Car Club FAQ's

• Reasons to Join Our Car Club
• Car Club Membership Questions
• About the Cars in Our Car Club
• Use of our Luxury and Exotic Cars
• About Points & Tiers
• Services & Events

Reasons to Join Our Car Club

Why should I join DFW Elite Car Club?

DFW Elite Car Club.com provides a way for our members to enjoy the thrill of driving fun, classic and exotic cars without the hassles of ownership, and a simple monthly payment without expensive up front costs. We’re not just an exotic sports car club. Membership means access to a fleet that includes International CXT monster trucks, Hummers, Land Rovers, Bentleys, and even a new Rolls Royce Phantom. We are a member-driven organization passionately dedicated to giving our members the ultimate driving experience they deserve. We are always working to identify new ways to enhance our members’ experiences and improve our stable of classic and exotic automobiles. You can see from our website that our members have access to the largest and best collections of cars in the country. DFW Elite Car Club.com members are able to enjoy driving elite vehicles for a cost far lower than the cost of ownership, or what it cost to rent one. For example, the Saturday or Sunday rental cost for a Ferrari Spider in the DFW Metroplex is between $1750 and $1800. Platinum Club members can have the same car on weekend days for $875, a savings of over 50%.

Your costs seem much more attractive than other clubs I’ve looked at, and I love the idea of a monthly subscription versus a yearly lump sum. Is there a catch?

No catch! What you see in our virtual showroom is what you can expect when you visit our physical showroom. The company founder is a long-time auto enthusiast and an astute businessman. We do not need large initial member deposits to go out and buy vehicles. Many car clubs ask for $25,000-$250,000 up front for this purpose! We require a monthly payment with a 12 month commitment. The payment is likely considerably less than the payment would have been for one of our supercars. We have the vehicles in the showroom ready for you to enjoy. In order to maintain the maximum member to car ratio of 5:1, we will add cars as needed to ensure the cars remain easily available to members. This ratio is one of the lowest in the industry; some clubs have as many as 20 members per car.

What makes your club different from other exotic car clubs?

We have over 50 vehicles in our fleet. No other club even comes close to the variety and quality of vehicles we provide to our members. Many start-up clubs face a difficult situation: they need cars to attract members but they can’t afford the cars until they have the members. Fortunately for our members, our owner is a very successful entrepreneur that started the club using his personal collection of elite automobiles. He remains passionate about bringing the world’s best cars to our members, so we are often far ahead of other clubs in obtaining the latest hard-to-get vehicles. For instance, our recently acquired BMW M6 convertible was the first one delivered by the dealer; we ordered it a year ago. Our owner has been serving the automotive needs of North Texas for over 30 years from the same location and under the same Texas Dealer’s license since 1977. Also, because of our success and proven staying power, we have a full staff to serve members. We have no"investors" to satisfy, only our members. Again, we look forward to your visit and encourage you to compare our fleet, our staff, and our facility to others in the marketplace. Another way DFW Elite Auto Club.com is different is how we handle dues. Many other clubs require their members to pay the full cost of membership in a single lump sum. Our club affords members the convenience of monthly billing.

I have never heard of a time-share for automobiles. Has this concept been successful elsewhere?

This emerging concept has been successful in other markets around the country. The industry is in its infancy, although there have been a sizable number of articles written about this unique niche. It’s not unlike fractional ownership or time sharing for boats and condos. However, DFW Elite Car Club.com has taken it to a higher level with the largest selection of exotic vehicles in the United States. Many car clubs need members in order to purchase their fleet, while DFW Elite Car Club.com already has over 50 vehicles in its possession, ready for you to drive!

Is this similar to a fractional ownership club?

No. Although fractional ownership clubs and our club both allow members to use vehicles, they are not really similar. With a fractional ownership club, members are still owners and have all of the headaches of ownership even if these risks are shared among the members. In our club, members do not own the cars and do not assume any of the risks of depreciation or the costs of maintenance. Our members just enjoy the driving.

What about the availability of cars outside the DFW Metroplex?

Our club has and is making affiliate arrangements with exotic car clubs and rental agencies in other major metropolitan markets. Let us know when you travel if you are interested in using an exotic or luxury vehicles in another market, and we will endeavor to make arrangements for your access to what you want. We will also pay the other club and charge your account the required number of points. As part of our affiliate arrangements, we negotiate discounts with the other agencies to get you the best value. There is a limit of 25% of your annual points that can be allocated to markets outside of DFW.

Are there any special incentives to join now or to sign up for more months?

Yes, members who sign up for 24 months will receive one month’s free points. The term is still for 24 months, but you get 25 months’ worth of points. Also, the club has an initiation fee, but it is currently being waived for charter members who sign up before March 31, 2007. We also offer 500 free points to any member who refers a new member, and the new member also gets 500 free points for being referred. In order for both parties to be eligible, the prospective member must provide the referring member’s name on the membership application.

Car Club Membership Questions

Do I need to own a classic car to join the club?

No, the Car Club is designed for people who want to drive these cars without the hassles and costs that go with owning them. Depreciation for some of these vehicles may cost thousands of dollars per month and maintenance costs tend to be very high. DFW Elite Car Club.com is an affordable alternative to owning. Many of our members, however, do already own a fun weekend car or two and love the flexibility and choices that the Car Club affords them. We do have car shows throughout the year and since most of our members have some type of special car they own, we encourage members to bring them out for events.

What happens if I receive a traffic or parking ticket while using a club vehicle?

You are responsible for any traffic or parking violations received while using a club vehicle. In most cases, the officer will give you the ticket or mail it to your home. If we receive your ticket at the Car Club office, we will notify you immediately. In the glove box of each vehicle you will find a copy of our insurance card, and we ask you to keep a copy of your proof of insurance with you when you are using a club vehicle.

Do I need my own insurance, or does DFW Elite Car Club.com provide insurance for me?

Providing verifiable proof of insurance in an amount required, relative to the types of vehicles used is the member’s sole responsibility. DFW Elite Car Club.com agents will make a good faith effort to verify coverage. If coverage cannot be verified, the reservation will be cancelled and the member’s account may be charged the full point value of the reservation.

What if my personal insurance limits are not high enough?

In almost all cases, your limits can be raised for a very small premium increase, typically less than a hundred dollars per year.

What are my responsibilities for damage to vehicles, and what role does my insurance coverage play?

All members must provide adequate insurance as outlined in the Terms & Conditions of membership. It’s important to point out that the member is solely responsible for all damage to a vehicle while in his or her care and custody. Although most damages may be covered by insurance, the member is still responsible for any damage that his or her insurance company does not cover. Even if the member’s insurance company denies the claim, the member is responsible to pay for any damage to a club vehicle.

Can I pay my monthly subscription with a check?

Yes, if we receive it by the 25th of the month prior to the dues being due. You must leave a credit/debit card on file for monthly payments, and we charge your monthly dues to the card on or about the first of each month.

I understand that there is a deposit paid up front. How do I get it back?

A deposit equal to one month’s dues for your tier is payable at signing. This is held until the end of your subscription. After you have used the last of your points (we give you two months after your subscription expires to use the last of your points), your deposit will be refunded to your credit card if there are no damages or other charges due on your account.

What are the renewal terms for membership?

Club membership requires a one-year commitment, and we bill dues monthly. For those interested in saving, we offer a 10% bonus paid in points for prepayment of the full amount of yearly dues. All members will receive a renewal notice about 60 days before the end of their membership.

Why is the tax on membership dues 10% instead of the normal state sales tax?

The state of Texas regulates car clubs under its auto rental statutes and mandates the higher tax rate.

How far in advance can I reserve a vehicle?

This varies by tier, as shown in the table under terms and conditions. Our highest tiers have longer lead times to reserve a vehicle, giving them an assurance that the vehicle they want will be available. But the lead time is quite long for all tiers.

Why do I have to sign an annual commitment?

The Car Club is for people who want to enjoy the best cars in the world. To bring these great cars to members requires a substantial capital outlay and we ask members to give us a commitment in return. The annual commitments allow us to forecast revenues and keep bringing great cars to members. Although you are responsible for an annual commitment, you can prepay the membership at any time to get all the points you need for a given use. It's not unusual for corporate customers to pay all of the annual commitment up front, just to get the pricing advantage of car club. If you prepay, you still have the rest of the year to use your points, or buy more points at the rate your tier allows.

Use of our Luxury and Exotic Cars

Do you really own the cars listed on your website?

Yes, we do. Because of the cost of owning a fleet of such vehicles, many other clubs borrow cars from other markets. This makes it difficult for them to guarantee reservations and almost impossible to control the quality of the vehicles. Our fleet is in our showroom. We’d like to invite anyone interested in joining to come and visit. We take almost as much pride in our facility as we do in our collection of cars & nearly 16,000 square feet to serve you. We take almost as much pride in our facility as we do in our collection of cars& nearly 16,000 square feet to serve you. We look forward to your personal visit with or without an appointment. Also note that all the photos shown in our brochures and on the web site are our cars, photographed by or for us.

What is the condition of your cars?

All of our cars have been hand-selected by our founder, Ron Sturgeon. Many of the cars, including most of the rare classics, came from Ron’s personal collection. The exotics in the fleet were purchased new from authorized dealers. DFW Elite Car Club.com proudly owns all vehicles listed on our web site, and we keep them immaculate inside and out. We take pride in each car’s mechanical and cosmetic condition. All of the photographs on this site and in our club brochures are of the actual vehicles available to our members. Some other clubs use stock photos, but, with us, what you see on the site is what we have in the garage waiting for you to drive.

Using the Vehicles

Can I switch vehicles and try several?

Absolutely! That’s what DFW Elite Car Club.com is all about. You can use a different car every day, or keep one car for a week. Imagine impressing a client with a ride in a Ferrari, taking friends exploring in a Land Rover Sport, or adding a special touch to your evening with a Bentley. Owning just one car isn’t nearly as fun!

I’m interested in driving one of the Car Club ’s vintage or classic autos. Are there any special considerations?

Yes. We have vintage and classic cars that date back to 1939. As you might suspect, the way these older cars drive differs from the cars we are used to driving. So that we can ensure that your classic driving experience is safe and fun, please come to the showroom at least 30 minutes before your reservation. One of our member representatives will be glad to help you master the nuances of these very special cars. Some of the oldest cars are used primarily for static shots, or very short usages like weddings. The oldest of the cars tend to be very temperamental, especially by today’s standards. The BMW Isettas are an absolute blast to drive, but they aren’t practical over about 35 mph, or for long distances, for instance. Others such as our 1971 Mercedes 3.5 convertible or the 1959 VW bug convertible seem bulletproof; they just run forever.

Can my spouse use a car under my membership ?

Each tier has an allowed number of additional drivers. Except under the corporate tier, all additional drivers must provide proof of insurance, and there is a one-time $25 fee when new users are added to the account for underwriting. Under a corporate membership, the corporation is responsible for all users and furnishes blanket insurance coverage for their designated and/or authorized users, adding the club as an additional insured.

Can I share the membership with one of my friends and list him as an authorized user?

No, membership privileges only extended to immediate family members, including spouses and children. We reserve the right to require proof of the relationship of the primary member to any proposed user.

What if I keep the car longer than the time I reserved it for?

Keeping a vehicle longer than the requested time can cause problems for other members that are awaiting their reserved time. If the vehicle isn’t reserved immediately following your time, we can authorize another day’s use, if the member has adequate points in their account. All usage is for 24 hour periods. We allow one hour’s grace, followed by hourly charges as shown in the excess time table.

Is there a minimum or maximum amount of time I must keep one of the vehicles?

Vehicle use costing less than 300 points require multi day use, the minimum use fee is 300 points. Maximum use is 30 days under one use, but you can bring it back and then check it out on another reservation. (The State of Texas says if it’s out over 30 days it’s a long term lease.)

About Points and Tiers

Why do you use a points system? It seems complicated.

We use a point system to make things simpler, actually. By using points, we can offer discounts that vary by tier, and it’s much simpler and less confusing than offering discounts in dollars.

What if I don’t have enough points in my account for the vehicle I want to use? What if I need to keep a vehicle for more days than I have points for?

You can buy more points in blocks of 500 at your tier ’s rate anytime (see pricing table), or you can prepay future months and use those points now.

How do I know how many points I have and how many I’ve used?

You will receive a statement showing your account ’s activity by the 10th of each month. We process the current month ’s subscription on or about the 1st of each month, with the points posted to your account. Don ’t forget, you can request that we charge your credit card early for any future month if you need more points in the current period. And, of course, you can buy additional points at any time at your tier’s discounted rate. Currently, we don’t offer online account access, but we intend to within 12 months.

What happens if I don’t use all of my points each month?

They carry over to the next month! Unused points stay on your account until you use them.

What happens to my points at the end of my annual membership?

Points can be used for up to two months following the end of your annual commitment, unless you renew the membership, in which case they continue to rollover and accumulate month to month.

Are my points transferable to other members?

Yes, with the permission of the club director, at his sole discretion. We know that there may be times when you want to transfer your points to other members. Financial terms of any transfer will need to be handled with the other member.

Can I change tiers, up or down?

Yes, you can move up or down at any time during your annual commitment, with our permission. Monies paid prior to your change can not be changed, but future months will be at the rate for your new tier. We do not prorate monthly statements, but we can make the change effective at the start of your next billing cycle, which is usually the first of the month. Any points you have carry forward normally, and all club costs/points issued after you change will be calculated at the new tier. In order to plan for vehicle purchases, we must plan and project revenues. If you move to a higher tier, you must stay there for the remainder of your subscription.

Why are there tiers, and how do they work?

The club has put in place a tiered membership system so that every member can choose the financial commitment and amount of club car usage that best fits them. Like any business, the highest tiers have the greatest benefits and in exchange for the volume of those tiers, the greatest savings. However, most of the club’s benefits are available to all members.

Can I prepay for future months to get the points now?

Yes, you can prepay for additional months at any time. You can also buy extra points in blocks of 500 at your tier ’s price point at any time.

Services and Events

Are chauffeur services available?

The club does not have any provisions for chauffeur services at present. However, should you want a chauffeur, we will do our best to help. Just let us know. We are here to make your experience in the club as enjoyable as possible.

What types of events does the club offer members? Can I bring a friend?

The club offers social, driving, entertainment and technical events and an open house with refreshments each month. We encourage all members to bring a friend. Depending on the nature of the event, there may be a nominal charge for non-members. In many cases, we encourage you to invite several friends. For more details, just ask the club director.

What if a vehicle breaks down or I lose the key or alarm key fob?

DFW Elite Car Club.com membership includes a complimentary 24/7 roadside assistance program for all club vehicles to ensure that help is available to our members when they need it. If you lose a key or alarm key fob, you will be billed the cost of a replacement.

Remember: Your points cost less based on your level of car club membership

1 point = $0.50 to $0.65