The short answer: Cartuul is dealership reconditioning software that also runs the rest of a store's lot operations, and it works with the DMS and inventory tools a store already uses. iRecon is vAuto's reconditioning tool, and it cannot be used on its own. vAuto's FAQ states that "iRecon is dependent on other vAuto core products ProfitTime GPS or Provision" (as of October 2026).
iRecon fits a store that already runs on vAuto and wants recon inside that login. Cartuul fits a store that wants a highly customizable platform that does more than move a car through a fixed list of steps. With Cartuul, a store builds its own workflows, runs custom multi-point inspections with media uploads, orders and tracks parts, gives vendors their own login, and automates vehicle movements so staff make fewer clicks, with or without vAuto.
We make Cartuul. What this post says about iRecon's features and requirements comes from vAuto's own pages, which are linked at the bottom.
Can you use iRecon without vAuto?
No. vAuto's FAQ answers the question "Does iRecon require other vAuto products?" this way: "iRecon is dependent on other vAuto core products ProfitTime GPS or Provision." vAuto also describes iRecon as "built directly into Provision and ProfitTime GPS." A dealership that does not subscribe to one of those two products cannot run iRecon.
Cartuul has no requirement like that. Cartuul is a standalone platform, and vAuto is one of the inventory systems Cartuul integrates with. A store can keep vAuto for appraisal and pricing and run reconditioning in Cartuul.
iRecon at a glance
iRecon is Cox Automotive's reconditioning software, built into vAuto. vAuto lists custom plan templates, line-item approvals, a mobile app with VIN scanning, and GPS vehicle location, and iRecon sorts recon work by ProfitTime GPS medal.
Best for: dealers who already run Provision or ProfitTime GPS and want recon status next to their pricing data in one login.
Watch for: iRecon requires a vAuto subscription. Recon plans are created and managed inside Provision and ProfitTime GPS. vAuto's iRecon product page lists no parts ordering and no pricing. iRecon's workflows have also been described as rigid compared with standalone recon tools, with limited custom stages.
Cartuul at a glance
Cartuul is dealership reconditioning software built inside a running dealership. The platform was used and refined there for nearly three years, and it has been improved on feedback from other dealers since 2024. That work continues. Cartuul's latest release added the automation builder, multiple pipelines, and the AI assistant, and Cartuul plans to keep adding to the platform as technology and dealer needs change.
- Workflows. Cartuul runs multiple recon pipelines at once, such as separate paths for new and used vehicles, with unlimited custom steps and per-vehicle overrides. Cartuul can start the right pipeline automatically based on how a vehicle was acquired (trade-in, street purchase, auction buy, lease return) or on vehicle data such as mileage or model year.
- Automation. Cartuul's automation builder triggers tasks, alerts, approvals, and vendor dispatch when a step completes, so the next handoff happens without anyone chasing it and staff make fewer clicks.
- Vendors. Cartuul's vendor portal gives outside vendors (glass, PDR, detail, sublet mechanical) their own login. Each vendor sees only the work assigned to them and updates their own status. In Cartuul, vendors can also complete inspections, create tasks, request approvals, and message the dealership's team.
- Parts. Cartuul orders, tracks, and reconciles parts on the vehicle record. Cartuul's PartsTech integration lets dealers order from their suppliers inside the platform, and Cartuul's eBay integration lets team members order with the dealership's corporate eBay account. For any other supplier, Cartuul's parts hub lets a dealer enter and track the order by hand, with tracking number updates, part statuses, and a supplier catalog.
- Inspections. Cartuul generates digital condition reports automatically from custom multi-point inspection checklists, with media uploads, as a vehicle moves through recon.
- AI. Cartuul includes an AI assistant with voice inside the app. Team members use it to create and complete tasks, update vehicle information and status, and pull information and reports. Cartuul AI also flags common issues and likely repairs using VIN-specific data. Dealers can connect their own AI account (Claude, Gemini, ChatGPT, Grok, and others) by API, or connect the AI tool of their choice to Cartuul through an MCP connector.
- Mobile. Cartuul runs on iPhone, Android, tablet, and desktop. Cartuul's VIN scanner reads barcodes, QR codes, and text on paper, and GPS vehicle location shows where each car is.
- Beyond recon. Tasks in Cartuul do not have to be tied to a VIN, so lot work, office duties, and internal follow-ups live in the same system as reconditioning. Cartuul can create those tasks automatically, on a trigger event or on a schedule.
- Sold archives. Cartuul keeps every sold vehicle and its recon history in an archive indefinitely.
- Integrations. Cartuul connects to more than 35 dealership systems, including Tekion, vAuto, HomeNet, PartsTech, VINTEL, ACV Max, and KEYper. The full list is on the Cartuul integrations page.
- Pricing. Cartuul publishes its pricing. Cartuul Lite is $400 a month with no setup fee. Cartuul Pro, which adds the vendor portal, parts module, sold archives, and AI tools, is $800 a month plus a one-time workflow setup fee. Both plans are month-to-month after the first three months. Details are on the Cartuul pricing page.
Best for: independent lots, BHPH stores, franchise dealerships, and dealer groups that want a highly customizable platform, want to own their workflow, and want vendors held accountable, on the DMS and inventory tools they already have, vAuto included.
Watch for: Cartuul is newer and founder-led compared with Cox Automotive. Cartuul also does not do appraisal or pricing, so a store that wants pricing data and recon in a single product will not get that from Cartuul alone.
Cartuul vs iRecon side by side
| Cartuul | iRecon by vAuto | |
|---|---|---|
| What it needs to run | Nothing else. Cartuul is standalone and works with the DMS and inventory tools a store already has | A vAuto Provision or ProfitTime GPS subscription (vAuto FAQ, October 2026) |
| Workflow | Multiple recon pipelines, unlimited custom steps, per-vehicle overrides. Pipelines can start automatically by acquisition source, mileage, or model year | Custom plan templates, created and managed in Provision and ProfitTime GPS |
| Automation | Automation builder triggers tasks, alerts, approvals, and vendor dispatch, on an event or on a schedule | Sorts recon work by ProfitTime GPS medal |
| Vendors | Vendor portal. Each outside vendor has a login, sees only assigned work, updates their own status, and can complete inspections and request approvals | vAuto says iRecon helps dealers communicate with reconditioning partners |
| Parts | Ordering, tracking, and reconciliation on the vehicle record, with PartsTech and eBay ordering built in | Not listed on vAuto's iRecon product page |
| Inspections | Custom multi-point inspections with media uploads. Condition reports generated automatically | Photos sent and received in the mobile app |
| New vehicles | Yes, with separate new and used pipelines | Marketed for used vehicles |
| Work beyond recon | Tasks do not need a VIN, so lot work and follow-ups run in the same system | Built around vehicle reconditioning plans |
| Mobile app, VIN scanning, GPS location | Yes | Yes |
| Published pricing | Lite $400 a month, Pro $800 a month, month-to-month after three months | Not listed on vAuto's iRecon product page. A vAuto subscription is also required |
| Integrations | More than 35 systems across DMS, inventory, parts, inspection, key boxes, and imaging, vAuto included | Built into Provision and ProfitTime GPS |
On the basics, the two overlap. Both have a mobile app, VIN scanning, GPS vehicle location, custom plans, and approvals. The differences are in who controls the workflow, how vendors and parts are handled, and what else you have to buy.
Do I have to drop vAuto to use Cartuul?
No. Cartuul integrates with vAuto, so vAuto inventory flows into Cartuul without re-entry. Many stores keep vAuto for appraisal and pricing and run reconditioning and lot operations in Cartuul. Saying "we use vAuto" does not rule Cartuul out. It only means your recon tool is a separate decision from your pricing tool.
Vendors: the question to ask on every demo
Most recon delay is waiting time, and a large share of that waiting is a sublet vendor who does not know they are holding up a car. Cartuul puts each vendor in the system with their own login, so the vendor takes the assignment and reports their own status.
Brett Bergman at Mike Murphy Ford manages about 800 vehicles in Cartuul. In his words: "Managing vendors is my biggest time saver. In a matter of a few clicks, I can order a windshield or key with my mobile vendors."
Ask this on every demo, ours included: does my vendor get their own login, or does someone on my payroll type in their update?
What switching from iRecon looks like
Jonathan Hart at Escondido Auto Super Center switched from iRecon to Cartuul in a single day, with full team adoption. In his words: "I searched for every possible recon software online. Went through every demo and when I went through the demo with Cartuul, I was really really impressed."
Cartuul onboarding is not a login and a PDF. The Cartuul team builds the workflow with the store, using the steps, vendors, and approvals the store already runs. Mahde Jawad at Own A Car Fresno cut a full week out of recon time after moving to Cartuul.
When to stay with iRecon
If your store runs on vAuto, your recon board is current on a Thursday afternoon, and your team uses what you have, stay where you are. Switching software you do not need to switch costs your team more than it returns.
The time to look at an iRecon alternative is when one of these is true:
- Your board is out of date by midweek
- Your vendors are managed by phone calls and texts
- Nobody knows a part's status until someone walks to the parts counter
- Lot work and internal follow-ups live outside your recon tool because it cannot hold them
- You are paying for vAuto mainly to keep recon running
- You never chose your recon software. It came with your inventory system
The bottom line
iRecon is reconditioning software that requires a vAuto subscription. For a store that is committed to vAuto and wants recon in the same login, it is the simple choice.
Cartuul is dealership reconditioning software that also runs the rest of a store's lot operations. Cartuul works with or without vAuto, lets a store build its own workflows, gives vendors their own login, runs custom inspections, orders and tracks parts, automates the handoffs, and publishes its pricing.
If your recon is running well, keep it. If it is not, book a Cartuul demo and bring your worst week. We will walk your store, your steps, and your vendors.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use iRecon without vAuto?
No. vAuto's FAQ states that iRecon is dependent on ProfitTime GPS or Provision, so a dealership needs one of those vAuto subscriptions to run iRecon. Cartuul is an iRecon alternative that works without vAuto.
What are the best alternatives to iRecon?
Cartuul is an iRecon alternative built for stores that want standalone, highly customizable reconditioning software with vendor logins, parts ordering, custom inspections, and automation, with or without vAuto. For the wider field, see our guide to the best dealership reconditioning software.
What reconditioning software integrates with vAuto besides iRecon?
Cartuul integrates with vAuto. A dealership can keep vAuto for appraisal and pricing and run reconditioning, vendors, parts, and lot tasks in Cartuul.
What is the biggest difference between Cartuul and iRecon?
Cartuul is a standalone platform where the store builds and controls its own recon workflow. iRecon is built into vAuto's Provision and ProfitTime GPS and requires one of them to run.
How much does Cartuul cost compared with iRecon?
Cartuul Lite is $400 a month and Cartuul Pro is $800 a month, month-to-month after the first three months. vAuto does not list iRecon pricing on its product page, and iRecon also requires a vAuto Provision or ProfitTime GPS subscription.
Does Cartuul give vendors their own login?
Yes. Cartuul's vendor portal, included in Cartuul Pro, gives each outside vendor a login where they see only their assigned work, update their own status, complete inspections, and request approvals.
Does Cartuul handle parts?
Yes. Cartuul Pro orders, tracks, and reconciles parts on the vehicle record. PartsTech and eBay ordering are built in, and orders from any other supplier can be entered and tracked by hand.
Does Cartuul work for new cars, or only used?
Cartuul works for both. Cartuul runs separate pipelines for new and used vehicles, and tasks do not have to be tied to a VIN. A dealership can also have Cartuul trigger different pipelines automatically by acquisition source, such as a trade-in, street purchase, auction buy, or lease return, and trigger workflows from any vehicle data point, such as mileage or model year.
How long does it take to switch from iRecon to Cartuul?
Jonathan Hart at Escondido Auto Super Center switched from iRecon to Cartuul in a single day. The Cartuul team builds the workflow with the store during onboarding, which is most of the work.
Sources
- vAuto FAQ (iRecon's dependency on ProfitTime GPS or Provision), checked October 2026
- vAuto iRecon product page (features listed), checked October 2026