Short answer
A start-up lot can run on Dealer Garage's free plan, which includes inventory, cost tracking, customers, vendors, deals, most paperwork, the calendar and backups. Basic ($99 once) adds the bill of sale, garage register, lead sync and Marketplace posting. There is no monthly fee and no per-user charge.
Why it suits a small start
- No monthly subscription while sales are uncertain.
- One computer is enough; the data lives there.
- You can add features by upgrading later, without migrating.
- A guided setup of the dealership, taxes and users.
A starter setup
- Install Dealer Garage and set up your dealership and tax lines.
- Add your first cars by VIN and record purchase costs.
- Create your leads and customers as they come in.
- Upgrade to Basic when you want the bill of sale, register and Marketplace posting.
- Back up weekly from the start.
More reading
A checklist for starting a dealership and a backup plan.
Your first month
- Week 1: install, set up the dealership and taxes, add current stock.
- Week 2: record costs, add leads, start using the calendar.
- Week 3: complete a few deals and print the paperwork.
- Week 4: review the dashboard and decide whether Basic is worth it.
Questions people ask
Is the free plan time-limited?
No. The free plan has no expiry.
Can I upgrade later?
Yes. A licence unlocks Basic or Pro features on the same data.
Try Dealer Garage
Dealer Garage is installable dealer management software for independent used-car dealers in the US and Canada: inventory, leads, deals, dealer paperwork, Facebook Marketplace posting and email campaigns, with records stored on the dealership's own computer..