially literate and digitally savvy than ever before. Many are coming with a clear understanding of what they can afford, and thanks to online calculators, forums, and financial influencers, they’re more confident in their expectations and less tolerant of friction in the buying process.
For dealers, this is both a challenge and an opportunity. The challenge is keeping up with a more informed, more demanding customer base. The opportunity? To win their business—and their loyalty—by delivering a financing experience as innovative and streamlined as they are.
As a result, dealers are rethinking their financing workflows from the ground up. They’re not just reacting to buyer expectations; they are getting ahead of them.
Four ways top dealerships are gaining an edge:
1. Shift financing into high gear with AI and automation.
Slow approvals can kill momentum. Top-performing dealerships are turning to AI and automation to shift their financing process into high gear—eliminating bottlenecks and accelerating workflows from the moment a buyer applies.
AI and automation aren’t just speeding things up; they’re transforming the entire experience. The process has become more efficient, accurate, and consistent, from the digital application verifying the buyer’s information to flagging missing or incomplete data, and even pre-screening applications based on lender-specific criteria. The result? A faster decision, fewer delays, and more time for the sales team to focus on customers.
2. Faster funding powers performance.
Contracts in transit (CIT) remain one of the most persistent bottlenecks in dealership operations. When deals sit in limbo waiting for funding, it ties up cash flow, slows inventory turns, and adds unnecessary friction to the back office. Dealers are addressing this by adopting tools that support same-day funding, digital contract submission, and real-time communication with lenders.
Features like automated contract validation, lender-specific compliance checks, and e-signature integration help ensure clean submissions and fewer reworks. For dealers, that means faster funding, fewer delays, and a more predictable operational rhythm—especially important when managing high volumes or tight inventory cycles.
3. Build a stronger lending engine.
Rather than expanding their lender networks, top dealers focus on building deeper, more strategic relationships with a select group of trusted lenders. This approach fosters better communication, faster approvals, and more tailored financing solutions for buyers with less-than-perfect credit.
In fact, dealers are finding that technology partners like CUDL, where one contract can gain access to the largest pool of credit union lenders, allow them to serve more buyers with a streamlined process, reduce friction, and ensure more consistent funding—even in a volatile market.
4. Create a smoother financing experience.
For many buyers, financing is the most stressful part of the car-buying process. Confusing terms, long wait times, and unclear next steps can create frustration—even if the rest of the experience was positive. Dealers focused on making financing more transparent and efficient are turning a common pain point into a competitive advantage.
To address this, many dealers are adopting technology solutions that streamline communication and simplify workflows from application to funding. These technologies help reduce manual steps, minimize errors, and provide greater transparency throughout the process.
When buyers are kept informed and understand what’s happening at each stage, they’re more likely to feel confident in their decisions. This increases the likelihood of completing the sale, strengthens customer satisfaction, and builds long-term loyalty.
Outpace the competition or get left behind.
Across every part of the financing process—from lender selection to funding—dealers are finding that speed isn’t just about convenience. It’s about keeping deals on track, improving cash flow, and delivering the kind of experience today’s buyers expect. That doesn’t mean rushing the process—it means building processes that are efficient, flexible, and ready to adapt when the market shifts.
Dealers who invest in smarter workflows, stronger lender partnerships, and tools that reduce friction are better positioned to serve more buyers and close more deals.
Ready to accelerate your dealership’s success?
Join the thousands of dealers who trust CUDL to streamline financing, strengthen lender relationships, and close deals faster. Discover how CUDL can help you move at the speed of today’s buyers—without sacrificing control or connection.
