LOANER CAR TRACKING FOR DEALERSHIPS: A SUCCESS STORY

Loaner or replacement cars are temporary vehicles given by a car dealership or repair shop to use for clients while their car is being repaired or serviced. When it comes to managing loaner fleets for car dealerships, there are several challenges: vehicles must be available, fuelled or charged, and properly maintained, while their location and usage must remain under control. Without proper oversight, there is a risk of lost revenue and extra manual work if cars get lost, malfunctions go unreported, or mileage limits are exceeded.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO TRACK TEMPORARY REPLACEMENT CARS?

Telematics technology helps dealerships manage vehicles provided temporarily to customers. It gives staff remote access to courtesy cars location, mileage, fuel or battery level, and other useful data. With this information, dealerships can reduce manual checks and make sure cars are ready for the next customer.

MAIN CHALLENGES DEALERSHIPS FACE WITH LOANER FLEETS

Managing loaner vehicles can be challenging, especially for dealerships with large fleets or multiple locations. Cars may be returned late, left at an unexpected location, driven more than agreed, or returned without enough fuel or battery charge.

Without accurate information, staff may spend additional time locating vehicles, checking their condition, and preparing them for the next customer. These issues can increase administrative work and affect vehicle availability.

GPS TRACKING FOR LOANER CARS IN THE US

Kimoby, Teltonika's business partner in North America, addresses these challenges through its SaaS (software as a service) platform, using our FMM00A trackers. The Plug & Play OBD-II design enables quick and simple installation without complex wiring, making it convenient for dealership fleets.

The solution provides real-time location updates, geofencing, and historical tracking to resolve disputes over traffic offences. Moreover, Teltonika’s FMM00A tracker allows monitoring of fuel or charge levels and mileage, helping ensure that vehicles are ready for customers and allowing dealerships to apply fair charges for excessive usage.

Meanwhile, automatic alerts for disconnection or malfunctions enable timely intervention and reduce administrative effort.

WHY FMM00A FITS DEALERSHIP FLEETS?

Teltonika’s FMM00A is an advanced Plug & Play OBD-II tracker with 4G LTE Cat M1 connectivity designed for North America.

The tracker can read supported OBD OEM parameters, including real odometer and fuel-level data. Teltonika also provides a supported vehicle and data list covering available manufacturer models and parameters. This helps dealerships check compatibility across different vehicles in their fleets.

For dealership loaner fleets, this combination provides a practical way to collect GPS and vehicle data across different vehicles and access useful information for day-to-day fleet management.

WHICH TRACKERS SHOULD YOU CHOOSE FOR REPLACEMENT CAR MONITORING IN OTHER MARKETS?

FMM00A trackers are specifically designed for the North American market. For other markets, the FMC003 is a suitable alternative. With OBD OEM data reading, it offers similar monitoring capabilities together with easy plug-and-play installation.

WHAT VEHICLE DATA DEALERSHIPS CAN MONITOR?

A loaner car tracking solution gives dealerships access to useful vehicle and location data in one system. Depending on the vehicle and configuration, dealerships can monitor:

• Vehicle location – see where loaner cars are and locate vehicles that have not been returned as expected.

• Geofencing – monitor when vehicles enter or leave predefined areas.

• Mileage – track vehicle usage and identify excessive mileage.

• Fuel or battery charge level – check whether vehicles are ready for the next customer.

• Historical routes – review previous journeys and use location history when resolving disputes.

• Disconnection or malfunction alerts – identify potential issues and respond sooner.

HOW CAN DEALERSHIPS SAVE COSTS BY MONITORING THEIR LOANER CARS?

Better fleet visibility can help dealerships reduce losses and everyday operating costs.

Real-time location data reduces the time spent searching for vehicles and can support recovery when a car is not returned. Mileage data helps dealerships monitor excessive use and manage vehicle wear. Fuel or charge information helps staff prepare vehicles for the next customer.

Automatic alerts also reduce the need for manual checks. Staff can focus on vehicles that require attention instead of checking every car individually.

Together, these capabilities help reduce administrative work, improve vehicle availability, and give dealerships better control over their loaner fleets.

RESULTS: FULL VISIBILITY OF LOANER CARS FLEET

As a result, company managers have full control of their fleets, while always keeping vehicles ready for customers. Loaner fleets become a source of revenue rather than a cost centre.

For example, Kimoby’s client, a dealership in Vancouver, lost contact with a customer who had taken a loaner vehicle. Using FMM00A tracker, they located the car in the province of Ontario, Canada, and recovered it quickly, avoiding potential loss.

FLEXIBILITY AND DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS

The main reasons for Kimoby to choose Teltonika were a wide range of supported vehicles across different years and models, comprehensive yet simple data reporting, and the accessibility of our technical team. As a result, guesswork has been replaced with data-driven decisions on maintenance, fuel, and vehicle retirement.

Loaner car tracking therefore goes beyond knowing where a vehicle is. It gives dealerships useful data to improve fleet visibility, reduce administrative work, support vehicle recovery, and keep more vehicles ready for customers.

WANT TO START WORKING WITH TELTONIKA?

If you are looking for a reliable telematics solution for loaner cars or dealership fleets, reach out to us. With local offices in 27 countries, we are ready to support your business with reliable vehicle data and effective fleet management solutions.