If you are an auto care industry brand, you must become a member of the Auto Care Association (ACA). This comprehensive guide will explain everything you need to know about ACA membership and how it can benefit your business.
The ACA is the leading trade organization for automotive aftermarket brands, offering many valuable resources to help you grow your business.
We will start by discussing what the Auto Care Association is and how it works.
Then we will talk about the benefits of getting an ACA membership. Next, we will discuss how much membership costs and how to register your brand with the ACA.
Finally, we will give you a few parting thoughts on why becoming an ACA member is a wise decision for any auto care brand.
So without further ado, let’s get started!
What is the Auto Care Association?
The Auto Care Association was established in 1999 as a merger of the Automotive Parts and Accessories Association (APAA) and the Automotive Service Industry Association (ASIA). In 2014, it changed its name to the Auto Care Association. Bill Hanvey is president and CEO, with 13 members on its board of directors.
The Auto Care Association, based in Bethesda, MD, is a not-for-profit trade association composed of nearly 3,000 members and affiliate companies. These businesses represent approximately 150,000 motor vehicle-related enterprises, including manufacturing, distribution, selling and installation of parts/accessories/tools/equipment related to motor vehicles.
The Auto Care Association is a conglomerate that represents various businesses in the auto industry, such as suppliers, retailers, service providers, program groups, manufacturers’ representatives, educators, and publishers. The goal of the organization is to safeguard and enhance these enterprises.
The Auto Care Association wants its members to be successful in business, so they advocate for them and provide updates on market news. The government affairs department is the part of the company that talks to legislators, agencies, and regulators about what the industry needs.
To stay ahead of the competition, ACA’s experts are always assessing for changes in trends that could impact business decisions down the line. For those wanting to break into global markets, ACA’s international program offers guidance and resources.
The Auto Care Association is the voice of the auto care industry, and its members are at the forefront of that industry. If you are a brand in the auto care industry, then you need to become a member of the Auto Care Association.
How does the ACA operate?
The Auto Care Association is the number one industry voice for automotive care, which makes up a yearly total of $380 billion. In addition to advocacy and education, we offer our members opportunities to network with other professionals, technology resources, market intelligence reports, and PR support.
The Auto Care Association strives to maintain its members as businesses that are reliable and affordable by ensuring they are innovative and impactful. This is achieved through serving them in various ways, such as supplying aftermarket automotive parts or performing routine maintenance.
The government affairs department is only one way they advocate for their member businesses. They also fight for the industry’s interests before federal and state legislators and regulators by advocating policies that would benefit them.
Some of North America’s most prominent organizations use their automotive aftermarket industry standards, and their eCommerce best practices can both lower costs and increase efficiency. Moreover, they have a full calendar of events related to education, meetings, tools, and resources meant to develop members’ professional skills.
The ACA team of experts is always up-to-date with the latest trends in the automotive aftermarket industry so that they can keep members informed. The international program helps companies seeking to take advantage of opportunities in profitable global markets.
The auto care industry is a huge, complex network of over half a million businesses. These businesses range from small independent manufacturers and distributors to large repair shops and service providers.
All of these professionals are dedicated to providing quality parts, products, and services for the nearly 290 million vehicles on the road today.
What are the benefits of ACA membership?
The Auto Care Association has many advantages for its members, such as ACES and PIES data standards, interactive market research, professional development opportunities, networking events, advocacy support, and more.
Have access to the ACA automotive aftermarket industry ACES and PIES standards
If you want to be able to share product information electronically with your customers and trading partners, then you need to use the ACES and PIES data standards. The ACA developed these standards so everyone would use the same format for product data, making it easier for businesses to exchange information.
Data standards are pivotal in the automotive industry because it is constantly progressing. The ACES (Aftermarket Catalog Exchange Standard) allows for the exchange of product information between different software systems. PIES (Product Information Exchange Standard) is a set of data elements that define products in the automotive aftermarket.
The ACA offers ACES and PIES data standards to its members and training on how to use them. Members also have access to the ACA’s support team for these data standards, who can answer any questions about using the standards.
Gain access to interactive data and market research
The ACA offers its members interactive data and market research tools that help businesses make informed decisions, such as the Auto Care Industry Dashboard.
The Dashboard is a web-based tool that provides real-time data on the automotive aftermarket industry, giving businesses up-to-the-minute information on which to base their decisions.
In addition to producing market intelligence reports, the Auto Care team has a range of other automotive aftermarket industry reports, including the comprehensive Auto Care Factbook.
Similarly, members can access the Auto Care Association’s Market Intelligence Library. This library contains over 200 reports on trends and analyses of the automotive aftermarket industry.
Professional development
The Auto Care Association offers its members many professional development opportunities, including educational programs, networking events, and conferences. The highlight among these is the annual Auto Care convention – the largest gathering of auto care professionals in North America.
At the ACA, members can utilize the Auto Care Career Center to help them find a job in the automotive aftermarket industry. The Career Center provides resources like a database of available jobs, tips on resume writing and interviewing, and more.
The ACA offers online courses and webinars on a variety of topics to help members grow their businesses. These include courses on leadership, marketing, and business management. All of the courses are designed to help improve skills and knowledge.
Advocacy on your behalf
The Auto Care Association strives to protect and bolster the automotive aftermarket industry through key partnerships and active participation in government policies and regulations.
The ACA works to protect the interests of the automotive aftermarket by communicating with Congress, federal agencies, and state legislatures. The ACA also lobbies on behalf of its members to ensure that burdensome regulations are not placed on the industry.
The Auto Care Association not only works to raise awareness of the automotive aftermarket industry but also promotes it through multiple outlets. These include the media, trade shows, and their very own website.
As a member of the Auto Care Association, you can help us fight for the interests of your business and the automotive aftermarket industry as a whole.
Expanding into international markets
The Auto Care Association offers members various resources to help expand into international markets. The ACA’s International Business Development team provides services such as market intelligence, assistance setting up your business in another country, and introductions to potential partners.
In addition, the ACA’s International Business Development team can provide you with reports containing customized market research. This will allow you to understand any opportunities and challenges in specific international markets before taking your business there.
The Auto Care Association can help you expand your business to new markets. By becoming a member, you can access the resources you need to make your business global.
Networking and Events
The Auto Care Association provides members with various networking opportunities, the most noteworthy being its annual convention in North America, where auto care professionals congregate.
The Auto Care Association supports every area of the auto care industry by connecting companies and individuals. By coming together, everyone in the auto care community can achieve success.
By joining as a General Member, your company will have access to numerous benefits. If you choose to affiliate with one of the Company Communities shown below, you’ll gain additional perks.
- The Aftermarket Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA): The Aftermarket Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA) is a sector of the Auto Care Association made up of warehouse distributors who sell automotive aftermarket products to professional repair shops and others in the auto care industry.
- The Auto Care Association’s Filter Manufacturers Council (FMC): The Filter Manufacturers Council (FMC) is a company community of the Auto Care Association. Members are manufacturers of automotive filters, including air, oil, and fuel filters. FMC serves as a sounding board for regulatory agencies on filter-related issues that may impede members’ businesses or cause consumer confusion. The council meets two to four times per year at locations convenient to member companies.
- The Auto Care Association’s Paint, Body & Equipment Specialists (PBES): The Auto Care Association’s Paint, Body & Equipment Specialists (PBES) is a group of businesses that specialize in the repair and refinishing of automotive paint, bodywork, and equipment.
- The Car Care Professionals Network (CCPN): The Auto Care Association’s Car Care Professionals Network (CCPN) is a company community for businesses that offer car care services, such as car washes and detailing.
- The Import Vehicle Community of the Auto Care Association: The Import Vehicle Community (IVC) of the Auto Care Association is a company community for businesses that sell, service, and repair import vehicles.
- The Manufacturers’ Representative Council: The MRC is a community of businesses within the Auto Care Association that serve as representatives for manufacturers of automotive aftermarket products.
- Tool and Equipment Community: The Tool and Equipment Community (TEC) is a sector of the Auto Care Association for businesses that revolve around automotive tools and equipment, this include selling, servicing, and repairing.
- Upholstery and Trim International Council (UTIC): Auto care businesses that focus on upholstery and trim repair and replacement make up the Upholstery and Trim International Council (UTIC). This company community is a part of the Auto Care Association.
Not every business is suited for a Company Community. However, if this is the case for your business, you can still join the Auto Care Association as a General Member. Additionally, you would be able to participate in ACA’s other communities that are based on individuals rather than businesses.
- The Automotive Content Professionals Network (ACPN): The Automotive Content Professionals Network (ACPN) is an online community for content professionals who work in the automotive industry. Members of ACPN are businesses that produce or manage automotive content, including images, videos, and text.
- The Auto Care Young Executives: The Auto Care Young Executives (ACYE) is a community for young professionals that are members of the Auto Care Association. ACYE members must be 40 years old or younger.
- The Women in Auto Care Community: Women in Auto Care is an Auto Care Association community for members who are women working Women in all occupations of the auto care industry, including businesses that sell, service, and repair vehicles.
How much does an ACA membership cost?
You will become an Auto Care Association member based on a yearly tiered scale. Your company’s global revenue from the previous year determines your membership fee for that current year as follows:
- Level 1 – Under $1 million – Membership Dues: $995
- Level 2 – $1 – $2 million – Membership Dues: $1,950
- Level 3 – $2.01 – $5 million – Membership Dues: $2,200
- Level 4 – $5.01 – $10 million – Membership Dues: $2,450
- Level 5 – $10.01 – $25 million – Membership Dues: $3,200
- Level 6 – $25.01-$50 million – Membership Dues: $6,100
- Level 7 – $50.01 – $100 million – Membership Dues: $7,150
- Level 8 – $100.01 – $250 million – Membership Dues: $8,150
- Level 9 – $250.01 – $500 million – Membership Dues: $9,150
- Level 10 – $500.01 – $1 billion – Membership Dues: $11,950
- Level 11 – $1.01 – $2.5 billion – Membership Dues: $19,750
- Level 12 – $2.51 – $5 billion – Membership Dues: $25,250
- Level 13 – $5.01 – $10 billion – Membership Dues: $28,750
- Level 14 – Over $10 billion – Membership Dues: $32,250
If your company’s global revenue changes tiers, your membership dues will be adjusted to match. For example, if your company’s global revenue increased from $2 million to $5.1 million, you would go from paying $1,950 in dues to$2,450.
How to register your brand with the Auto Care Association
Becoming an ACA member is a straightforward process that can be completed entirely online. Simply fill out the form and pay the membership fee. The ACA offers memberships to businesses and individuals in the auto care industry. Business memberships vary based on company size, while individual memberships are available to any professional meeting our criteria.
Follow these steps to register your brand with the Auto Care Association:
- Go to the ACA website and click “Join Now.”
- Select business or individual membership type.
- Fill out the online form with personal and company information.
- Pay the corresponding membership fee.
- You will receive a confirmation email containing your membership number and login info upon successful payment processing.
By joining the ACA, you now have access to a range of tools and benefits that will help you expand your business. Get started today and begin taking advantage of all the association has to offer so that you can achieve success in the global marketplace.
How does myFitment fit into this?
In order to sell auto parts and accessories online, you must first ensure that your product data meets the ACES and PIES standards. myFitment is a software platform that can help you do exactly that.
If you want to be more productive and get the most benefits from your ACA membership, myFitment is the solution for you. With myFitment, listing management becomes a breeze as it can help streamline your inventory and order processes among different channels.
myFitment is the leading provider of data management software for the auto parts and accessories industry. Our software makes it easy to compliantly manage your product listings and orders across multiple channels. Try out our free trial today and see how myFitment can benefit your business.
Conclusion
Membership with the Auto Care Association supports over 150,000 businesses and professionals striving to better the automotive aftermarket industry.
The ACA can help expand your business by providing you with resources such as educational opportunities, market intelligence, government affairs support, and standards development.
myFitment can help make the most of your membership by providing software that simplifies maintaining compliance for product data, listings, and orders across multiple channels.
If you want to improve your business operations and get the most from your ACA membership, myFitment is the answer.