As we walked the halls of the General Assembly Building during our annual Dealer Day, it dawned on me that the name of our association — and all state “dealer” associations — is somewhat misleading.

We are not an organization that merely supports dealership owners and leadership, or exclusively the sales side as the word “dealer” implies. Our work supports everyone inside the four walls of a dealership — and many people, especially consumers, outside of them.

Look no further than the unanimous, bipartisan support behind VADA’s warranty and recall legislation in the Virginia General Assembly to provide greater protections to dealerships and fair pay to auto technicians for warranty and recall work. Indeed, among the 100+ dealership leaders at our Dealer Day on Jan. 29 were many boots-on-the-ground automotive technicians, parts and service directors, and others whose livelihoods depend on legislation like this one.

These conversations with legislators provided crucial insights, making it clear that outdated reimbursement policies were not only placing financial burdens on dealerships but also delaying necessary vehicle repairs for consumers who rely on the transportation our members provide.

Our legislation has since been signed into law by Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

This legislation is more than just an economic measure — it’s about fairness, stability and making sure that those who work in our industry can continue to grow in their careers. Dealerships directly employ more than 30,000 people in Virginia, a number that balloons to over 61,000 workers in support or partner roles. 

The truth is that the Virginia Automobile Dealers Association does not only support “dealers.” We protect the technicians, service teams and managers who ultimately ensure the customer receives quality service every day. 

And ultimately, it is the customer whom we all serve.