CarOrder.com Out of Business
CarOrder Inc., which tried to change auto retailing by selling cars directly to consumers over the Internet, has shut down.
The two California car dealerships that CarOrder acquired as it attempted to become a bricks-and-mortar car dealer are up for sale.
CarOrder was started in 1999 by entrepreneur Brian Stafford, 24. The company began as a broker, but went shopping for car dealerships with an initial $100 million in cash and technology from Trilogy Inc.
The intent was to sell cars through a Web site, using a network of bricks-and-mortar dealerships as distribution points. But the plan went awry when auto manufacturers balked at granting franchises to the company. By then, CarOrder was running out of operating capital, shut down its Internet operation and changed its business model to mirror that of a traditional dealer.
CarOrder, which had a staff of 150, last summer, reduced personnel and closed its brokering operation, CarOrder.com, in August 2000, then bought two California car dealerships. Trilogy had invested $125 million in the business.
More F&I
Leading with Purpose
In this video, Trent White explains how understanding your people’s 'why' is a key leadership responsibility of F&I professionals and how that mindset drives dealership engagement, trust and performance.
Read More →
Integrating Nontraditional F&I Products
The niche presents a strategic advantage for auto dealerships as they move to adapt to fast-changing consumer expectations in today’s market.
Read More →
Trust Is Personal
Technology, no matter how efficient, can’t replace what the human F&I manager can do, which is to bridge the divide between cyberspace and the in-store experience.
Read More →
Amplify 2026 Billed as Turning Innovation Into Results
Reynolds and Reynolds says its annual retail summit will connect dealers with practical strategies, peer insight, and technology-driven ideas.
Read More →
Own Your Outcome: F&I in the Digital Customer Journey
Finance has historically been the last step in the car-buying process, but it doesn’t have to be. The customer’s journey starts long before they arrive at the dealership, and so should F&I’s involvement.
Read More →
Tariffs Could Raise Insurance Premiums
As U.S. import tariffs affect repair costs, consumers might find it more affordable to replace a damaged vehicle, according to recent Insurify tariff analysis.
Read More →
Smaller Loans, Longer Terms
The youngest generation of car buyers is more likely to finance less expensive vehicles, more than half of generation Z consumers borrowing less than $25,000.
Read More →
New Lifetime Battery F&I Product Meant to Drive Dealer Traffic
EFG Cos. offering is intended to create lifetime auto dealer engagement with customers.
Read More →
The Psychology Behind Menus That Increase Add-On Sales
There is a science to crafting a menu that gives customers confidence in the choices presented, and moving the process outside the F&I office can further boost results.
Read More →
Why Your F&I PVR Is Misleading You
Here’s a handy checklist of the numbers to track in 2026 instead.
Read More →