April 23, 2026
If there’s one theme I return to, often to the point of exhaustion, it’s this: lead from the front.
Our industry is too important — to Virginia’s economy, to every consumer making the second-largest purchase of their life, to our employees and partners — to sit on the sidelines. All too often, that’s exactly what happens. We can’t afford that anymore.
The PAC: How politics is played
VADA is known for our great advocacy, but that takes resources. As an association, we need broader participation.
This spring, and in honor of America’s 250th birthday and Virginia’s role in the founding of our nation, we’re launching the “Drive to 250” campaign to support the Virginia Auto & Truck Dealers Political Action Committee. The goal is to raise a minimum of $250,000 to support pro-business and pro-dealer candidates in upcoming and future elections. If you’re in dealership leadership — ownership, general manager, F&I, service, sales — you should be involved and give.
For the first time ever, VADA is offering two new contribution levels to help those in your dealership get involved. A $250 level is available along with a $25 option that we hope can open contributions up to as many dealership employees and industry partners at possible.
Our goal is 100% participation. Yep — that’s more than 60,000 people directly and indirectly employed by Virginia dealers giving to the PAC. Sure, that level of participation is unheard of, but we must aspire to lead from the front.
Legislators look at engagement, not just total dollars. Are checks coming from one person or organization, or from across a dealership filled with their constituents? That’s what gets attention.
We’ll be launching that push soon, and I encourage you to be part of it from the start.
Beach bound for VADA 2026
If there’s one thing I want you to do right now, it’s sign up for our 2026 Annual Convention.
My team and I are putting everything into making our Annual Convention in Virginia Beach a high-energy, high-value event. We have a strong lineup of speakers and big conversations planned. As I’ve told our team: don’t hold back. Go big. Make it worth people’s time.
When we show up together, it sends a message — to one another and to policymakers — that the franchised automobile industry is engaged and working as one. The convention will be held June 22-25…a Monday to Thursday event this year unlike our past Sunday to Wednesday conventions.
Thanks to NADA and FTC for the “redo”
As you’ll recall, VADA has been a prominent voice advocating for dealers and encouraging adherence to the Federal Trade Commission’s enforcement of advertising total price and greater emphasis on pricing transparency. But dealers had questions that deserved answers.
Weeks ago, the FTC missed the mark in its webinar with NADA, where an agency representative answered no questions and provided no new information. At the request of VADA, NADA, and others, the FTC tried again with Chris Mufarrige, director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection, who provided clear answers and guidance. This time, they were successful.
Mufarrige made clear that federal law overrides state law and that the “total price” — including all mandatory fees like processing, but excluding government charges — must be the most prominent price in all advertising. Conditional rebates can be shown but not included in that total, and any eligibility requirements must be clearly disclosed. Optional add-ons are allowed at the point of sale only if they are clearly presented as optional.
The FTC also stressed that advertising applies broadly across all platforms and that dealers are responsible for any content they control. Guidance on in-transit vehicles remains unclear and fact-specific, though dealers are advised to proceed cautiously. Additional clarification is expected through forthcoming FTC FAQs and NADA guidance.
We appreciate their time. View our FTC Action resources page for more.
