Dealerships are under pressure to protect margins, improve fixed ops efficiency, and keep the customer experience clean. In a recent ASOTU Edge webinar with PayJunction, Randy Motos, co-founder and president of PayJunction, and Don Andres, owner of Auto SCT Consulting and Training, shared how smarter payment technology can help dealers reduce processing costs without creating friction at checkout.
How much are payment processing fees costing my dealership?
More than many dealers realize.
During the webinar, PayJunction shared the example of a dealership that was spending roughly $40,000 per month in payment processing fees before implementing SmartSurcharge. Afterward, that number dropped to about $6,000 per month, returning around $34,000 monthly to the dealership’s bottom line.
For dealers reviewing their financial statements, this expense often shows up as a large monthly line item. As Don Andres pointed out, cutting staff to save money can hurt the customer experience, while reducing payment costs can free up funds without weakening service operations.
Can auto dealers surcharge credit card payments without hurting CSI?
Yes, but the customer experience has to be handled correctly.
The webinar made clear that surcharge friction usually comes from poor disclosure. If a customer only discovers the surcharge at the end of the transaction, the experience can feel frustrating or unclear.
PayJunction’s SmartSurcharge approach is built around what Randy Motos called “freedom of choice.” Customer-facing terminals clearly show the customer both options:
Debit card payment with no surcharge
Credit card payment with the surcharge included
That clarity helps protect CSI because the customer sees the choice directly and can decide how they want to pay.
Why do service advisors struggle with payment conversations?
Service advisors are already managing approvals, repairs, customer updates, delivery, and relationship-building. Adding a compliance-heavy payment script can create another point of stress.
Don Andres explained that advisors often avoid tools they do not believe in or feel uncomfortable using. That is why PayJunction’s technology reduces the need for advisors to explain every surcharge detail manually. The terminal handles the disclosure, which helps the advisor stay focused on the customer relationship instead of a payment script.
How can smarter payments improve fixed ops efficiency?
Payment processing affects more than fees.
Unintegrated payment systems often require manual entry, paper receipts, and back-office reconciliation. That creates extra work for service advisors, managers, and controllers.
PayJunction’s no-code payment integration connects payment activity with the dealership’s existing browser-based software. That helps reduce duplicate entry, simplify reconciliation, and give teams cleaner reporting across departments, rooftops, and brands.
What can dealers do with the money saved from processing fees?
The savings can be reinvested into the parts of the business customers actually feel.
In the webinar, Paul Daly connected the savings opportunity to service investments like pickup and delivery, mobile service, better support staffing, and tools that help advisors spend more time with customers.
Instead of cutting from the customer experience, dealers can reduce a hidden operating cost and use that money to improve service capacity.
Does PayJunction work with dealership management systems?
PayJunction is built to help dealers keep their existing software while upgrading payments.
The company’s broader brand promise centers on “freedom of choice,” meaning dealers should not be forced into a default processor just because of the software they use. PayJunction offers browser-based tools, customer-facing terminals, text-to-pay, compliant surcharging, reporting, PCI tools, and U.S.-based support.
On its dealer-specific page, PayJunction also highlights tools for separate batches, department controls, surcharge reports, digital receipts, and multi-location visibility.
How fast can a dealership implement better payment processing?
According to Randy Motos, PayJunction’s no-code integration can often be installed quickly through a browser-based workflow.
PayJunction also promotes a direct promise on its website: they will integrate with browser-based software in one day or pay $1,000.
For dealers, that means payment modernization does not have to become a long technology project.
What is the first step for dealers who want to reduce payment costs?
Start by reviewing current processing statements.
PayJunction’s recommended first step is to compare the dealership’s current payment costs against what an integrated SmartSurcharge setup could look like. From there, dealers can review the financial impact, see the technology, and decide whether the savings and operational improvements fit their store.
For many dealers, smarter payments are not just about the transaction. They are about protecting margin, reducing admin work, giving customers clearer choices, and putting more money back into the service experience.
