The description of the STAR Organization and its activities in this Membership Application is provided for informational purposes only. This Application and the STAR Organization are subject to and governed by the STAR Bylaws, which shall control in the event of any discrepancy between this Application and the Bylaws. Prospective members are urged to read the STAR Bylaws before submitting an application and IP Agreement.
STAR Membership Types
Membership shall be granted to all applicants who satisfy the membership criteria in the STAR Bylaws. Membership dues shall be assessed on an annual basis and will cover membership for one calendar year. Dues shall be non-refundable and based upon the company’s North American designated category (Dealer, Manufacturer, and RSP) and the type of membership (Active or Associate). The fees shall be paid within 30 days of invoicing and shall be on a sliding scale based upon the company’s size as shown in the tables.

Membership Categories
Active
Active Membership shall be for those members who intend to actively and regularly participate in standards projects. Active members shall pay 100% of the annual dues for their respective class. Rights of active membership include:
• Eligibility to obtain information regarding activities by contacting the STAR
• Web site and the organization’s staff.
• Eligibility to participate in General Session meetings as well as all SIG meetings.
• Voting rights (one vote per member).
• Eligibility to have one representative for the member’s membership class elected to the Steering Committee.
• Eligibility to obtain information regarding activities by contacting the STAR
• Web site and the organization’s staff.
• Eligibility to participate in General Session meetings as well as all SIG meetings.
• Voting rights (one vote per member).
• Eligibility to have one representative for the member’s membership class elected to the Steering Committee.
Associate
Associate Membership shall be for non-profit members that actively participate in SIG projects. A non-profit member shall have the option of being an active or associate member. Associate member companies shall pay a fee of 25% of the corresponding annual dues categories. Rights of Associate Membership include:
• Eligibility to obtain information regarding activities via the STAR Web site and organization staff.
• Eligibility to participate in General Session meeting as well as all SIG meetings.
• Eligibility to obtain information regarding activities via the STAR Web site and organization staff.
• Eligibility to participate in General Session meeting as well as all SIG meetings.
Membership Classes And Dues
- Dealers
- Manufacturers
- Business System Providers
- Information Technology Vendors (IT Vendors)
Dealers shall include individuals and legal business entities that own and operate franchised new motor vehicle retail dealerships. This class may also include dealer organizations.
Dealer/Fleet Customers | 1 - 1,000 | 1,001 - 2,500 | 2,501 + |
Active Membership | $10,000 | $15,000 | $20,000 |
Manufacturers shall include companies that manufacture or distribute new motor vehicles. Membership is determined by the number of Dealers supported directly by the applicant’s IT infrastructure and organization.
Dealer/Fleet Customers | 1 - 1,000 | 1,001 - 2,500 | 2,501 + |
Active Membership | $10,000 | $15,000 | $20,000 |
Business System Providers shall include companies that develop and/or offer software, comprehensive computer systems like Dealership Management Systems (DMS), Fleet, Enterprise Resource Planning Software (ERP) and/or related services for the new motor vehicle market. Membership is determined by the number of Dealers/Fleets supported directly by the applicant’s IT infrastructure and organization.
Dealer/Fleet Customers | 1 - 1,000 | 1,001 - 2,500 | 2,501 + |
Active Membership | $10,000 | $15,000 | $20,000 |
Information Technology Vendors (IT Vendors) shall include companies that do not market comprehensive Dealership Management System (DMS), Fleet, and/or ERP systems. IT Vendors and/or systems integrators that meet these membership requirements in this category have limited connectivity to the manufacturer’s IT systems. Membership is determined by the number of Dealers/Fleets supported by a continual business agreement/relationship.
Dealer/Fleet Customers | 0 - 1,000 | 1,001 - 3,000 | 3,001 - 7,500 | 7,501 + |
Active Membership | $2,500 | $5,000 | $7,500 | $40,000 |
For purposes of determining dues category, a dealership is defined as a separate physical location that sells one or more new vehicle franchises.
Special Interest Groups (SIGs)
Security Guidelines
The SIG develops dealership guidelines covering security, access, content, and recoverability of business information and provide a summary of the IT security guidelines for dealers.
Desktop Profile
The SIG develops common guidelines for managing the desktop PC including browsers, plug-ins and LAN connections.
Data Transfer
The purpose of the DTS SIG is to develop common information exchanges, referred to as Data Transfer Specifications (DTS) to simplify the transfer of files between dealership computer systems (DCS) and manufacturer corporate data centers.
XML
The purpose of the XML SIG is to employ a proven XML standards methodology to develop applications supporting automated information exchange between dealers, manufacturers, and their business partners.
- Minimize the complexity of an automotive dealership’s LAN/WAN/Internet environment.
- Provide access to all computer applications from any dealership desktop PCs.
- Leverage a common dealership IT infrastructure to improve support and manageability for dealers, manufacturers and DSP vendors.
- Minimize the complexity of an automotive dealership’s LAN/WAN/Internet environment.
- Provide access to all computer applications from any dealership desktop PCs.
- Leverage a common dealership IT infrastructure to improve support and manageability for dealers, manufacturers and DSP vendors.

Interested in learning more about becoming a member of STAR? Get started today!