DC Mobile App - VIN Scan Geo Location
We're here to help! For additional support on this topic or for more information on how to get started reach out to our Support Team at support@dealercenter.com or call us at 888-669-2669.
Overview
Dealers can now view the location trail for each VIN scan directly on the Vehicle Detail page (VDP). This feature helps quickly identify the last known location of a vehicle and track its scan history with pinpoint accuracy, improving lot management and recon workflow visibility.
| Attribute | Detail |
| Feature Name | VIN Scan Location Trail |
| Location | Vehicle Detail Page (VDP) |
| Platform | DC Mobile App |
| Prerequisite Permissions | VIN Scan permission + Location permission |
| Default State | Empty until a location is recorded |
Prerequisites & Permissions
Before using the VIN Scan Geo Location feature, the following permissions must be granted on the mobile device:
- VIN Scan permission — must be enabled within DealerCenter for the user's role.
- Location permission — the mobile device must allow the DC Mobile app to access location services.
| ⚠️ Important: If either permission is missing, the feature will not function as expected. See the Troubleshooting section for details on permission alerts. |
How It Works
The VIN Scan Location Trail follows a simple end-to-end flow from the Vehicle Detail Page to a full interactive map view.
Step-by-Step Workflow
| 1 | Open the Vehicle Detail Page (VDP) Navigate to the VDP for the vehicle you want to track. By default, the location trail section is empty until a location has been recorded. |
| 2 | Tap the Location Icon Tap the Location icon on the VDP to launch the VIN Scan screen. This initiates the camera and geo location capture flow. |
| 3 | Scan the Vehicle VIN Point the camera at the vehicle’s VIN. The scanned VIN must exactly match the VIN displayed on the VDP. A mismatch will trigger an error (see VIN Mismatch below). |
| 4 | Location is Recorded Once a successful scan is completed, the device’s current GPS location is captured and saved to the vehicle’s location trail. |
| 5 | View the Map Snippet After recording, a map preview appears on the VDP showing the captured location. The pin marks the recorded scan position. |
| 6 | Open Full Map View Tap the interactive map snippet to open a full-screen map view with the location pin. All previously recorded locations for the vehicle are accessible here. |
| 7 | Manage Location History In the location history list, each entry shows the date, time, and map pin. Tap the trash (bin) icon next to any entry to delete it. |
UI States & Screens
1. Default State — No Location Recorded
When no location has yet been recorded for a vehicle, the Location Trail section on the VDP shows an empty state. This is the expected default view for all vehicles until a scan is performed.
2. Camera Permission Not Granted
If the user attempts to scan a VIN without camera permission enabled on their device, an alert is displayed. The user must grant camera access in their device settings before proceeding.
| ℹ️ Note: Direct the user to their device Settings > Apps > DC Mobile > Permissions > Camera and ensure it is set to “Allow.” |
3. Location Added — VDP Map Snippet
Once a location is successfully recorded, the VDP updates to display a map snippet with a pin marking the last scanned position. The map snippet is interactive and tappable.
4. VIN Mismatch Error
The scanned VIN must match the VIN shown on the Vehicle Detail Page. If there is a discrepancy, the system rejects the scan and displays a VIN Mismatch error. The user must rescan the correct vehicle.
| ⚠️ VIN Mismatch: Ensure the user is scanning the physical VIN on the exact vehicle corresponding to the VDP that is open. Cross-scanning vehicles is not permitted. |
5. Full Map View
Tapping the map snippet on the VDP opens a full-screen interactive map. The recorded scan location is clearly marked with a pin, allowing dealers to see the exact position of the vehicle at the time of the scan.
6. Vehicle Location History
The location history list shows all recorded scan entries for a vehicle. Each entry includes the date and time of the scan. Dealers can remove individual entries using the bin (trash) icon on the right side of each row.
| ℹ️ Note: Deleted location history entries cannot be recovered. Confirm with the dealer before removing entries if needed. |
Benefits
The VIN Scan Location Trail provides the following key benefits to dealer operations:
- Instantly see where a vehicle was last scanned — eliminates manual searching across the lot.
- Speed up vehicle identification and retrieval — reduces time spent locating specific units.
- Improve lot management and recon workflow visibility — gives service and recon teams clear location context.
- Maintain a historical log of vehicle movements — useful for auditing and accountability.
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Resolution |
| Location icon not visible on VDP | Confirm the user has VIN Scan permission enabled in their DealerCenter role settings. |
| Camera permission alert appears | Go to device Settings > Apps > DC Mobile > Permissions > Camera and set to Allow. |
| Location not captured after scan | Confirm Location Services are enabled on the device. Go to Settings > Location (Android) or Settings > Privacy > Location Services (iOS) and ensure DC Mobile is permitted. |
| VIN Mismatch error shown | Ensure the user is scanning the VIN on the vehicle that matches the open VDP. Do not scan a different vehicle. |
| Map snippet not loading | Check for an active internet connection. The map requires data connectivity to render. |
| Cannot delete a location history entry | Confirm the user has the appropriate role permissions. Contact your DealerCenter administrator if the bin icon is disabled. |
| 📞 Need Help? Contact DealerCenter Support at support@dealercenter.net or call 888-669-2669. For urgent deployment-related issues, reach out to your Implementation Specialist directly. |