December Activity Surges Above Rolling Average
December 2025 saw a significant uptick in dealership ownership activity, with 29 store changes recorded against a rolling 9-month average of 19 transactions per month. The month included 28 buy-sell transactions, zero closures, and one new opening, representing a 53% increase over the typical monthly pace.
Geographic activity was led by Georgia with 6 transactions, followed by California with 5 and Washington with 3. Other states recording ownership changes included Louisiana, Illinois, and New York with 2 each, while Mississippi, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Tennessee, Nebraska, South Carolina, Massachusetts, and Florida each saw single transactions.
Notable Transactions
Several significant multi-store deals shaped December's activity. Hudson Automotive Group acquired two Chevrolet stores in Baton Rouge, Louisiana from All Star Automotive Group—All Star Chevrolet North and All Star Chevrolet Baton Rouge. Both transactions were facilitated by Kerrigan Advisors.
In Washington state, Go Auto expanded its footprint by purchasing Car Pros Kia Renton and Car Pros Hyundai Renton from Car Pros Automotive Group, with Kerrigan Advisors again serving as the broker. Meanwhile, in California, Franchise Equity Partners acquired Penske Buick-GMC of Cerritos from Hartz Automotive through Presidio Group.
Broker Spotlight
December featured robust broker activity, with five firms facilitating the month's transactions. Kerrigan Advisors and Performance Brokerage Services each handled 6 deals, while Presidio Group managed 3 transactions. National Business Brokers and The Presidio Group each completed 1 transaction. Kerrigan Advisors, the industry's leading sell-side advisor specializing in high-value franchise dealership transactions, was particularly active in facilitating multi-store acquisitions. Performance Brokerage Services, a national dealership brokerage firm handling transactions of all sizes across the U.S., maintained its strong presence in the market.
What This Means for Vendors
The surge in December activity, particularly the multi-store acquisitions, suggests vendors should prioritize relationship-building with expanding groups like Hudson Automotive Group and Go Auto, while also maintaining connections with established players making strategic moves. The geographic concentration in Georgia and California indicates these markets merit focused vendor attention. With transaction volume running well above the 9-month average, vendor teams should prepare for potential account transitions and new business opportunities as ownership changes settle in early 2026.
Data reflects transactions identified through public records, press releases, and industry news sources. Some transactions may not yet be captured in our database. Stay ahead of ownership changes that could impact your dealership relationships with a subscription to The Buy-Sell Report.