Automotive Training Network (ATN) Alternatives: 6 Options for Dealerships

Automotive Training Network (ATN) is a legitimate program. Mark Tewart has spent 25-plus years in and around dealerships, and the content — process discipline, follow-up systems, professional mindset — reflects that experience. If your store already uses ATN, there's no argument here that you have made a bad choice.

But dealerships do shop alternatives. Sometimes the format doesn't fit. Sometimes the budget changed. Sometimes the store has outgrown methodology content and needs something built for daily repetition. Whatever the reason, this post gives you a fair look at six alternatives to ATN — what each one actually is, what it costs, and which store profile it fits best.

For a full breakdown of what ATN offers before you compare, see the ATN review.

Why Dealerships Look for ATN Alternatives

ATN's structural profile is worth naming plainly so you can match the right alternative to the right gap.

Format is event-and-video-first. ATN's strongest delivery mechanism is live keynotes and in-dealership workshops. Online modules supplement those events but are not the core product. Dealerships that need always-on, rep-level access to training may find the format episodic.

Feedback loops are limited. Like most training programs built around live events and LMS video, ATN does not produce per-rep skill data between sessions. Managers learn which reps watched which videos, not which reps can execute the technique under pressure.

Practice volume is self-directed. Tewart's content tells reps what to do and why. It does not include a mechanism for structured daily practice — the kind that builds motor memory for objection handling and closing sequences.

Geographic and scale constraints. Live session access scales linearly by location. Dealer groups with multiple rooftops pay a meaningful premium for anything beyond digital access.

None of these are criticisms unique to ATN. They describe the entire category of live-event and LMS-style training. The question is whether those structural characteristics match your store's current training gap — or whether a different format addresses what ATN cannot.

6 Automotive Training Network Alternatives

1. DealSpeak — AI Voice Roleplay for Daily Practice

What it is. DealSpeak is an AI voice roleplay platform built specifically for automotive retail. Reps practice live conversations against AI buyers that push back, object, and respond the way real customers do. Each session is scored. Managers see rep-level data — where each person's delivery is strong, where it breaks down.

What it covers. Scenarios span the full sales conversation: meet-and-greet, needs assessment, vehicle selection, trade-in conversation, objection handling, pricing discussion, and closing. F&I scenarios and service advisor conversations are also available.

What it costs. $30 per user per month. No custom quote, no annual enterprise negotiation.

Best fit. DealSpeak does not replace ATN's methodology content. It fills the gap ATN cannot: structured daily practice. The combination that works well is ATN for the framework and DealSpeak for the daily reps that convert framework knowledge into reliable execution. Stores already using ATN and looking for a practice layer can add DealSpeak without replacing anything. Stores that have stepped back from ATN and need a standalone skill-building tool can use DealSpeak independently.

DealSpeak is available at $30/user/month with no minimum commitment.

2. Joe Verde Training Network (JVTN)

What it is. Joe Verde Training Network is one of the oldest and most widely used automotive sales training programs in North America. Verde's methodology — the road to the sale, the bypass, the trial close — is the closest thing the industry has to a shared standard. JVTN is Verde's LMS: thousands of video segments, workbooks, and tracking tools organized around his process framework.

What it covers. Front-end sales process, phone and follow-up skills, negotiation, and management training for sales managers and GMs. The content library is deep for a LMS product.

What it costs. JVTN subscriptions typically run $300–$700 per user annually for digital access. Live workshops and in-dealer training are priced separately and represent the program's largest investment.

Best fit. Stores that need a comprehensive, methodology-first LMS with a large content library and industry credibility. JVTN and ATN cover similar territory with different stylistic registers — Verde is more systematic and curriculum-structured; Tewart is higher-energy and direct. The choice often comes down to which trainer's style connects with your floor.

For a deeper profile of Verde's program and where it leaves gaps, see the Joe Verde alternative guide.

3. Bradley On Demand

What it is. Bradley On Demand is a video-based training LMS used primarily by BDC teams and phone sales staff in automotive retail. The program is built around Sean Bradley's methodology for internet lead handling, appointment setting, and phone communication.

What it covers. BDC fundamentals: lead response, phone scripts, appointment confirmation, objection handling on inbound and outbound calls, and reporting metrics. The content is narrower than ATN's catalog but goes deeper on the BDC-specific workflow than most generalist programs.

What it costs. Pricing is not published publicly and is typically quoted per dealership or per user group. Industry range estimates for BDC-focused access generally fall in the $400–$800 per user annually range.

Best fit. Stores where the primary training gap is in the BDC, not the showroom floor. If your sales consultants are solid and your appointment-set rate is the problem, Bradley On Demand addresses that more directly than ATN's broader curriculum. For stores that need a generalist program covering both floor and BDC, neither ATN nor Bradley On Demand alone covers both well.

For alternatives to Bradley On Demand specifically, the Bradley On Demand alternatives guide covers that comparison in detail.

4. Cardone University

What it is. Cardone University is Grant Cardone's online training platform. It is the most widely marketed automotive sales training product in the country — Cardone's social media presence and personal brand have built an audience that most training vendors cannot approach.

What it covers. Sales mindset, prospecting, follow-up, closing, objection handling, and Cardone's "10X" performance philosophy. The library spans both automotive and general B2C sales, which reflects Cardone's audience beyond the dealership vertical.

What it costs. Individual access typically runs $99–$300 per user monthly, depending on access tier. Some dealerships negotiate annual group pricing.

Best fit. Stores where the primary gap is motivational or mindset-oriented, and where Cardone's high-energy style connects with the sales floor. Cardone University is a video LMS — it shares ATN's structural limitation around practice and feedback. The difference is brand and style, not delivery mechanism.

For a side-by-side look at Cardone University against AI-based practice tools, see the Cardone University vs. AI roleplay comparison.

5. DealerPRO Training

What it is. DealerPRO Training is a fixed operations training organization focused primarily on service advisors, service managers, and parts teams. It is built around Don Reed's methodology for service drive performance and is one of the most recognized programs specifically for the fixed ops side of the dealership.

What it covers. Service advisor selling skills, menu presentation, technician productivity, parts department performance, and service management. DealerPRO is explicitly not a front-end sales program — it is fixed operations focused.

What it costs. In-dealership consulting engagements and workshops are priced per program. DealerPRO does not publish standardized pricing.

Best fit. Stores whose primary training gap is in service and fixed ops rather than front-end sales. If you are using ATN to train your sales floor and your service drive is underperforming independently, DealerPRO fills a gap ATN is not designed to address. It is not an ATN replacement for a front-end sales team — it is a specialist program for a different department.

6. Dealer Synergy

What it is. Dealer Synergy is a digital marketing and internet sales training organization founded by Sean V. Bradley. The program covers internet lead management, BDC performance, social media strategy, and online reputation — areas that ATN addresses at a foundational level but does not specialize in.

What it covers. Internet department strategy, BDC training, phone skills, video email, and digital marketing workflow. Dealer Synergy runs workshops and consulting engagements and produces a podcast ("Millionaire Car Salesman") that reaches a broad audience.

What it costs. Consulting and training engagements are priced per program. The podcast and public content are free.

Best fit. Stores whose primary training gap is in the internet department or BDC, and whose marketing infrastructure needs strategic attention alongside sales skills. Dealer Synergy goes deeper on digital strategy than any generalist program — ATN included. Stores that need both a floor training program and a digital strategy would typically pair Dealer Synergy with a front-end methodology program rather than choosing one to replace the other.

For more context on BDC-specific training alternatives, see the Dealer Synergy alternatives guide.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Program	Format	Primary Focus	Feedback Loop	Approx. Cost
ATN (Mark Tewart)	Live events, LMS video	Sales, F&I, internet, service	None	$200–$600/user/yr (digital)
DealSpeak	AI voice roleplay	Daily practice, all roles	Scored per session	$30/user/month
JVTN (Joe Verde)	LMS video, workshops	Front-end sales process	Completion tracking	$300–$700/user/yr
Bradley On Demand	LMS video	BDC, phone, internet leads	Completion tracking	$400–$800/user/yr (est.)
Cardone University	LMS video	Sales mindset, closing	None	$99–$300/user/mo
DealerPRO Training	In-store consulting	Service drive, fixed ops	Manager-delivered	Custom quote
Dealer Synergy	Consulting, workshops	Internet dept, BDC, marketing	Manager-delivered	Custom quote

How to Pick the Right Alternative

The right choice depends on what your current program is not doing — not which vendor has the best website.

If ATN's content is solid but behavior isn't changing on the floor, the gap is practice, not curriculum. Add a daily practice layer instead of replacing the training content. DealSpeak fills that gap without disrupting what's already working.

If ATN's format doesn't work for your team's schedule or geography, a LMS-first program like JVTN gives you consistent digital access without dependence on live event scheduling.

If the gap is specifically in your BDC or internet department, Bradley On Demand or Dealer Synergy address those areas at a depth that ATN's generalist curriculum does not.

If the gap is in service and fixed ops, DealerPRO Training is a purpose-built alternative that operates in a category ATN is not trying to dominate.

If the gap is motivational and Cardone's style connects with your floor, Cardone University covers similar front-end content with a different energy profile.

The full automotive sales training comparison covers these programs and others with more detail on each format's structural trade-offs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is ATN worth keeping alongside another program? In most cases, yes. ATN's methodology content and DealSpeak's daily practice layer solve different problems. Keeping a sound content program and adding a practice mechanism is typically a better ROI than replacing a working curriculum with a different one.

What's the main difference between ATN and Joe Verde? Both are methodology-first, live-event-anchored programs with LMS video supplements. The primary difference is style: Tewart is high-energy and direct; Verde is more systematic and curriculum-structured. Both leave the same practice gap between events.

Can DealSpeak work without ATN or another training program? Yes. DealSpeak includes its own scenario library that covers the full sales conversation from meet-and-greet to close. Stores without a separate curriculum use DealSpeak as a standalone practice and skill-building tool. Stores with an existing curriculum use it as a daily reinforcement layer.

Does Mark Tewart still lead ATN training? As of 2026, Mark Tewart is still actively delivering content through ATN, including keynotes and consulting engagements. The program remains tied to his personal involvement.

How do I compare ATN to these alternatives before committing to a switch? The most useful comparison is format-driven, not brand-driven. Identify your specific training gap — practice volume, content depth, BDC performance, fixed ops, or rep-level feedback — and match that gap to the format that addresses it. Most dealerships that switch away from a methodology program do so because the gap was always in daily practice, not in the content itself.

Conclusion

Automotive Training Network alternatives range from direct curriculum substitutes to tools that fill the gaps ATN was never designed to close. Mark Tewart's methodology is sound. The structural limit — limited daily practice, no per-rep feedback between events — is shared by every live-event and LMS-style program in this list.

ATN motivates. Daily practice retains. If your floor knows the process but isn't executing it consistently on the floor, the missing variable is probably repetitions — not content.

DealSpeak gives reps structured AI voice practice sessions at $30/user/month, with per-session scoring and manager-level visibility into which techniques are holding and which still need work. It runs alongside ATN, JVTN, Cardone University, or whatever content program your store uses. The practice layer is what makes the content investment pay off across the full calendar year.