When you buy from a new car dealer- you are supporting local business and boosting economic development in your own community.

When you buy from a manufacturer, you are supporting out-of-state corporations and jeopardizing local jobs.

With Connecticut’s new car dealers, your rights are protected by law.

Moving Connecticut Forward

Dealers are an integral part of Connecticut’s economy. In many ways, dealers are consumer advocates for car buyers. Connecticut’s new car dealerships protect Connecticut consumers by providing them with fair and encompassing warranties, guaranteeing state and federal safety laws are followed, providing the enforcement of the lemon and fair lending laws, and establishing guidelines for safety recalls.

Electric Vehicles in Connecticut

There are currently over 45 EVs on the market today, and many of these may be found at local dealerships in Connecticut.

What’s more, Connecticut consumers can purchase an electric vehicle through DEEP’s CHEAPR program.

Connecticut Dealerships make purchasing, servicing, and charging EVs easily accessible for consumers. The amount of EVs sold in Connecticut is testament to the locally owned dealerships' commitment to the needs of our customers and to Connecticut's clean air efforts.

MYTHS/FACTS

The Truth about

Electric Vehicles in

Connecticut

Myth: Tesla and other EV manufacturers can only sell their vehicles in Connecticut with a special law.

Fact: Connecticut auto dealers are willing and able to start selling Teslas or any other EVs in Connecticut today. Tesla refuses to follow local laws and to set up dealerships in CT. All 32 major automobile manufacturers in the market today abide by CT law and currently offer their vehicles in our state.

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Myth:  You cannot buy an EV at a Connecticut New Car Dealership.

Fact: There are currently over 45 EVs on the market today, and many of these may be found at local dealerships in Connecticut. The amount of EVs sold in Connecticut is testament to the locally owned dealerships' commitment to the needs of our customers and to Connecticut's clean air efforts.

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Myth:  Connecticut Car Dealerships do not want to sell electric vehicles on their lot.

Fact: Dealerships own all the cars on their lot.  They want and need to sell the EVs they have on their lot as much as they want and need to sell other cars.  In fact, CT dealers have invested millions of dollars in preparing for EVs including the installation of over 600 EV charging stations at dealerships across the state.

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Myth:  Dealerships cannot repair and maintain EVs.

Fact: CT’s 251 franchised new car dealerships employ over 12,000 people directly and create nearly 25,000 jobs across the state. Dealerships employ mechanics, sales staff, front office staff, marketing staff, financial staff, community relations staff, human resource people, technicians, collision specialists, IT, business and marketing positions and administrative staff.  Connecticut auto dealers offer competitive salaries, benefits, and job training.  Employees at dealerships across the state are being trained on how to repair and maintain EVs.

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Myth: Direct sale is needed in order for CT to meet climate change goals.

Fact: Connecticut’s proven network of new car dealers provide the most efficient path forward to meeting climate change goals. The number of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles in the state went from about 4,800 in 2016 to 35,100 in 2022, up 631% over six years, according to approximate vehicle registration counts by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory with data from Experian.

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Myth:  The state of Connecticut is losing sales tax revenue on cars purchased outside the state. 

Fact: Sales tax is paid in the state where the car is registered. A Connecticut resident will pay sales tax on the car they purchase in New York when they register the car in Connecticut.  

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Myth: Connecticut car dealerships do not protect Connecticut consumers.

Fact: CT’s Franchise Act and franchise agreements govern the sale of new vehicles by the 251 new car dealers in Connecticut. The law ensures a fair and reasonable business relationship between locally owned auto dealers and automobile manufacturers.  The laws protect Connecticut consumers by providing them with fair and encompassing warranties, guaranteeing state and federal safety laws are followed, providing the enforcement of the lemon and fair lending laws, and establishing guidelines for safety recalls.

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Myth:  Car buyers prefer to buy cars online.

Fact: CT new car dealers offer car sales online, however most car buyers prefer to come into the dealership to see and test drive a new vehicle before finalizing their purchase. In fact, a recent study conducted by Escalent, found that 57% of perspective EV buyers prefer the dealership model while only 20% preferred the Tesla approach.

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Myth:  Adoption of direct sale will not have a negative impact on employment or the Economy in Connecticut.

Fact: A 2021 study conducted by the CT Center for Economic Analysis found that adoption of direct sales in CT will result in the loss of 40, 239 jobs and $431 million in state revenue by 2040.

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Click to View Letter from the National Consumers League in Support of Connecticut Dealers

Connecticut’s Economy

• Connecticut’s 251 new car dealerships generate $12 billion in total sales. 

• 18% share of total retail sales in Connecticut. 

• $1.1 billion dollar payroll.

• Employ over 12,000 people.

• Pay millions in property taxes.

During the Pandemic

Dealerships in Connecticut continued to help with customers auto questions and concerns.  Whether it was a necessary repair, oil change or the need for a new car, Dealerships were working so that frontline workers could have their cars taken care of if needed. Dealerships also provided necessary services on trucks and trailers to ensure the essential supply chain was maintained.

Most of our dealerships are family-owned, multi-generational businesses that play a strong role in the communities that they service. They do everything needed to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone that enters their facilities, whether it is employees or customers. 

Connecticut’s 251 new car dealerships usually generate $12 billion in total sales.  This is a 18% share of total retail sales in Connecticut.  Connecticut’s economy would be greatly affected if the car dealerships had not worked during the pandemic. 

Individual dealerships also helped out in their communities. The Schaller Auto Group worked with city of New Britain, and donated the use of more than a dozen vehicles with Wi-Fi hot spots to reach hundreds of students who weren’t able to access online education due to no internet access.