The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) says dealership thefts rose by 60% in 2023. This costs the industry more than $1 billion each year.
Your open site has valuable vehicles but often few staff overnight. This makes it a prime target. Criminals are opportunists. They see an open field and notice that people are only lightly patrolling. So, they think it's safe to commit crimes.
Having live security cameras is a smart way to protect your dealership and keep your assets safe. This article will cover automotive dealership surveillance. It will give you the tools to protect your assets and income.
Benefits of Automotive Dealership Security Systems
Property theft is rising. There was a 6% increase from 2020 and a 17% rise since 2019. You need to take action for protection.
Here's how security cameras help safeguard your dealership:
- Stop Crime in Real-Time: Security cameras spot dangers as they occur. It can catch someone climbing your fence or tampering with your vehicles. Then send you real-time alerts, so you can respond immediately using strobe lights, sirens or live voice warnings.
- Powerful 24/7 Deterrence: The combination of signage that states "24/7 Live Video Monitoring" and visible cameras make your dealership a less desirable target. Criminals realize that someone is watching them closely. They know a live operator can respond fast, unlike passive monitors that just record.
- Slash False Alarms & Save Staff Time: AI will help analytics distinguish between human, vehicle and pets. This means your security team or manager will receive fewer useless alerts and have more time to focus on what matters. No more trips to the lot at 2 AM for a wandering cat.
- Stay Aware, Anytime: Remote access allows you to check what's happening on your sales floor, service bay, or back lot in real-time. You can check deliveries, see customer traffic after hours, and look into alarm triggers. You can do these from your phone, tablet, or office computer, without being on site.
- Potential for Lower Insurance Premiums: Several insurance providers provide significant discounts (10%-20%) for purchasing and installing security systems. Showing that you’ve done security monitoring proves you’re proactive about risk. This also helps reduce risk for them.
- Faster Incident Resolution & Liability Protection: High-resolution video footage allows you to provide real-time evidence to law enforcement during incidents. It simplifies investigations, supports insurance claims, and resolves disputes like slip-and-fall cases. Clear video is your strongest proof.
Choosing the Best Security Camera System for Your Dealership
With high-value inventory at your dealership, it is an attractive target for criminals. The right security system keeps you actively protected.
Key features for fast threat detection, high performance, and broad coverage of your large lot and buildings are:
Crystal Clear Resolution (4K+)
Blurry videos are completely useless. Low-resolution cameras lose key details when the resolution is lower. This is clearer when you view footage from a distance. If you get only one priority for your security footage, spend the money on 4K resolution cameras. You will be able to see faces, license plates, and details in vehicles in a large parking lot.
Superior Night Vision (Color + Starlight)
Most thefts are done at night, and unfortunately, most standard infrared cameras produce a grainy, black and white image. Cameras with color night vision or starlight sensors capture clear, colored images of people and vehicles, even in low light. Being able to identify suspects and vehicles in the dark is very important, especially for investigations.
True Real-Time Live View & Alerts
Every second counts. Ensure the system can watch live with minimal delay (under 2 seconds). Also, it should send instant notifications to your devices when alerts happen. If feeds are laggy or alerts are delayed, they hinder your ability to take live action, giving criminals precious seconds to act.
Advanced AI Detection (Vehicle/People)
It is critical to use AI-powered analytics if you are relying on the system to distinguish between a vehicle and a person, and eliminate false alerts caused by animals. With powerful AI detection, you can confirm that you are alerted only when there is a legitimate and urgent threat on your lot.
Robust Connectivity (PoE Strongly Preferred)
WiFi can be unreliable for critical security needs. Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) uses only one single cable for feeding data and power, providing you reliable and interference-free connection, even when running long cables outdoors. Unlike wireless, PoE is less vulnerable to signal interference or jamming.
Secure & Reliable Video Storage
You will have to choose between local storage (NVR), or cloud storage. Local storage (via NVR) has maximum storage and capacity, no ongoing costs, and you control your storage, but you do have to rely on your physical security.
Cloud storage offers remote backup, provided the cloud system has reliable internet and subscription pricing. Many dealerships work both local (NVR) and cloud to have a ultimate secure system.
Best Security Camera Systems for Automotive Dealerships
Not all systems will handle the surveillance demands of a dealership. These eufy NVR systems have critical features for this purpose: high resolution, guaranteed PoE connection, and remote access - requirements relevant for protecting large lots and valuable assets.
eufy NVR Security System S4 Max
The eufy NVR Security System S4 Max is designed to maximize image quality and coverage. It is intended for dealerships that need clear identification across wide, exposed lots 24/7. Here are some features that make them worthwhile:
- Triple-Lens Bullet+PTZ(16MP): Features a fixed 122° 4K wide-view and a 2K PTZ camera (8x zoom, 360° pan). It can zoom in immediately on distant license plates or potential suspect activity anywhere on your lot, no manual control. Completely eliminates your blind spots.
- Auto-Framing & Group Tracking: Automatically detects and locks onto a person or vehicle, keeping the PTZ camera focused for clear close-ups up to 164 ft away.This is valuable for monitoring multiple suspects or tracking customer interactions in large inventory spaces.
- Live Cross-Cam Tracking: Seamlessly transfers tracking between cameras when a subject moves out of view, ensuring continuous coverage.This ensures coverage on the potential thief as they travel from the perimeter to the vehicle rows - there are no gaps in coverage.
- Local AI Agent (6T/8-Core): Evaluate threats in real-time on-device (zero latency - no cloud). Mark "no-go" zones (like restricted lots after hours) and only get alerted when an actual intrusion happens, significantly reducing the false positive data for your security team.
- Free Smart Video Search: Search all video footage, instantly, using keywords (i.e. "red truck"). Save time after an incident for reviewing footage, or investigating an inventory discrepancy.
The S4 Max is perfect for large dealerships, offering top-tier image quality and long-term reliability. Start with 4 cameras and expand up to 16 channels as your needs grow. With local storage and a PoE setup, the S4 Max offers power for a cost saving long-term investment.
eufy NVR Security System S4
The eufy NVR Security System S4 combines two fixed-lens cameras (You can choose from bullet or turret style) with two triple-lens bullet+PTZ cameras, offering both static coverage and active tracking. This system is ideal for dealerships that need flexibility and are working within a budget.
- Hybrid Camera Array (4K Turret + 4K Bullet-PTZ): Two 4K turret/bulletcameras to monitor fixed high-risk areas (e.g., service entrance, parts storage). Two 4K triple-lens cameras to capture a wide-angle view of everything. The built-in 2K PTZ lens features 360° pan and 8× zoom for actively tracking movement and capturing critical details when needed.
- Weatherproofing & AI Noise-Reduction:These PoE cameras have excellent protection against the effects of weather, dust, and debris. Quality noise reduction, allowing you to monitor and record audio of malicious activities clearly.
- Expandable (8 to 16CH) w/ 2TB HDD (→16TB):Begin monitoring your establishment with 4 key cameras, then add cameras later. Large local storage keeps months of 4K evidence with no monthly fee.
Ultimately, If you have a large site to cover that needs superior PTZ tracking and 16MP detail for identifying from a distance, then the eufy NVR System S4 Max is at the top of the market. On the other hand, The eufy NVR System S4 provides optimal fixed/PTZ capability and coverage for midsize dealerships, giving comprehensive and affordable protection.
Automotive Dealership Security Camera Installation Considerations
Proper camera installation transforms these into proactive surveillance tools. Here’s a quick guide to key considerations when installing security camera systems at your dealership:
1. Camera Placement: Target High-Risk Zones
Mount a camera for a distance of 10–12ft high at perimeter fences (entry/exit points), lot gates (captures the plates), showroom fronts (glass protection), service bays (parts theft deterrent), rows of premium vehicles, etc.
Use vandal resistant housing in places where there is a greater likelihood of vandalism.
2. Eliminate Blind Spots
Angle cameras downward to capture faces, not hats. Ensure an overlap of coverage between devices – if one camera is blocked, another camera can still see the area. When setting up, consider physically walking the lot to make sure you can see hoods, undercarriages, or out-of-view areas where thieves may go after catalytic converters.
3. Professional Cable Management
Run all outdoor PoE cables through locked weatherproof metal conduit. Never leave wires exposed to be messed with. Bury them if possible or run them along walls or eaves. You also want to minimize all weather exposure so that cables won't be ruined, and to prevent breakage in wireless signals.
4. Optimize Lighting & Camera Performance
Put bright lighting above lots, entrances, and fences. Combine bright lighting with cameras that have Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) to eliminate glare from vehicle headlights and/or sunlight. While color footage is more useful at night for identification, it requires both ambient light sources and high-sensitivity camera sensors.
5. Legal Compliance & Deterrence
Check your local laws: some might require you to only allow audio recording in public or employee-only areas. Install prominent "24/7 VIDEO SURVEILLANCE" signage at all entrances. This serves not only to deter crime and legally advertise but also satisfies the notice requirement and protects against a privacy lawsuit. Signage is your first layer of deterrence.
Conclusion
With the average dealership theft exceeding $1 billion (according to NICB) each year, passive security alone will not cut it. With video monitoring, you can be proactive, performing in-the-moment deterrence and reducing false alarms while protecting your high-value asset inventory 24/7.
By investing in advanced security camera systems like the eufy NVR System S4 Max or eufy NVR System S4, you can ensure 24/7 surveillance with features like 4K resolution, AI-powered detection, and seamless PoE connectivity.
With the right system in place, you’ll safeguard your assets, reduce liability, and maintain customer trust, all while deterring criminals before they act.