BEDFORD, Texas--The Automotive Trade Association Executives is endorsing the Association of Finance and Insurance Professionals’ F&I training and certification among its members. Several state ATAEs have already informed their dealers about the AFIP program. The National Automobile Dealers Association is also expected soon to recognize AFIP as the sanctioning body for F&I managers in the United States.

Along with endorsing AFIP certification among state and local associations, NADA will prevail on auto manufacturers to encourage dealers to certify their F&I people.

In a recent meeting of ATAE and NADA representatives, the consensus was a need for F&I training in regulatory compliance and ethical conduct. Participants stressed "bringing good F&I training to every venue, and avoiding legislation/regulation by demonstrating self-regulation," according to ATAE's newsletter.

AFIP has partnered with these organizations to encourage dealers from every level to perform the F&I function correctly. "One of the things dealers need to do to get it right is to certify their F&I managers," said Dave Robertson, executive director of AFIP. F&I personnel must understand the rules because honest mistakes will get dealerships into as much trouble as dishonesty, he said.