The Independent Dealer Podcast

Jeff Watson & Luke Godwin
  • 4.9 (96)
  • AUTOMOTIVE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

A podcast for Independent Used Car Dealers to get help on how to improve their dealerships and their life. As current used car dealers, Luke and Jeff find the best advice from industry experts and other successful dealers. If you want to learn and grow your business with like minded used car dealers tune in each week. "Dealers Helping Dealers"

  1. #431 - EV is coming to BHPH/LHPH: Are You Ready?

    2D AGO

    #431 - EV is coming to BHPH/LHPH: Are You Ready?

    In this episode of the Independent Dealer Podcast, Jeff Watson takes the conversation to the floor of BHPH United Summit for a raw discussion on the future of EVs in buy here pay here and lease here pay here. Joined by Trygg Waldbillig — an independent indirect leasing operator who has gone nearly all-in on Teslas — they break down what it actually takes to put subprime customers in electric vehicles, and when the economics finally start to make sense.What You'll Learn:-Why EV supply is surging at auction and what half a million off-lease units hitting the market over the next 2-4 years means for BHPH pricing-How to check battery health before you buy — and the quick math dealers can run right on the lot-Which EVs belong on your buy list (and which early-gen models to avoid at all costs)-Why knowing your customer's charging situation is make-or-break before you put them in an EV-How lower fuel and maintenance costs can actually improve your customer's ability to pay — even if the payment stays the same-What the battery warranty landscape looks like in 2026, and why building your own reinsurance product may be the smartest move in the EV spaceIf you're a buy here pay here or lease here pay here dealer trying to figure out when and how to get into EVs, this is the most practical, operator-to-operator conversation on the topic you'll find anywhere.Support the businesses that support the podcast:Buckeye Risk Services - Reinsurance and wealth strategies for independent dealers. https://theindependentdealer.com/buckeyeBlytz - The fintech powering collections and text-to-pay for BHPH dealers. https://theindependentdealer.com/blytzpay/Ituran GPS - Asset protection and customer management for BHPH and retail dealers. https://theindependentdealer.com/ituranFollow & Connect:Website: www.theindependentdealer.comFacebook Group: @independentautogroupJeff Watson: /sendtojeffwLike, subscribe, and share this with a dealer who needs to hear it.

    52 min
  2. #19 - Monday Minute | You Don't Have a Buying Plan — You Have a Habit

    5D AGO

    #19 - Monday Minute | You Don't Have a Buying Plan — You Have a Habit

    Welcome to the Monday Minute, brought to you by Collections Boot Camp with AI from Godwin Consulting — your weekly reset to lead better, think clearer, and build your independent dealership with intention. You've heard it a thousand times: you make your money when you buy the car. But here's the problem most independent dealers won't admit — they don't have a buying plan, they have buying habits. Scrolling the auction. Chasing shiny objects. Buying when they're bored. Standing in the lane trusting a sixth sense about whether the cabin air filter looks fresh. In this episode, Luke and Jeff get specific about what a real buying plan looks like and why most used car dealerships are leaving serious money on the lane. They walk through the questions every plan should answer — what makes and models fit your store, what price ranges work for your customers, what's in your strike zone, and what belongs on your no-buy list no matter how cheap it is. They go deeper on sourcing — auctions, street purchases, trade-ins, private sellers — and why the best operators build relationships across all of them. Then they get into the real unlock: data. Pulling your most profitable units out of your DMS (not your favorite or easiest deals — the most profitable), looking for patterns in price, mileage, make, and model, and using AI to dissect it for you. Build the plan, write it down, and you can finally delegate buying to somebody else — which is exactly what Luke is doing right now, and it's working. Your assignment this week: write your buying plan. Use your DMS data, lean on AI, tighten your discipline, and put it on paper. Great dealers don't wonder what's happening in the market. They build a plan and execute it. Review this week's Sunday newsletter at TheIndependentDealer.com for the full theme and exercises. Not subscribed yet? Sign up now. https://theindependentdealer.us19.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=603446580871d8522a454418d&id=50aae74348 Let's build this together. SPONSORED BY COLLECTIONS BOOT CAMP WITH AI — Godwin Consulting Group 📅 May 14, 2026 | 📍 Atlanta, GA Learn more & register: www.godwinconsultinggroup.com/training

    5 min
  3. #430 - FTC Sends 97 Warning Letters to Car Dealers — Are You Next? | Patrick O'Brien

    MAY 7

    #430 - FTC Sends 97 Warning Letters to Car Dealers — Are You Next? | Patrick O'Brien

    In this episode of the Independent Dealer Podcast, Jeff Watson and Luke Godwin sit down with Patrick O'Brien, Director of Government Relations and Compliance at NIADA, for a straight-shooting breakdown of the FTC's 97 warning letters to dealerships — what they mean, why they were sent, and what every dealer needs to do right now. From the vacated CARS rule to out-the-door pricing, Patrick pulls back the curtain on what Washington is actually doing to police market conduct in 2026. What You'll Learn: Why the FTC issued 97 warning letters to dealerships — and what happens next if they don't clean up their act How the Lindsay Auto Group consent agreement is a preview of what enforcement actually looks like What "out-the-door price" really means under Section 5 of the FTC Act — and why doc fees can no longer be hidden Whether independent dealers can (or should) report franchise stores that are still doing it wrongHow NIADA and NADA are working together — and where they disagree — on right to repair and safety recall legislation Why the NIADA Convention in Denver (June 21–24) is the place to get compliant and get ahead If you're an independent or BHPH dealer trying to navigate the FTC's crackdown on deceptive pricing, this episode is required listening. Support the businesses that support the podcast: Buckeye Risk Services - Reinsurance and wealth strategies for independent dealers. https://theindependentdealer.com/buckeye Blytz - BHPH payment processing with fast funding and text-to-pay. https://theindependentdealer.com/blytzpay/ Ituran GPS - Asset protection and customer management for BHPH and retail dealers. https://theindependentdealer.com/ituran Follow & Connect: Website: www.theindependentdealer.com Facebook Group: @independentautogroup Luke Godwin: @lukegodwin Jeff Watson: /sendtojeffw Like, subscribe, and share this with a dealer who needs to hear it.

    42 min
  4. #18 - Monday Minute | Lot Rot Is Killing Your Profit

    MAY 4

    #18 - Monday Minute | Lot Rot Is Killing Your Profit

    Welcome to the Monday Minute, brought to you by Collections Boot Camp with AI from Godwin Consulting — your weekly reset to lead better, think clearer, and build your independent dealership with intention. You don't make your money when you buy the car. You don't even make it when you price it. You make it when you sell it — and the faster that happens, the more efficient your entire used car dealership becomes. In this episode, Luke and Jeff break down one of the most ignored numbers in the independent dealer business: turn time. They walk through what a healthy turn looks like (1.5 is the sweet spot, around 45 days), how to calculate yours straight out of your DMS by dividing your average inventory by your average monthly sales, and why slow inventory is quietly killing your profitability. Lot rot is real — Jeff can point to two cars literally grown into the asphalt of his dealership. Aged units force discounts. Flooring fees, curtailments, and interest pile up. And every week a car sits, you're missing the chance to put something fresher and more exciting in front of a customer. Luke and Jeff dig into what's actually slowing dealers down — pricing, reconditioning delays, merchandising, or simply the wrong cars on the lot — and give you the math and the mindset to fix it. Turn time isn't just a number, it's a discipline. Your assignment this week: calculate your turn honestly, and identify one thing you can change to pick up the speed. Speed isn't pressure — it's the strategy for being a great independent car dealer. Review this week's Sunday newsletter at www.theindependentdealer.com for the full theme and exercises. Not subscribed yet? Sign up now. https://theindependentdealer.us19.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=603446580871d8522a454418d&id=50aae74348Let's build this together. SPONSORED BY COLLECTIONS BOOT CAMP WITH AI — Godwin Consulting Group 📅 May 14, 2026 | 📍 Atlanta, GA Learn more & register: www.godwinconsultinggroup.com/training

    4 min
  5. #429 - BHPH United: We Ask Dealers What's Their Biggest Problem Right Now

    APR 30

    #429 - BHPH United: We Ask Dealers What's Their Biggest Problem Right Now

    Jeff Watson and Luke Godwin hit the floor at the 2026 BHPH United Summit in Las Vegas to ask dealers one simple question: what's your biggest problem right now? The answers? Honest, unfiltered, and exactly what you'd expect from a room full of operators who've seen it all. What You'll Hear: -The challenges keeping BHPH dealers up at night in 2026 -How operators are responding to tighter credit, rising repos, and shifting customer behavior -Real talk on compliance, collections, and customer retention -Why BHPH United has become a must-attend event for serious independent dealers If you couldn't make it to Vegas, this is the next best thing. Support the businesses that support the podcast: Buckeye Risk Services - Reinsurance and wealth strategies for independent dealers. https://theindependentdealer.com/buckeye Blytz - BHPH payment processing with fast funding and text-to-pay. https://theindependentdealer.com/blytzpay Ituran GPS - Asset protection and customer management for BHPH and retail dealers. https://theindependentdealer.com/ituran Follow & Connect:Website: www.theindependentdealer.com Facebook Group: @independentautogroup Luke Godwin: @lukegodwinJeff Watson: /sendtojeffw Like, subscribe, and share this with a dealer who needs to hear it.

    25 min
  6. #17 - Monday Minute | What Happens When Your Key Person Doesn't Show Up Tomorrow?

    APR 27

    #17 - Monday Minute | What Happens When Your Key Person Doesn't Show Up Tomorrow?

    Welcome to the Monday Minute, brought to you by Collections Boot Camp with AI from Godwin Consulting — your weekly reset to lead better, think clearer, and build your independent dealership with intention. Every independent car dealership has that one person. The one who knows how everything works, who to call when something breaks, and where all the processes live — deal flow, title processing, cash management, opening and closing procedures. Maybe that person is you. And if they walked out tomorrow — quit, got poached, or just didn't show up — how long before your dealership started falling apart? In this episode, Luke and Jeff build on the policy and procedure conversation from earlier in the month and get specific: your core dealership office processes need to be documented, step by step, before you need them. Who opens the store? Who closes? How does deal flow work? Where does paperwork go? How is title processing handled? How is cash managed? If the answers live in someone's head instead of on paper, your used car dealership is one resignation away from chaos. They walk through how independent dealers can start simple, how to make your processes trainable for new hires, and why the goal isn't perfection — it's protection. Strong dealerships don't run on memory. They run on systems. Review this week's Sunday newsletter at ⁠TheIndependentDealer.com for the full theme and exercises. Not subscribed yet? Sign up now. https://theindependentdealer.us19.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=603446580871d8522a454418d&id=50aae74348Let's build this together.SPONSORED BY COLLECTIONS BOOT CAMP WITH AI — Godwin Consulting Group📅 May 14, 2026 | 📍 Atlanta, GALearn more & register: www.godwinconsultinggroup.com/training

    5 min
  7. #428 - BHPH on the Border: Managing Risk, Repos & Growth in El Paso

    APR 23

    #428 - BHPH on the Border: Managing Risk, Repos & Growth in El Paso

    In this episode of the Independent Dealer Podcast, Jeff Watson and Luke Godwin sit down with Cesar Stark, CEO of S&S Motors and President of the El Paso Independent Automobile Dealers Association, for a deep dive into what it's like to run a buy here pay here dealership on the U.S.-Mexico border. Cesar shares how growing up across the border shaped his business, how the Mexican government's vehicle legalization program started costing him cars — and his liens — and why slow, disciplined growth has been the key to his 20+ year run in the industry.What You'll Learn:-How Cesar got his start in the car business after a career in insurance — and how that background led him to reinsurance-Why the Mexican government's vehicle legalization program became a major threat to BHPH dealers on the border-How selling notes early on kept the doors open — and why he hasn- t sold one in 6 years-The reinsurance strategy he wishes he'd started sooner-Why being deeply involved in TIADA and NIADA has been one of his biggest competitive advantages-What Cesar sees coming for the BHPH industry over the next 5-10 years — and why he's being careful about how fast he growsIf you're a buy here pay here or independent dealer navigating a unique market, thinking about reinsurance, or trying to figure out how to grow without outrunning your capital, this episode is full of hard-won lessons from a dealer who's been in the trenches for over two decades.Support the businesses that support the podcast:Buckeye Risk Services - Reinsurance and wealth strategies for independent dealers.https://theindependentdealer.com/buckeyeBlytzPay - BHPH payment processing with fast funding and text-to-pay.https://theindependentdealer.com/blytzpayIturan GPS - Asset protection and customer management for BHPH and retail dealers.https://theindependentdealer.com/ituranFollow & Connect:Website: www.theindependentdealer.comFacebook Group: @independentautogroupLuke Godwin: @lukegodwinJeff Watson: /sendtojeffwLike, subscribe, and share this with a dealer who needs to hear it.

    43 min
  8. #16 - Monday Minute | Clean Lot, More Sales: Facility Standards for Independent Dealers

    APR 20

    #16 - Monday Minute | Clean Lot, More Sales: Facility Standards for Independent Dealers

    Welcome to the Monday Minute, brought to you by Godwin Consulting's Collections BootCamp with Ai — your weekly reset to lead better, think clearer, and build your independent dealership with intention.You stop seeing it. The worn-out chairs. The faded signage. The weeds in the lot. The clutter stacked next to the sales desk. As an independent car dealer, you're there every day — so it becomes invisible to you. But your customers see all of it. And so do your employees.In this episode, Luke and Jeff make the case that your used car dealership's facility isn't just a building — it's a direct reflection of your standards, and your standards become your culture. A neglected lot tells customers you don't pay attention to details. Inconsistent word tracks tell your team they can say anything. Top independent dealers control both the physical environment and the verbal message their dealership sends.They break down how to audit your dealership facility with a fresh set of eyes, why budgeting consistently for maintenance and capital improvements is non-negotiable, and how tightening your physical standards directly impacts customer trust, employee performance, and ultimately — car sales.Review this week's Sunday newsletter at ⁠TheIndependentDealer.com⁠ for the full theme and exercises.Not subscribed yet? Sign up now.⁠https://theindependentdealer.us19.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=603446580871d8522a454418d&id=50aae74348Let's build this together.Collections BootCamp with AiMay 14, 2026Atlanta, GA9am-4:30pmRegister Today: www.godwinconsultinggroup.com/training

    6 min
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4.9
out of 5
96 Ratings

About

A podcast for Independent Used Car Dealers to get help on how to improve their dealerships and their life. As current used car dealers, Luke and Jeff find the best advice from industry experts and other successful dealers. If you want to learn and grow your business with like minded used car dealers tune in each week. "Dealers Helping Dealers"

Information

  • Creator
    Jeff Watson & Luke Godwin
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    460
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Jeff Watson & Luke Godwin
  • Show Website
    The Independent Dealer Podcast

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