Auto Dealership Surveillance Buying Checklist

DEALERSHIP CHECKLIST

Auto Dealership Surveillance Buying Checklist

Dealership proposals approved on camera count alone leave inventory exposed. This checklist walks through the 22 questions we work through before approving a dealership camera proposal.

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Bottom Line

A dealership proposal is ready when you can answer yes to every question below. Lot corner multi-sensors, LPR at every entry, service-bay per-bay coverage, and mobile access for the GM are the priorities most often missed.

Our team runs this checklist on every dealership proposal.

Best For

  • Dealership GMs
  • Multi-rooftop operators
  • Service managers
  • Fixed-ops directors

Not For

  • Warehouse
  • Commercial office
  • Residential

Dealership-Specific Priorities

Lot coverage with no blind spots, LPR at every entry, service bay accountability, showroom deterrence, catalytic converter theft prevention, mobile app for GM, and multi-rooftop federation for operators with multiple locations.

The 22-Question Auto Dealership Checklist

Walk through before approving any dealership proposal.

Is every lot row covered from at least one camera?

Walk the lot with the plan.

Are lot corners covered with multi-sensor cameras?

Eliminates blind spots.

Is there LPR at every vehicle entry?

Main entry, service drive, back gate.

Is every service bay covered?

One vandal-rated dome per bay.

Is the service drive / write-up area covered?

Customer vehicle intake documentation.

Is the showroom covered?

Discreet indoor domes for showroom and F&I.

Is the parts department covered?

Parts storage and distribution.

Is the F&I office covered?

Discreet transaction documentation.

Is there catalytic converter theft coverage (thermal or multi-sensor)?

For dealerships with recurring theft.

Is after-hours lighting coordinated with cameras?

Motion-triggered lighting supports deterrence.

Is retention sized for 30-60 days?

30 days default; 60 for high-incident dealerships.

Is the NVR right-sized for the camera count?

32-channel standard; multi-NVR for large operations.

Is RAID 5/6 configured on storage?

Redundancy requirement.

Is the VMS mobile app strong for GM access?

After-hours review.

Is role-based access configured?

GM, service manager, sales manager, parts.

Is the alarm integration planned?

Camera events trigger alarm response.

Is UPS specified for NVR and core switch?

Power loss creates coverage gaps.

Is cable-plant labor in the proposal?

Lot cable runs often exceed 100m; fiber or extenders needed.

Is commissioning labor included?

Per-camera tuning and VMS registration.

Is warranty explicit?

1-5 year commercial.

Is the cybersecurity baseline specified?

Non-default passwords, certs, firmware updates.

Is the post-install support contact clear?

Who the service manager calls.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should I spend reviewing a dealership proposal?

3-4 hours for a standard 150-vehicle dealership; full day for large or multi-rooftop operations.

What's the most-missed item?

Lot corner multi-sensor coverage. Most first-draft proposals use single-lens cameras at corners and miss 25-30 percent of the lot area.

How do we handle catalytic converter theft specifically?

Multi-sensor lot coverage + LPR at entry + motion-triggered lighting + monitoring service with voice-down capability. Cameras alone deter; combined system actively prevents.

Should we have cameras in the F&I office?

Discreet coverage recommended for transaction documentation. Visible deterrence combined with audit-trail support.

Multi-rooftop operators — should we use enterprise VMS?

Yes for 3+ locations. Milestone XProtect or Genetec Security Center federation across dealerships gives corporate security a single pane of glass.

No Bots, Just Experts

No bots, just experts. Free pre-sales support for every customer — product questions, BOM quotes, compatibility checks, price confirmation — typically answered within one business day. Paid services available like full system design, remote installation, and more. Got a list of products? Free BOM quote. Need help figuring out what to buy? Buy engineering time by the hour — $175/hour, qty 1 = 1 hour. Tell us about your project, we scope how many hours it needs, you purchase that quantity. Hardware buyers get up to one hour ($175) credited back against their order as a thank-you.

Get Free BOM Quote Buy Design Hours ($175/hr)

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