TORRANCE — The search for F&I and Showroom’s next F&I Dealer of the Year starts today. Dealers, agents, F&I product providers, finance sources and technology vendors have until Friday, July 8, to nominate their dealership or client.

To complete the online nomination form, click here. Supporting materials for a nominee, such as newspaper clippings or awards announcements, can be emailed to gregory.arroyo@bobit.com.

“We’re not necessarily looking for that $1,500-per-copy F&I operation, although we’ve had a few F&I Dealers of the Year performing at that level,” said Gregory Arroyo, editorial director of F&I and Showroom and Auto Dealer Today. “What we’re looking for is the story behind the numbers. Is the dealership committed to regulatory compliance? Has the F&I team been together a long time? What does the organization’s online reviews and ratings look like? Is it active in the communities it serves?”

For the sixth straight year, The Warranty Group is sponsoring the competition. “It is with great pleasure that we once again sponsor this award,” said Charlie Robinson, President and COO of Resource Automotive, a subsidiary of The Warranty Group. “What I most appreciate about this award is that it recognizes not only top-performing F&I operations, but organizations that do it the right way, are committed to the communities they serve, and exemplify the very best this industry has to offer.”

The magazine will first select six finalists, or what F&I and Showroom refers to as F&I Pacesetters of the Year. A representative from each organization will be invited to Industry Summit 2016 (Aug. 29-31), where they’ll be honored during a special ceremony. They’ll also receive a two-night stay at the Paris Las Vegas, the site of this year’s conference, and a complimentary full-conference pass.

Dealerships selected as F&I Pacesetters will also be profiled in the magazine’s special conference issue and the September edition of F&I and Showroom magazine.

At the conclusion of the special ceremony, one finalist will be named the 2016 F&I Dealer of the Year. That dealership will appear on the cover of the magazine’s November issue, which will include a four-page profile on the organization. Past winners include David-Moore Automotive, Vaden Automotive Group, Serpentini Chevrolet of Strongsville, Lithia Motors Inc., Riverside Auto Group, The Suburban Collection, and Tuttle-Click Automotive Group.

To nominate your dealership or dealer client today, click here. For questions about the online nomination form, please email gregory.arroyo@bobit.com.