oada home > programs > autocap

Automotive Consumer Action Program (AUTOCAP)

Authorization Form >>

The Ohio Automobile Dealers Association's Automotive Consumer Action Program (AUTOCAP) provides a cost effective and time saving method for resolving consumer complaints.

How does this program work?

Ordinarily, a complaint filed by a consumer against a dealer with the Ohio Attorney General's Office will be processed by the Consumer Protection Section. AUTOCAP is a program operated in conjunction with the Attorney General's Office that allows the industry the opportunity to regulate itself. If the Attorney General's Office receives a consumer complaint involving a member of AUTOCAP, the complaint is not handled directly by the Attorney General's Office, but instead is forwarded on to the OADA offices to be resolved by AUTOCAP.

Why is the AUTOCAP Program better?

As an enforcement agency, the Consumer Protection Section of the Attorney General's Office views consumer complaints from a legal perspective. Violations of the law, even those technical in nature that are not related to the complaint, are often pursued by the Attorney General. AUTOCAP is an equitable process relying on principles of fairness when rendering decisions.

The AUTOCAP process works to resolve disputes in two ways. First, the AUTOCAP staff will attempt to resolve the dispute through informal mediation between the two parties. If the dispute can not be resolved through informal mediation, the dispute may then be referred to an impartial panel of automobile dealers, and consumer representatives from the community.

Consumer complaints received by the Ohio Attorney General's Office are forwarded to AUTOCAP personnel for resolution if the dealer is an AUTOCAP participant. Interns from Capital Unversity Law School and the Ohio State University College of Law are then assigned the case and work with the dealer and consumer to achieve a mutually agreeable resolution.

AUTOCAP saves dealers money 

Remedies for violations of the Consumer Sales Practices Act (CSPA) can result in three times the amount of the actual damages or two hundred dollars, whichever is greater, and reasonable attorney fees for the consumer are also available. With AUTOCAP, recoverable damages are limited to the actual damages incurred. AUTOCAP resolves disputes informally, without attorneys, thus saving additional expense.

AUTOCAP saves dealers time 

As a member of AUTOCAP, any complaint filed against your dealership will be more efficiently and expeditiously handled by people who are working within your industry on a daily basis. By working with AUTOCAP, dealers have the opportunity to receive assistance remedying current complaints and at the same time eliminate the bureaucracy associated with a government enforcement agency.

Interested in signing your dealership up for our AUTOCAP program?

The appropriate Authorization Form must be completed in order to join the OADA AUTOCAP Program.