11 January 2025
DMS vs Dedicated Compliance Software: What Dealerships Need to Know
Most car dealerships already use a Dealer Management System (DMS).
So why do many still struggle with test drive consent, data retention, and GDPR compliance?
What a DMS is designed to do
A DMS is built for:
- Sales workflows
- Inventory and orders
- Customer records
- After-sales operations
Its focus is commercial efficiency, not regulatory compliance.
Where DMS systems struggle with test drive compliance
Most DMS platforms lack:
Purpose-limited data handling
Test drive data is stored alongside long-term customer records, making it difficult to treat differently.
Automated retention and deletion
Few DMS systems can delete test drive data automatically after a defined period.
Clear consent workflows
Consent is often implicit or buried in notes, rather than captured explicitly with timestamps.
Frontline usability
Sales staff avoid complex workflows during busy periods, leading to inconsistent data capture.
Why dedicated compliance software exists
Compliance tools are designed to:
- Enforce legal boundaries
- Apply consistent rules
- Automate retention and deletion
- Create audit-ready records
This is especially important for short-lived data like test drive information, where the rules are different from long-term customer relationships.
Complementing—not replacing—your DMS
Dedicated compliance software like DriveConsento:
- Does not replace your DMS
- Handles test drive-specific data separately
- Reduces risk without disrupting sales workflows
- Works alongside existing systems
This separation is increasingly used by multi-location dealership groups who need consistent compliance across all sites.
When do you need dedicated software?
Consider dedicated test drive compliance software if:
- You operate multiple locations
- You’re unsure how long test drive data is retained
- You can’t prove when customer data was deleted
- You rely on paper forms or manual processes
- You’ve had (or want to avoid) compliance questions from customers or regulators
Key takeaway
A DMS is essential—but it is not enough for test drive compliance.
Dedicated compliance software fills a critical gap while working alongside existing systems. It’s not about replacing what works; it’s about addressing what doesn’t.
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