If you are an automotive professional, consider becoming an Auto Care Association (ACA) member.
ACA is a trade organization representing warehouse distributors, car care professionals, import vehicle specialists, filter manufacturers, paint and body shops, and other businesses within the automotive industry.
Membership in ACA provides access to Communities, which are groups of members who share common interests. Additionally, membership dues are based on your company’s annual global revenues.
So whether you are just starting in the automotive industry or have worked in it for years, the Auto Care Association can provide you with valuable resources and networking opportunities.
What is the Auto Care Association?
The Auto Care Association is a trade organization that represents businesses within the automotive industry. This includes warehouse distributors, car care professionals, import vehicle specialists, filter manufacturers, paint and body shops, and more.
The Auto Care Association was created in 1999 by merging the Automotive Parts and Accessories Association (APAA) with the Automotive Service Industry Association (ASIA). The organization redefined its name to more accurately depict its purpose: taking care of automobiles. Bill Hanvey is president and CEO, supported by a board of directors of 13 members.
The Auto Care Association, based in Bethesda, MD, is a trade organization that represents approximately 150,000 businesses affiliated with motor vehicles. It has nearly 3,000 members and companies associated with it. This encompasses manufacturing, distributing, selling, and installing parts, accessories, tools, and equipment for motor vehicles.
The Auto Care Association is an organization that advocates for different types of businesses in the auto industry, including suppliers, distributors, retailers, service providers, program groups, manufacturers’ representatives, educators, and publishers.
The Auto Care Association doesn’t just stop at ensuring that its members have the information they need to be successful; they go above and beyond by representing businesses in front of government officials responsible for making policy decisions.
Furthermore, their specialists are constantly monitoring shifts in trends to which business decisions could be impacted – this gives members a chance to stay one step ahead of their opposition. If you’re looking to expand your horizons and enter new markets, ACA’s international program can offer some assistance.
What are the benefits of ACA membership?
The Auto Care Association works to promote the automotive industry and its members. They do this by providing resources, interactive data and insight, networking opportunities, marketing intelligence, seamless access to the international market, advocacy, the Auto Care Factbook, various other Auto Care Association releases, and more.
In addition, the ACA offers many benefits to its members, including:
- TrendLens interactive data platform and market research: The Auto Care Association provides members exclusive access to an online database of automotive data and market research. This is a valuable resource for businesses looking to stay ahead of the competition by gaining valuable data and insight into current issues and industry trends. The ACA also provides its famous Auto Care Factbook in a digital edition to all its members.
- Networking opportunities: The Auto Care Association hosts several events throughout the year, giving members an opportunity to network with other business professionals in the automotive industry. These events include the Auto Care Industry Conference, Auto Glass Week, various legislative summits, and more.
- Advocacy: The Auto Care Association represents its members in front of government officials responsible for making policy decisions that could impact the automotive industry. This ensures that businesses have a voice in the policymaking process.
- Access to the auto care industry’s ACES and PIES data standards: The Auto Care Association offers members exclusive access to the ACES and PIES data standards. These standards are used by businesses in the automotive industry to exchange information about products and services.
- Communities: Auto Care Association company members can join Communities, which are groups of members who share common interests.
What communities can ACA members join?
The Auto Care Association is a powerful umbrella organization that serves every corner of the auto care industry. Through networks of companies and individuals, they enable success for everyone in the auto care community. Your company can join as a General Member with many benefits or affiliate with one of our Company Communities shown below.
- The Aftermarket Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA): The Aftermarket Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA) is a company community of the Auto Care Association. AWDA members are warehouse distributors that 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 Auto Care Association’s Filter Manufacturers Council (FMC) is a company community of the Auto Care Association. FMC members are manufacturers of automotive filters, including air, oil, and fuel filters.
- The Auto Care Association’s Paint, Body & Equipment Specialists (PBES): The Auto Care Association’s Paint, Body & Equipment Specialists (PBES) is a company community of the Auto Care Association. PBES members are businesses that specialize in the repair and refinishing of automotive paint, body, and equipment.
- The Car Care Professionals Network (CCPN): The Car Care Professionals Network (CCPN) is a company community of the Auto Care Association. CCPN members are businesses that provide car care services, including car washes, detailing, and more.
- The Import Vehicle Community of the Auto Care Association: The Import Vehicle Community of the Auto Care Association is a company community of the Auto Care Association. IVC members are businesses that sell, service, and repair import vehicles.
- The Manufacturers’ Representative Council: The Manufacturers’ Representative Council (MRC) is a company community of the Auto Care Association. MRC members are businesses that represent manufacturers of automotive aftermarket products.
- Tool and Equipment Community: The Tool and Equipment Community (TEC) is a company community of the Auto Care Association. TEC members are businesses that sell, service, and repair automotive tools and equipment.
- Upholstery and Trim International Council (UTIC): The Upholstery and Trim International Council (UTIC) is a company community of the Auto Care Association. UTIC members are businesses that specialize in the repair and replacement of automotive upholstery and trim.
Company Communities aren’t right for every business. Suppose your company doesn’t fit into one of the communities above. In that case, you can still join the Auto Care Association as a General Member and be part of ACA’s other individual-based communities like:
- The Automotive Content Professionals Network (ACPN): The Automotive Content Professionals Network (ACPN) is an Auto Care Association community for content professionals. ACPN members 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 an Auto Care Association community for young professionals. ACYE members are Auto Care Association members who are 40 years of age or younger.
- The Women in Auto Care Community: The Women in Auto Care Community is an Auto Care Association community for women at the wheel who work in the auto care industry. Members of this community are women who work in all aspects of the auto care industry, including businesses that sell, service, and repair vehicles.
How much does an ACA membership cost?
The cost to become an Auto Care Association member output is based on a tiered scale, and each year your membership fee will be determined by your company’s global revenue that 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 from one year to the next, your membership dues will be adjusted accordingly. For example, if your company’s global revenue increased from $2 million to $5.1 million from one year to the next, your membership dues would increase from $1,950 to $2,450.
Takeaway
The Auto Care Association is a membership organization that provides resources and benefits to businesses in the automotive aftermarket industry. The cost of membership is based on a tiered scale, with dues ranging from $995 to $32,250 per year.
The Auto Care Association offers a variety of company communities for members to join, as well as individual-based communities like the Auto Care Young Executives and the Women in Auto Care Community.
