Welcome to DTS Auto Connect. I am Larry Pickett, and I am here to serve as your personal advocate and insider guide through the automotive buying and leasing process.
From 2004 through 2021, I spent 17 years working hands-on inside the dealership environment, serving in every major operational seat. I began on the showroom floor selling vehicles directly, quickly advanced to sales desk manager helping sales teams structure and close complex transactions, directed Business Development Centers (BDC) managing thousands of online inquiries, and spent nearly five years as a Finance Manager. Over that 17-year career, I personally structured, negotiated, and finalized well over 10,000 vehicle purchases and leases, while guiding tens of thousands of other shoppers through test drives, trade assessments, and financing reviews. Along the way, my work in finance and dealer operations earned industry-wide recognition for high-tier performance in vehicle protection follow-through, contract compliance, and per-vehicle retail execution.
Through those decades behind the dealership desk, one truth has always stood out: walking into a dealership or negotiating online can feel overwhelming. The average consumer buys or leases a car once every 7 to 10 years, while dealerships negotiate and structure hundreds of transactions every single month.
Most car buyers naturally focus only on the advertised price of the vehicle, but a true auto deal involves dozens of moving parts that shape your financial well-being for years to come. A great deal is not just the vehicle price. It is securing the full, fair market value for your trade-in rather than an undervalued allowance. It is obtaining an interest rate and loan term that aligns with your real credit profile rather than an inflated markup. It is knowing which protection products make sense for your lifestyle—such as extended service contracts, GAP coverage, tire and wheel protection, and cosmetic warranties—and ensuring you pay fair wholesale rates instead of inflated retail markups.
That natural imbalance is why I launched this consumer service alongside Dealer Training Source. Whether you are planning to purchase, finance, or lease your next new or pre-owned vehicle, you no longer have to navigate the showroom alone. I personally review your dealer worksheets, audit your contract line by line, verify every single figure, and negotiate directly on your behalf to ensure you secure the strongest, fairest overall deal possible before you ever sign your name.
