by Jeff Martin | August 2026
As seen in Used Car Dealer Magazine
Every year, decisions are made in Washington and in state Capitols across the country that directly shape how independent dealers operate — what forms you file, what disclosures you make, what liability you carry, and in some cases, whether you can stay in business at all. Too often, those decisions get made without independent dealers in the room. The NIADA Policy Conference exists to change that.
If you’ve never attended, here’s the honest pitch: this isn’t a conference built around trade show floors or vendor booths. It’s built around access — direct, face-to-face access to the legislators, regulators, and staff members who write the rules our industry operates under. You’ll spend time on Capitol Hill, sit in on briefings covering the issues actually moving through Congress right now, and walk into meetings with your own representatives as a constituent and a business owner in their district.
That last part matters more than people realize. Lawmakers hear from lobbyists, trade groups, and national associations constantly. What they hear far less often is from the dealer down the street from their district office — the person who employs their neighbors, sponsors the local little league team, and can explain in plain terms exactly how a proposed bill would affect a real business and real customers. That voice carries weight precisely because it’s rare. One good conversation with a member of Congress or their staff can do more to shape a policy outcome than a hundred position papers.
Grassroots advocacy isn’t optional — it’s essential
The independent dealer industry faces a growing list of legislative and regulatory pressures: right-to-repair and vehicle data access fights, financing and lending oversight, state-level titling and compliance requirements, and ongoing scrutiny of how dealers handle everything from add-on products to advertising. Many of these issues won’t be decided by a single dramatic vote — they’ll be shaped incrementally, in committee rooms and staff meetings, by whoever shows up and makes the case consistently over time.
That’s the piece that’s easy to underestimate. Advocacy isn’t a single trip to Washington that solves a problem once and for all. It’s showing up again and again, building relationships with your representatives before you need something from them, so that when an issue does arise, you’re not a stranger — you’re a known constituent whose input they already trust and respect.
This is exactly why NIADA invests in the Policy Conference every year, and why we need every state affiliate represented. When dealers and industry partners travel to D.C. as a unified group — coordinated, informed, and speaking with a consistent message — legislators notice. It signals that the independent dealer community is organized, engaged, and paying attention.
What to expect
You don’t need to be a policy expert to attend, and you don’t need prior advocacy experience. We will make sure you are prepared with briefing materials, talking points, and guidance on what to expect walking into a legislative meeting. Your job is simply to show up and tell your story. That’s it. You already know your business, your customers, and your community better than anyone else in the room. That’s exactly the expertise lawmakers need to hear.
If you’ve been on the fence about attending, consider this your invitation. The issues affecting independent dealers aren’t going away, and the best way to influence how they’re resolved is to be part of the conversation — not after the fact, but while it’s happening. Join us at the NIADA Policy Conference and help make sure the independent dealer voice is heard where it matters most.
Learn more at niada.com/policyconference.
