The California CARS Act added a stack of new requirements set to go live on Oct. 1, 2026: a two-year advertising archive, tighter rules on how complaints get logged and retained, a requirement that pricing show up in that very first response to a customer, and more. That's a lot for any California team to absorb, so we upgraded our Advertising, Sales, and F&I solution to give them a stronger foundation to build on.
How KPA’s Advertising, Sales, and F&I Features Support the California CARS Act
Our existing features already support compliance nationwide (California CARS Act or not), and we've added a handful of new ones specifically to support California stores in meeting the Act's requirements, effective October 1, 2026. Below is both sets: what you already existed within the original Advertising, Sales, and F&I package, which California CARS Act piece is relevant, and why it matters beyond California. We will also review what's new for California team's to build their compliance foundation for the California CARS Act.
Daily Advertising Scans
Every VDP gets scanned daily, with no cap on volume.
Related CA CARS Act Regulation: Total price and advertising disclosure requirements.
Why It Matters Beyond California: Deceptive pricing in vehicle ads is already illegal under general consumer protection law, in every state. A scan that runs daily helps you catch mistakes before a customer or regulator does.
Learn More About Advertising Scans →
Two-Year Advertising Archive
Pricing history and imagery are captured automatically on all VDPs.
Related CA CARS Act Regulation: Two-year advertising record retention requirement.
Why It Matters Beyond California: If a customer or regulator ever disputes what the advertised price was at the time of sale, a dated archive is the proof you need.
Learn More About Ad Scans & Archives →
Quarterly Lead Response Audits
An AI secret shopper checks, every quarter, how the sales team actually responds to online VDP leads on that first touch, pricing review included.
Related CA CARS Act Regulation: First written communication total price disclosure requirement.
Why It Matters Beyond California: What your team says to a lead about price is what turns into a bait-and-switch complaint if nobody's checking. That risk doesn't stop at the state line.
Lead Response Audit Support Article →
Feedback Management (24-Month Retention)
Consumer feedback gets logged, filtered, and routed by department, so nothing escalates into legal matter.
Related CA CARS Act Regulation: 24-month retention of written consumer complaints.
Why It Matters Beyond California: An unresolved complaint is a liability in any state. Leadership sees consumer complaints across the whole dealership with this feature, helping them resolve issues before they become trends that impact their reputation.
Learn More About Feedback Management →
Automotive, Risk, and Compliance (ARC) F&I Certification
The ARC Certification Course covers core F&I rules and regulations for dealers nationwide.
Related CA CARS Act Regulation: No specific training regulations are required within act. This overarching certification touches on many items also covered in the California CARS Act, like UDAP violations, advertising practices, material misrepresentations, and more.
Why It Matters Beyond California: Uncertifed team members can make mistakes, like misrepresents pricing, disclosures, and more. A certification that documents who was trained, and on what, is proof you'll want on hand regardless of which law asks for it.
Specialized California Cars Act Training and Policies
California CARS Act Training
Specific training courses for the California CARS Act, automatically assigned to employees with relevant job titles for all California dealers
Related CA CARS Act Regulation: This training goes over what the regulation requires, additional disclosures, and processes that need to be adjusted across your dealership departments.
Watch "How to Complete A Training Course" →
California Cars Act Policies & Documentation
Specific California CARS Act policies and documentation templates for teams to sign and acknowledge the new requirements under this new regulation.
Related CA CARS Act Regulation: These policies are designed to help dealers in California change and update processes and polices to adhere to this new regulation. Related policies include: First Written Communication, Social Media Policy, Total Price Communications Policy, and Complaint Management Policy.
Learn More About Adding Policies to Your Vera Suite Account →
A customer leaves the desk knowing exactly what they signed. The deal jacket still holds up months later when someone asks. That's what every feature above is built to support in California, and in every other state we serve.
California Dealers can expect to see the new trainings automatically assigned. For non-California based locations, these new trainings are optional. Connect with your Client Success contact if you have any questions.
