2023 TIME Dealer of the Year nominees at the NADA annual convention in Dallas, Texas.

Nomination Requirements

  • Be a franchised new-car dealer
  • Be a member of the NADA
  • Be a member of a state dealer association and, if applicable, a local association
  • Be the actual operating head of the dealership as designated in the franchise paragraph of the factory agreement, or the owner’s designated agent with full authority for business operations for a minimum of one year with recognition by the sponsoring dealer association as the dealership’s voting representative
  • Have an ongoing presence in the dealership offices, actively managing the dealership
  • Have at least a five-year record of active participation in affairs of the nominee’s state or local dealer association
  • Agree to be available for participation in Dealer of the Year activity during the year following selection

In addition, the following rules apply:

  • Current directors of NADA are not eligible for the 2025 award
  • Past Dealer of the Year nominees can be re-nominated four years from the last date of nomination
  • If a nominee is not actively managing the dealership at the time of nomination, they can be named their state’s nominee; however, in order to be considered as a finalist or to be named the TIME Dealer of the Year, active participation at the time of nomination is required.

Judging Criteria

A panel composed of faculty from the Tauber Institute for Global Operations at the University of Michigan chooses TIME Dealer of the Year finalists from each of the four NADA regions. From those four finalists, the judges then select the national winner, who will be named the 2025 TIME Dealer of the Year. The judges’ professionalism, integrity, and high standards combine to make the TIME Dealer of the Year the most respected award in the industry.

In appreciation of this service, TIME and Ally have established an annual scholarship at the school in the name of TIME, Ally, NADA and the Dealer of the Year nominees.

At the Dealership

  • Customer satisfaction
  • Personnel competence, training,
    attitude and record of service
  • Financial status
  • Ethics
  • New-car sales record
  • Used-car sales record
  • Service sales record
  • Share of market
  • Physical plant and facilities
  • Dealer association participation

In the community

  • Service to community and humanity
  • Civic, political and educational activities
  • Additional contributions to benefit others