Nuts & Bolts

Fraud Is Surging in Dealerships — But It’s Also More Preventable Than Ever

becky@gather.technology (Becky Terhaar) — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 21:17:45 GMT

Recent data shared in Market Pulse by Car Dealership Guy, drawing from eLEND and Experian Automotive research, paints a clear picture: fraud attempts at dealerships are rising fast, and the financial impact is growing with it.

Gather expands The Shop, the Trusted Marketplace for Dealers powered by FordDirect

becky@gather.technology (Becky Terhaar) — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 00:48:14 GMT

New Platform Adds Identity and Insurance Verification Solution to Provide Business Efficiency and Peace of Mind During Time of Dealership Digital Transformation

FT. MYERS, Fla. And DEARBORN, Mich., FEBRUARY, 2 2026—Gather, an identity and insurance verification platform for auto dealerships, announces it has partnered with FordDirect, a joint venture between Ford dealers, Lincoln retailers and Ford Motor Company, to join The Shop, their e-commerce platform for dealer solutions.

The Shop is a curated online shopping experience designed for dealers to meet the challenges of operating in the evolving retail automotive business landscape beyond the products and services that FordDirect already provides to dealers. The Shop, powered by FordDirect, provides dealers with access to vetted vendors, like Gather, that include special negotiated terms.

Gather’s identity and insurance verification solution is now available to Ford dealers and Lincoln retailers through The Shop’s array of options. Gather’s solution enables a seamless verification of buyer identity and active insurance coverage, with identity verification provided by CLEAR®. As automotive fraud drives more than $2 billion in annual losses industry-wide, Gather helps dealers protect their business, meet compliance requirements, and keep vehicle deliveries moving without disruption.

“Dealerships are under more pressure than ever to deliver vehicles quickly while managing fraud risk and compliance behind the scenes,” said Ken Luna, Director of Partnerships with Gather. “By joining The Shop by FordDirect, we’re making it easier for Ford dealers and Lincoln retailers to access a trusted solution that removes friction from the sales process, protects the dealership, and ensures dealers can deliver cars with confidence.”

FordDirect recognizes that dealerships face an increasing demand for day-to-day resources, including meeting customer expectations, complying with regulations, managing employees, updating technology, and planning sales events. The Shop is designed to create more efficiencies and cost savings so that dealerships can focus on core activities.

“Gather will now help Ford Dealers and Lincoln Retailers and their group stores spend more time doing what they do best while also supporting FordDirect’s mission as the most trusted partner to find the best vendors in the market for their needs,” explained Beth Hill, COO of The Shop.

About Gather: Gather is the auto industry’s next-generation platform for identity and insurance verification. Using AI-driven decisioning, advanced technology, and enterprise-grade security, Gather helps dealerships reduce fraud, ensure compliance, and keep deals moving without delays. CLEAR®’s multi-layered identity verification technology is integrated into the Gather experience, delivering trusted identity assurance directly at the point of sale. To learn more, visit https://gather.technology.

About FordDirect: FordDirect, headquartered in Dearborn, Mich., connects the worlds of data, analytics, and technology to provide best-in-class digital marketing and advertising solutions exclusively for Ford Dealers and Lincoln Retailers. FordDirect is a joint venture between Ford Motor Company and its dealers with a mission of helping Ford and Lincoln dealerships sell more cars and trucks. Learn more about The Shop at https://www.theshop.com. Learn more about FordDirect at https://www.forddirect.com/.

Gather and Brown & Brown Partner to Expand Identity and Insurance Verification Solutions for Auto Dealerships

becky@gather.technology (Becky Terhaar) — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 18:58:03 GMT

Ft. Myers, FL, January 30, 2026 — Gather, the auto industry’s next generation identity and insurance verification platform, today announced a strategic partnership with Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE: BRO), a leading insurance brokerage firm serving auto dealerships nationwide. Through this partnership, Brown & Brown will now offer Gather’s identity and insurance verification solution as part of its suite of insurance services for automotive dealers.

Gather and Mosaic Compliance Services Announce Strategic Partnership to Expand Dealership Compliance and Protection

becky@gather.technology (Becky Terhaar) — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 14:59:33 GMT

Ft. Myers, FL, January 29, 2026 — Gather, the auto industry’s next generation identity and insurance verification platform, today announced a strategic partnership with Mosaic Compliance Services, a trusted compliance authority founded by automotive attorneys. Together, the companies will deliver an expanded suite of compliance, verification, and insurance solutions designed to help dealerships reduce risk, meet regulatory requirements, and close deals with confidence.

Gather | CLEAR Integration Draws Attention from Automotive News

becky@gather.technology (Becky Terhaar) — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 17:12:40 GMT

We’re excited to share that Automotive News recently covered Gather’s partnership with CLEAR to bring airport-level identity verification into dealerships.

Ken Luna Featured in Automotive News: Auto Finance Experts Talk Fraud Threats

becky@gather.technology (Becky Terhaar) — Fri, 16 May 2025 14:06:52 GMT

We’re excited to share that Ken Luna, Executive Board Advisor at Gather and Director of Partnerships, was featured in Automotive News in a timely article covering the evolving threats of auto finance fraud—and how dealerships can stay ahead of them.

Gather and Top Shelf Protection Partner to Help Dealers Mitigate Risk & Streamline Operations

becky@gather.technology (Becky Terhaar) — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 21:30:16 GMT

FT. MYERS, FL — Gather, a premier solution for insurance and identity verification services in the auto industry, has announced a strategic partnership with

Gather and VisQuanta Partner to Enhance Auto Dealership Operations

becky@gather.technology (Becky Terhaar) — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 20:15:02 GMT

FT. MYERS, FL — Gather, a premier solution for insurance and identity verification services in the auto industry, and

8 Reasons Why Automated Insurance Verification is Critical to Your Dealership’s Success

becky@gather.technology (Becky Terhaar) — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 17:49:14 GMT

Let’s be honest—no car sales professional wants to verify auto insurance. But without a process in place, your dealership could be inadvertently breaking state law or opening itself up to lawsuits and chargebacks. In this article, we’ll unpack eight compelling reasons your dealership needs an automated insurance verification process to protect your assets. Plus, we’ll share a solution that can help save deals in jeopardy due to a lack of insurance. Let’s dive in!

Gather and Heartbeat Labs Align to Elevate the Customer Experience in the Dealership

becky@gather.technology (Becky Terhaar) — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 16:46:04 GMT

Gather, the auto industry's leading identity and insurance verification and update service, is excited to announce a strategic partnership with Heartbeat Labs, a pioneer in branded dealership communication solutions.