Advertorial feature: New RAC branded products designed for Santander Consumer Finance

Momentum is building rapidly behind four new RAC branded added value products designed for Santander Consumer Finance dealers. The range is already driving extra revenue for dealers while providing added benefits for customers.

The exclusive arrangement includes Tyre and Alloy Wheel Insurance, MoT Test Insurance, SMART Insurance and Liquid Armour Paint and Interior Protection – all branded using the RAC name and promoted through the Santander Consumer Finance sales force.

Their arrival earlier this year followed the successful introduction of RAC branded warranties to the company’s dealer base in 2011.

Andy Green, marketing director at Santander Consumer Finance, said

“This is an exciting new development that means many benefits for our dealers and their customers. All four new RAC products are being delivered through one, easy-to-use IT platform, minimising time spent on administration.

“The RAC brand aligned with Santander Consumer Finance sends out a very strong message of trust and reliability to customers buying vehicles from dealers and these added value products build on this level of confidence.”

Santander Consumer Finance has adopted a policy in recent years of helping its dealers to increase front-end income, raise levels of aftersales work and improve customer retention through products such awarranties and service plans.

Andy said: “These new, added value products continue to build on our ethos of working with dealers to help drive forward their profitability through our day-to-day account management activities. Our sales force have all been trained by our Development Academy to work with dealers in order to incorporate these new products into their sales processes in a manner that will help maximise incremental profit.”

Mario Dolcezza, business development manager at RAC, said:
“We are delighted to be working with the leading motor finance house in the UK. We believe that dealers will benefit strongly from the combined brand presence of both Santander Consumer Finance and the RAC within their showrooms.”

The four new products at a glance

RAC MoT Test Insurance covers the cost of repair or replacement of certain parts that are typically cited on an official MoT refusal notice as the reasons for failure to pass.

RAC Tyre and Alloy Wheel Insurance provides flexible options for accidental and malicious damage to tyres and alloy wheels.

RAC Liquid Armour Paint and Interior Protection is a fluoro-polymer based sealant that bonds to paintwork and fabric systems providing comprehensive vehicle protection.

RAC SMART Repair Insurance provides cover for vehicle scratches, minor dents and scuffed bumpers.

Consumers trust RAC branded protection, survey shows

New research shows the strength of the RAC brand in the minds of new and used car buyers when it comes to added value products offered by dealers.

A survey into the attitudes of more than 1,000 respondents showed just 9.0% could name an existing paint and interior protection brand and only 14.5% had bought such a product.

58.9% of new and used car buyers said they would be “very likely”, “extremely likely” to or would “definitely” make a purchase where the RAC name was applied to paint and interior product and supported by the company
9.0% of car buyers can name a paint and interior protection brand
51.0% said they would choose an RAC product in preference to another paint and interior protection brand - one of the range of four new added value products that has just been introduced by the RAC through Santander Consumer Finance dealers.

RAC Warranty sales and marketing director Ian Simpson explained: “The RAC Paint and Interior Protection product that we are offering is of a very high quality, but it is the exceptional level of trust that customers place in the RAC name that will really get their attention when dealers introduce it into the vehicle sales process.”

For more information on these new products please
contact Katy Cross at Santander Consumer Finance on 07720 733856; katy.cross@santanderconsumer.co.uk;
or www.santanderconsumer.co.uk