Stock numbers can be automatically generated for each vehicle in your inventory.
To create sequential stock numbers, click the Options menu and select Generate Stock Numbers from the pull-down menu.
A check mark next to 'Generate Stock Numbers' indicates that a unique stock number will be automatically generated for vehicles as they are added to inventory.
Note: Automatic stock numbers may be overwritten by typing over the stock number, then saving.
If this option is unchecked, stock numbers must be manually entered when adding vehicles to your inventory.
Options Dropdown Menu
Setting the first number of the automatic stock numbering sequence
Open the Dealership Information window by clicking 'Maintenance' in the horizontal menu tool bar and selecting 'Dealership Information' from the drop-down menu.
Find the field at the bottom labeled 'Next Automatic Stock Number'.* This field contains the next stock number the program will use when adding a new vehicle to the inventory. Type in the number you would like to have the software use as a starting number.
*In the case of a company with multiple dealerships, only the primary or first dealership will have access to this feature.
Setting the Automatic Stock Number by VIN
A stock number can be created by using a set of digits (either six or seven) from the end the vehicle's VIN. (See example below)
If the 0 (zero) option is selected, this option is turned off, and the starting number from the Next Automatic Stock Number box will be used.
Automatic Stock Number Settings
What if a Customer Trades in a Vehicle Listed in Sold Inventory?
When the system encounters a VIN-derived stock number that already exists in your inventory (because you sold the same vehicle previously), the stock number will still be generated by using the last few digits of a VIN, but a sequential letter will be placed at the end. Note: Setting this option overrides any number entered into the Next Automatic Stock Number box.
For example, suppose an inventoried a vehicle has a VIN of WMWRC33506TK64069. Using the last 7 digits of the VIN as a stock number, the stock number for this vehicle would then be TK64069. This vehicle is sold to Jane Doe. Six months later, Jane Doe trades in this vehicle for another. The original entry for this vehicle is still in the inventory -- but is marked as sold rather than active inventory. Because of this, you cannot use the same stock number as stock numbers are unique identifiers for a vehicle. To overcome this, the software generates a stock number with an appended sequential letter. The stock number for this vehicle's new entry will become TK64069A. If this same vehicle comes back again, its stock number would then be TK64069B, and so forth.
Click the OK button to save your changes.