Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley NeSmith.
Hi Ashley, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I didn’t set out to become Ashley the Auto Advocate. The automotive industry has been a part of my life for nearly three decades.
I started working in dealerships part-time in 1998 while I was still in high school, and I continued working throughout college. After graduating, I went into the business full-time in 2003. Over the next 25+ years, I worked my way through sales, management, and eventually spent 17 years as a Finance Director, helping thousands of customers purchase, finance, and lease vehicles. Those years gave me an in-depth understanding of every aspect of the dealership business—from vehicle pricing and financing to lender relationships, compliance, leasing, and complex deal structuring.
The automotive industry isn’t just my career—it’s also my family. I married an automotive dealer, which gave me an even deeper understanding of what it takes to operate a successful dealership. Because of that, I’ve always had the unique perspective of seeing the industry from both the retailer’s side and the customer’s side.
Then my career took an unexpected turn.
My son, Chevy, was diagnosed with dyslexia. As parents, we wanted to give him every opportunity to succeed, so we made the difficult decision to leave our home and move to Charleston, South Carolina, where he could attend a private school that specialized in educating children with dyslexia. I stepped away from my career for a few years so I could focus on supporting him during one of the most important times in his life.
Watching him overcome those challenges reinforced something I had always believed—that having someone who understands the process and is willing to guide you can completely change someone’s outcome. Those lessons continue to shape the way I work with consumers today.
After several years—and after seeing the incredible progress Chevy had made—I was ready to return to the automotive industry. I was fortunate to join a large consumer automotive education company, where I worked remotely helping consumers across the country navigate one of the biggest financial decisions they’ll ever make. Every day, I coached people through vehicle purchases, financing, leasing, trade-ins, warranties, and negotiations. It was incredibly rewarding because I was able to combine everything I had learned inside dealerships with my passion for educating consumers.
When the company decided to close that side of its business, I wasn’t sure what my next step would be.
Then something unexpected happened.
Friends, former coworkers, and even dealership contacts kept telling me, “You can’t stop helping people.” At the same time, customers I’d worked with started reaching out to me through social media asking for advice on buying vehicles, reviewing offers, negotiating deals, and understanding financing. Even though I no longer worked for that company, I kept answering their questions because helping people was something I genuinely loved doing.
That’s really how Ashley the Auto Advocate was born.
It wasn’t something I planned. It happened because people continued reaching out, and I realized there was a real need for someone who understood both sides of the desk. Today, I help consumers nationwide through my concierge service, provide independent automotive consulting, create educational content, contribute expert commentary to national media, and work with dealerships, automotive technology companies, and finance providers to improve the overall customer experience.
One thing people are often surprised to learn is that I’m not anti-dealer. In fact, many of my closest friends own or manage dealerships, and I’m married to a dealer. I understand the challenges dealerships face just as well as the concerns consumers have. My goal has never been to pit one side against the other. I believe transparency, education, and honest communication create better outcomes for everyone.
Looking back, every step of my journey—from starting in a dealership as a teenager, to stepping away from my career to support my son, to building Ashley the Auto Advocate—has reinforced one belief: buying a vehicle is one of the biggest financial decisions most people will ever make, and everyone deserves someone they can trust to help them navigate it.
I never imagined that answering questions on social media would turn into a business, but I’m incredibly grateful it did. Today, I get to do what I love every day—helping people make smarter automotive decisions while working to bring more transparency and trust to the industry I’ve called home for nearly 30 years.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Absolutely not. Like most entrepreneurs, my journey has had plenty of challenges. One of the biggest was stepping away from a career I’d spent more than two decades building to focus on my son after he was diagnosed with dyslexia. As a parent, it was the right decision, but it meant putting my professional life on hold during a time when I had worked incredibly hard to build my career. Starting over after several years away wasn’t easy, especially in an industry that changes as quickly as automotive.
As you know, we’re big fans of Ashley the Auto Advocate. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Ashley the Auto Advocate was built on a simple mission: to make buying a vehicle less confusing, less stressful, and more transparent.
After spending more than 25 years in the automotive industry, I realized most consumers don’t need someone to sell them a car—they need someone they can trust to help them understand the process, avoid costly mistakes, and make informed decisions.
Today, I help consumers nationwide through my No Hassle Car Buying Concierge service. I guide clients through every step of the buying process, including finding the right vehicle, comparing financing and lease options, evaluating trade-in offers, and understanding the true cost of ownership before they ever sign paperwork. My goal is simple: save my clients both time and money while giving them the confidence to make the right decision.
One of the things that sets my business apart is my network of more than 150 dealership partners across the country. Because of these long-standing relationships, I’m able to secure exclusive, pre-negotiated pricing that consumers wouldn’t have access to on their own. My clients benefit from the buying power and industry relationships I’ve built over nearly three decades, while still receiving independent, unbiased guidance throughout the entire process.
I’m also in a unique position because I’ve experienced the automotive industry from both sides of the desk. After more than 25 years working inside dealerships—and being married to an automotive dealer—I understand how dealerships operate just as well as I understand the concerns consumers have. That perspective allows me to create better outcomes for both sides instead of treating the buying process like a battle.
Beyond helping consumers, I’m also an automotive industry consultant and media contributor. I work with automotive technology companies, dealerships, and brands, providing real-world insight into dealership operations, consumer behavior, automotive finance, and the evolving retail landscape. I also regularly serve as an expert source for national media, helping journalists explain complex automotive topics in a way consumers can easily understand.
What I’m most proud of is the trust I’ve earned. Most of my business comes from referrals and repeat clients because people know they’ll receive honest advice, transparent pricing, and someone who genuinely puts their interests first. My mission has always been the same: to educate, advocate, and help consumers make smarter automotive decisions.
Consumers can learn more at Cardealhelp.com, where I offer two levels of support depending on what they need. Some clients want me to handle the entire process—from finding the right vehicle and negotiating pricing to arranging financing options, coordinating delivery, and making the experience as stress-free as possible through my No Hassle Car Buying Concierge service. Others simply need a little expert guidance before making a decision, so I also offer affordable 30-minute consultations by Zoom or phone, giving people the confidence to move forward on their own.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I believe the automotive industry is going to experience tremendous change over the next five to ten years. The biggest drivers will be AI and technology, but I don’t think technology will replace people—it will enhance the customer experience. Dealerships will use AI to better understand shoppers, personalize the buying journey, automate repetitive tasks, and make the process more efficient for both customers and employees.
I also think dealerships will continue to refine the hybrid buying experience. Most consumers don’t necessarily want to complete an entire vehicle purchase online, but they do want the convenience of completing as much of the process as possible from home. The dealerships that make buying easier while still providing a great in-store experience will have a competitive advantage.
I also believe we’ll see more concierge-style automotive services. Consumers are increasingly looking for trusted experts who can guide them through one of the largest financial decisions they’ll ever make. Just like people hire real estate agents for a home purchase, I think more buyers will seek professional guidance when purchasing a vehicle.
One trend I find a little bittersweet is the continued consolidation of the industry. I believe we’ll continue to see many smaller, family-owned dealerships being acquired by larger dealer groups. While that often brings more resources and technology, I also hope the industry doesn’t lose the personal relationships and community involvement that many family-owned dealerships have built over generations.
At the end of the day, I think the dealerships that will thrive won’t necessarily be the ones with the biggest advertising budgets. They’ll be the ones that embrace technology, build trust, create a transparent buying experience, and continue to put the customer first.
Pricing:
- Concierge service $999
- 30 minute consults $85
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Cardealhelp.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleyautoadvocate/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AshleytheAutoAdvocate
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleybnesmith/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AshleytheAutoAdvocate
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@ashleytheautoadvocate
