TCPA Compliance in 2025: Why Dealerships Need a Single Texting Platform to Avoid Liability

The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) remains one of the most important, but most misunderstood, laws affecting automotive dealerships today. As digital communication and SMS marketing continue to evolve, so do the risks associated with contacting consumers. Even well intentioned outreach can result in costly violations when businesses rely on fragmented systems, outdated processes, or multiple texting tools that don’t properly track consent or opt-out activity.

TECOBI is engineered to help dealerships navigate communication safely, efficiently, and compliantly. In recent years, we have seen an increase in the number of dealerships, across all brands, sizes, and regions facing lawsuits directly tied to improper opt-out handling or the use of multiple texting systems. These issues could have been avoided with a centralized, integrated platform built specifically for compliant SMS communication.

This article provides an up to date, educational overview of the TCPA, the risks dealerships face when using more than one texting system, and how TECOBI’s AI-driven opt-out technology helps protect your dealership from liability while keeping customer experience at the forefront.

What Is the TCPA and Why Does It Matter to Dealerships?

The Telephone Consumer Protection Act was created to protect consumers from unwanted telemarketing calls and messages. Since its inception, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has enforced the TCPA aggressively, and courts have consistently upheld strict interpretations of what constitutes an illegal call or text.

In July 2015, a major FCC Omnibus Declaratory Ruling clarified two critical points:

1. Text Messages Count as “Calls” Under the TCPA

This means that all rules that apply to telemarketing calls, including consent requirements, also apply to text messages. Even a single, unsolicited SMS can trigger liability.

2. The Definition of an ATDS (Auto-Dialer) Is Extremely Broad

The FCC stated that any system capable of auto-dialing, even if not currently set to auto-dial, may be treated as an Automatic Telephone Dialing System (ATDS).

This is important because nearly every modern business device, software system, or CRM is technically capable of computer assisted dialing or texting. In other words: If you send texts from a computer system, you may fall under TCPA auto dialer rules. Proper consent, documentation, and opt-out tracking are not optional. They are mandatory.

The Purpose of the TCPA: Communication, Not Suppression

Many dealerships worry that the TCPA restricts all forms of communication, but this is not the intent of the law. The TCPA protects consumers from unwanted marketing activity, not legitimate business conversations.

If a customer requests information via phone, text, website form, or Facebook lead ad; the dealership is typically permitted to respond without written consent. The customer initiated the conversation, which signals permission to reply.

However:

• You must still honor opt-outs.
• You must avoid automated mass messaging without consent.
• You must ensure your systems accurately track all consent activity.

This is where most violations happen, not because a dealership is spamming consumers, but because communication systems are not unified.

The Hidden Danger: Using Multiple Texting Systems

One of the most common causes of TCPA exposure is when a dealership uses more than one texting platform. Every separate system creates gaps, and gaps create liability.

Why Multiple Systems Lead to Risk

1. Opt-Outs Fail to Sync Across Systems

If a customer texts “STOP” to one system, the other systems may continue messaging them—making the dealership liable for every message sent afterward.

TECOBI does not pull or sync opt-out flags from dealership CRMs because CRMs are not designed to manage carrier-level opt-outs.

2. Consent Records Become Fragmented

Consent may be captured in a Facebook ad, TECOBI’s lead form, or a landing page. If another tool sends an SMS without proper documentation, the dealership cannot prove consent.

3. Staff Cannot See the Full Customer Conversation

If multiple tools send messages, no single platform has the complete history. This creates risk in customer disputes, legal cases, and audits.

4. Phone Number Confusion Creates Legal Exposure

A consumer may text “STOP” to one store or phone number, but communication continues from another store within the same group.

While each rooftop is typically treated as its own legal entity, many consumers and courts see the “dealership group” as one business. This can escalate misunderstandings or legal arguments.

Even one improperly handled opt-out can result in a TCPA violation.

How TECOBI’s Advertising Department Delivers Safer, TCPA-Compliant Leads With Meta’s New SMS Verification

Meta’s new SMS verification requirement for lead forms adds a powerful layer of protection for dealerships. When a shopper enters their phone number, Meta sends a verification code that must be confirmed before form submission.

This extra step ensures the number belongs to the person filling out the form, eliminating one of the most common sources of TCPA violations: mistyped or incorrect numbers.

Why This Matters for Dealerships

With verification in place:

• Wrong or mistyped numbers cannot be submitted
• Landlines or invalid numbers fail automatically
• Submitting someone else’s number doesn’t work, because the code never reaches them

This means every lead TECOBI delivers from Facebook and Instagram comes with verified, authenticated consumer consent from the very first touchpoint.

The Result: Cleaner Leads, Lower Risk

By combining Meta’s verification step with TECOBI’s carrier level hard opt-outs and AI-driven soft opt-outs, dealerships receive:

• Verified mobile numbers
• Documented consumer intent
• Stronger compliance protection
• Dramatically reduced TCPA exposure

This gives TECOBI’s advertising a major advantage: we deliver high funnel leads, but inherently safer and more compliant from the moment they’re created.

TECOBI’s Opt-Out Protections: How It Works

1. Twilio Hard Opt-Outs (Carrier-Level Enforcement)

Certain keywords instantly trigger a hard opt-out:

When a customer sends one of these:

• All texting from that number’s SMS channel stops immediately.
• Only the customer can reverse it by texting “START.”
• Texting cannot resume manually until re-authorized.

This satisfies carrier regulations and is the highest level of protection.

2. TECOBI AI Soft Opt-Outs

Not all customers use official STOP keywords.

TECOBI’s AI detects this type of language and automatically pauses communication for human review. This ensures your team handles the interaction appropriately while preventing accidental follow-ups.

Why TECOBI Should Be Your Sole Texting Platform

The legal framework governing this critical aspect of the industry is continually evolving, and dealerships can no longer rely on outdated assumptions regarding consent or the use of dialing technologies. That is where we come in.

Dealerships face the highest risk when they:

• Use multiple SMS tools
• Allow different departments to use separate platforms
• Mix TECOBI, CRM texting, and personal phone outreach

To remain compliant and minimize liability dealerships should:

Centralize all SMS communication through TECOBI

This ensures:

• All opt-outs are respected
• All consent is documented
• All conversations are logged
• All messages follow TCPA compliant guidelines
• The dealership can defend itself if ever challenged legally

Working with a single system removes 95% of TCPA-related exposure.

Best Practices for TCPA Compliance in 2025

✔ Use TECOBI as the single source for all texting

✔ Respond only to customers who initiated contact

✔ Maintain clear, accessible opt-out options

✔ Store and document every consent action

✔ Avoid importing or syncing opt-outs from CRMs

✔ Train staff to avoid unsanctioned texting tools

✔ Enable multi-store opt-outs if operating multiple rooftops

Conclusion: Protect Your Dealership With the Right Platform

TCPA compliance is not optional, and with the continued rise of lawsuits involving SMS communication, dealerships must be more vigilant than ever. Using multiple texting systems dramatically increases exposure, while a unified platform like TECOBI ensures accurate opt-out management, consent tracking, AI-powered detection, and reliable documentation.

By centralizing all SMS activity through TECOBI, dealerships can communicate confidently, protect their business, and maintain trust with every customer they serve.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this blog post is provided for general educational and informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as legal advice. TCPA regulations and related communication laws are complex and may vary by state or jurisdiction. Dealerships and other businesses should consult with a qualified attorney before making any decisions regarding compliance obligations or communication practices. TECOBI does not offer legal advice and assumes no responsibility for any legal outcomes resulting from the use of its services or reliance on the content in this article. We strongly recommend seeking independent legal counsel to ensure full compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations.