How Sign Anywhere is Transforming Auto Dealership Transactions—From Days to Hours

The automotive retail industry has long grappled with a bottleneck: vehicle purchase deals take days to fund after the paperwork is complete. With finance and insurance (F&I) forms requiring physical signatures and coordination between dealers, customers, and lenders, the closing process drags on. CDK Global’s latest innovation addresses this friction head-on.

The Solution: Remote Signing Goes Mainstream

CDK Global (Nasdaq: CDK) has rolled out Sign Anywhere, a remote electronic signing platform that fundamentally changes how dealerships and customers interact during the purchase process. The tool works by consolidating all F&I documentation into a Digital Deal Jacket—a secure digital repository accessible via multi-factor authentication. Customers can review and electronically sign documents from anywhere, at their own pace, without visiting the dealership.

This approach pairs seamlessly with CDK eSign, which dealership customers already use. The integration is frictionless: dealers load forms, customers authenticate and sign, and the process moves forward instantly. No delays. No lost documents. No scheduling conflicts.

The Real Impact: Speed as a Competitive Advantage

The numbers tell the story. Traditionally, lenders required four to six days to fund completed vehicle purchases. With Sign Anywhere, that window collapses to 24 hours or less—a dramatic acceleration that benefits both dealerships and buyers.

As of now, the platform is active across over 400 Volkswagen dealerships and more than 3,600 locations representing multiple OEMs. The solution has already facilitated funding for more than 8,000 vehicle purchases, demonstrating its viability at scale.

Early Adopter Success: Volkswagen Leads the Way

Volkswagen recognized the opportunity immediately. Through its financial services arm, VW Credit Inc. (VCI), the automaker deployed Sign Anywhere across its dealership network as a market differentiator. Anthony Bandmann, president and CEO of VW Credit Inc., framed it as a win-win: “VCI and Volkswagen not only want to provide world-class vehicles but also world-class car-buying experiences that match the evolving expectations of our customers.”

The rollout proved the concept works. Volkswagen dealerships using the platform now complete more transactions in shorter timeframes, creating a new revenue stream through faster capital turnover.

What’s Next for the Industry

CDK Global plans to expand compatible lenders within the next 6 to 12 months, adding more captive finance companies and national financial institutions to the Sign Anywhere network. This gradual ecosystem expansion will drive broader adoption and create network effects across the industry.

For dealerships, the message is clear: digital transformation isn’t just about efficiency anymore—it’s about competitive positioning. In a market where customer expectations are shifting toward convenience and speed, remote signing capabilities powered by CDK eSign represent a tangible way to differentiate.