We recently sat down with Aamir Surana, the owner of a unique, boutique dealership with locations in Florida and Texas. He shared his insights on the independent dealer market and how AFC has supported his success along the way.
How did you get started with Carnival Car Company?
My goal has always been to make my passion my profession. I quit my corporate job to start this dealership, and we’ve been growing ever since.
Our dealership specializes in rare and niche vehicles. Every car in our inventory has a reason to be there, whether it’s a limited-production model or an older car with extremely low mileage. We currently have two locations: one in Florida and one in Texas.
What is your favorite part about working with AFC?
My favorite part is the relationship I have with my team. It’s like a family. Dealing with other floorplan companies often involves a lot of red tape, but with AFC, the team is always reachable.
Why did you choose AFC over other financing options?
I chose AFC based on the level of personal attention and how they walked me through the process. That kind of support is rare in the floorplan financing world. For any dealership, new or established, if you want to scale and grow, you are going to need a floorplan; there are no ifs or buts about it, you can only go so far with your personal capital.
What’s the most surprising benefit you’ve discovered since partnering with AFC?
The most surprising benefit is the level of personal touch they continue to provide, even to this day. I constantly compare my experiences with other companies to AFC. I’m surprised every day by how quick they are to respond and how easy they are to reach. It is phenomenal, the number one best thing about AFC. My team is a pleasure to deal with. They are a phone call away, and they are very cooperative. The way they treat their customers is second to none, it is a very different experience compared to other lenders.
Can you share a time AFC helped your dealership overcome a challenge?
When we opened our Texas dealership a little over a year ago, we were essentially starting a brand-new business with no history. Getting funding and a credit line for a new company is challenging. AFC was incredibly cooperative and easy to work with. They teamed me up with the local staff in that area, and my portfolio manager even came down to meet us. They made the overall experience of acquiring a new credit line very easy.
How does AFC’s funding speed and flexibility impact your cash flow?
AFC’s speed is excellent, especially with our trade-in deals. For many trade-ins, we can reach out to AFC, provide them with the title to the trade, and we are often funded within 24 hours. This helps keep the cash flow moving and allows us to avoid tying up our own personal capital in inventory.
What makes your dealership unique, and how does AFC help you meet your goals?
Our dealership is unique because we specialize in niche and rare cars. AFC understands our business model. They are cooperative because they know these types of cars sometimes take longer to sell than a mass-market vehicle. They don’t have a hard, strict limit on the time a car can be on the floorplan and are willing to work with us, which is essential for our unique inventory strategy.
How does AFC’s hybrid service model benefit your business?
The flexibility means the turnaround time on necessary tasks is sped up tremendously. We are not dealing with a headquarters located a thousand miles away; the team is locally accessible. This makes performing even simple tasks much easier.
The AFCDealer® portal is also a huge benefit. Being able to log into the online AFCDealer® portal and get things done is incredibly convenient. I can’t be in both the Florida and Texas locations at the same time, but they don’t put me in a position where I ever have to be. Most tasks can be handled over a phone call or through the AFCDealer® portal.
What’s your best piece of advice for independent dealers?
My best advice is to find your special niche and study that market. Many people think they can just buy any car and sell it for a profit, but it’s not that easy. You need to know what you want to sell, learn everything you can about that market and specialize. If you try to do everything, you won’t get anywhere.
What is your advice for a dealer who hasn’t used floorplanning before?
Get a floorplan, specifically one like AFC. Without a floorplan, you can only go so far with your personal capital. If you have plans to grow and scale your business, having a flexible and reliable floorplan is the only way to make it happen.
At AFC, we’re proud to support passionate independent dealers like Aamir who turn their automotive dreams into a thriving business.
To learn more about Carnival Car Company, click here.
Ready to take your dealership to the next level? Discover how AFC can help you expand your inventory, strengthen your cash flow and grow with confidence, Learn more about AFC here.
* Disclaimer: Descriptions of AFC floorplans are for illustrative purposes only. Terms of AFC floorplan financing are subject to a final written agreement acceptable with AFC. AFC does not guarantee any results for floorplan financing and examples are for illustrative purposes only. Dealers should consult their own advisors to make independent business decisions regarding floorplan financing. “AFC” refers to Automotive Finance Corporation, Automotive Finance Canada Inc., and AFC Cal, LLC in their respective jurisdictions
