Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation The Company’s accounting and financial reporting policies conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The Company is reporting the historical results of the divested ALG subsidiary, including its results of operations and cash flows, as discontinued operations for all periods presented. Unless otherwise noted, the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements have all been revised to reflect continuing operations only.
Principles of Consolidation	Principles of Consolidation The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of TrueCar and its wholly owned subsidiaries. Business acquisitions are included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements from the date of the acquisition. The Company’s purchase accounting results in all assets and liabilities of acquired businesses being recorded at their estimated fair values on the acquisition dates. Divestitures are included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements through the date of disposition. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Assets and liabilities that are subject to judgment and use of estimates include sales allowances and allowances for doubtful accounts, contract assets, the fair value of assets and liabilities assumed in business combinations, the recoverability and related impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets, valuation allowances with respect to deferred tax assets, useful lives associated with property and equipment and intangible assets, measurement of right-of-use assets and operating lease liabilities, contingencies, and the valuation and assumptions underlying stock-based compensation awards and other equity instruments. On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates its estimates compared to historical experience and trends, which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities. In addition, the Company engaged valuation specialists to assist with management’s determination of the fair values of its single reporting unit related to goodwill impairment, right-of-use assets and lease liabilities, assets and liabilities assumed in business combinations, assets and liabilities of its equity method investment and performance-based stock units.
Segments	Segments The Company has one operating segment. The Company has gone through various organizational changes in the current year, and as a result of these changes, the Company’s chief operating decision maker (the "CODM") was comprised of a group of individuals including the President and CEO, the Chief Operating Officer ("COO"), and the CFO at various points from January 1, 2023 through October 2, 2023. During this time period, the CODM jointly managed the Company’s operations based on consolidated financial information for purposes of evaluating financial performance and allocating resources. Due to the evolution of roles and responsibilities among executive leadership, the CODM was comprised solely of the President and CEO from October 2, 2023 through December 31, 2023, who managed the Company’s operations based on consolidated financial information for purposes of evaluating financial performance and allocating resources. The CODM reviews financial information on a consolidated basis, accompanied by information about dealer revenue, OEM incentive revenue, and other revenue (Note 6). All of the Company’s principal operations, decision-making functions and assets are located in the United States.
Equity Method Investment	The Company recognizes its proportional share of the income or loss from the equity method investment on a one-quarter lag due to the timing and availability of financial information from Accu-Trade.Included in the initial carrying value of $22.9 million, which represents the fair value on the transaction date, was a basis difference of $22.9 million related to the difference between the cost of the investment and the Company’s proportionate share of the net assets of Accu-Trade. The carrying value of the equity method investment is primarily adjusted for the Company’s share in the income and losses of Accu-Trade and amortization of the basis difference. The Company amortizes its basis difference between the estimated fair value and the underlying book value of Accu-Trade’s technology and guarantor relationship over their respective useful lives using the straight-line method
Fair Value Measurements	Fair Value Measurements Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Valuation techniques used to measure fair value must maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. Accounting standards describe a fair value hierarchy based on the following three levels of inputs, of which the first two are considered observable and the last unobservable, that may be used to measure fair value: •Level 1 — Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets, liabilities or funds. •Level 2 — Inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. •Level 3 — Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. Fair Value Methods Fair value is based on quoted market prices, if available. If listed prices or quotes are not available, fair value is based on internally-developed models that primarily use market-based or independently sourced market parameters as inputs. For assets and liabilities measured at fair value, the following section describes the valuation methodologies, key inputs, and significant assumptions. Cash equivalents, consisting primarily of money market instruments and debt securities, represent highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less at purchase. Generally, market prices are used to determine the fair value of money market instruments and debt securities.
Concentrations of Credit and Business Risk	Concentrations of Credit and Business Risk Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents and accounts receivable. The Company, at times, maintains cash balances at financial institutions in excess of amounts insured by United States government agencies or payable by the United States government directly. The Company places its cash and cash equivalents with high credit quality financial institutions. Credit is extended to customers based on an evaluation of their financial condition and other factors. The Company generally does not require collateral or other security to support accounts receivable. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts based on these evaluations. No single customer comprised more than 10% of the Company’s total revenues for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021. At December 31, 2023 one customer comprised 32.3% of the Company’s accounts receivable balance. At December 31, 2022 no single customer comprised more than 10% of the Company’s accounts receivable balance.
Accounts Receivable, Allowance for Doubtful Accounts, and Sales Allowances	Accounts Receivable, Allowance for Doubtful Accounts, and Sales Allowances The Company extends credit in the normal course of business to its customers and performs credit evaluations on a case-by-case basis. The Company does not obtain collateral or other security related to its accounts receivable. Accounts receivable are recorded based on the amount due from the customer and do not bear interest. The Company reduces accounts receivable for sales allowances and its allowance for doubtful accounts. For contract assets, the Company records the assets net of sales allowances and an allowance for doubtful accounts, which are estimated in the same manner as for accounts receivable balances. The Company establishes sales allowances at the time of revenue recognition based on its history of adjustments and credits provided to its network of dealers. Sales allowances relate primarily to credits issued where a dealer claims that an introduction was previously identified by the dealer from a source other than the Company. While the dealer is contractually obligated to pay the invoice, the Company may issue a credit against the invoice to maintain overall dealer relations. In assessing the adequacy of its sales allowances, the Company evaluates its history of adjustments and credits made through the date of the issuance of the financial statements. Estimated sales adjustments and credits and ultimate losses may vary from actual results which could be material to the financial statements; however, to date, actual sales allowances have been materially consistent with the Company’s estimates. The Company determines its allowance for doubtful accounts based on historical write-off experience and specific circumstances that make it likely that recovery will not occur. The Company reviews the allowance for doubtful accounts periodically and assesses the aging of account balances, with an emphasis on those that are past due over ninety days. Account balances are charged off against the allowance when the Company determines that it is probable the receivable will not be recovered. The Company does not have any off-balance sheet credit exposure related to its customers. The Company considers the need to adjust historical information to reflect the extent to which the Company expects current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts to differ from the conditions that existed for the period over which historical information was evaluated. The primary current and future economic indicators that the Company uses to develop its current estimate of expected credit losses include the current and forecast U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The Company calculates the expected credit losses on a pool basis for those trade receivables that have similar risk characteristics. For those trade receivables that do not share similar risk characteristics, the allowance for doubtful accounts is calculated on an individual basis. Risk characteristics relevant to the Company’s accounts receivable include revenue billing model and aging status.
Property and Equipment, net	Property and Equipment, net Property and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which is generally three years for computer hardware and software, five years for furniture and equipment, and over the shorter of the lease term or the useful life of the assets for leasehold improvements. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. When assets are retired or otherwise disposed of, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any resulting gain or loss is reflected in the Company’s results of operations.
Leases	Leases The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception and determines the classification of the lease, as either operating or finance, at commencement. The Company does not have any finance leases. Right-of-use (“ROU”) assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. As the Company’s leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. The Company estimates the incremental borrowing rate to reflect the profile of secured borrowing over the expected term of the leases based on the information available at the later of the initial date of adoption or the lease commencement date. The operating lease ROU asset also includes any lease payments made and excludes lease incentives. Lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option. Lease expense for lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Sublease rental income is recognized as a reduction to the related lease expense on a straight-line basis over the sublease term. See Note 4 for additional information.
Software and Website Development Costs	Software and Website Development Costs The Company accounts for the costs of computer software obtained or developed for internal use in accordance with FASB ASC 350, Intangibles — Goodwill and Other. Computer software development costs and website development costs are expensed as incurred, except for internal use software or website development costs that qualify for capitalization as described below, and include certain employee related expenses, including salaries, bonuses, benefits and stock-based compensation expenses; costs of computer hardware and software; and costs incurred in developing features and functionality. These capitalized costs are included in property and equipment on the consolidated balance sheets. The Company expenses costs incurred in the preliminary project and post-implementation stages of software development and capitalizes costs incurred in the application development stage and costs associated with significant enhancements to existing internal use software applications. Software costs are amortized using the straight-line method over an estimated useful life of three years commencing when the software project is ready for its intended use. Costs incurred related to less significant modifications and enhancements as well as maintenance are expensed as incurred.
Intangible Assets Acquired in Business Combinations	Intangible Assets Acquired in Business Combinations The Company values assets acquired and liabilities assumed on each acquisition accounted for as a business combination, and allocates the purchase price to the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on its best estimate of fair value. Acquired intangible assets include: customer relationships and developed technology. The Company determines the appropriate useful life of intangible assets by performing an analysis of cash flows based on historical experience of the acquired businesses. Intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives based on the pattern in which the economic benefits associated with the asset are expected to be consumed, which to date has approximated the straight-line method of amortization. The estimated useful lives for customer relationships and technology are generally two to ten years and one to ten years, respectively.
Long Lived Assets	Long-Lived Assets The Company evaluates the recoverability of its long-lived assets, including its ROU assets, with finite useful lives for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Such triggering events or changes in circumstances may include: a significant decrease in the market price of a long-lived asset, a significant adverse change in the extent or manner in which a long-lived asset is being used, a significant adverse change in legal factors or in the business climate, the impact of competition or other factors that could affect the value of a long-lived asset, a significant deterioration in the amount of revenue or cash flows expected to be generated from an asset group, an accumulation of costs significantly in excess of the amount originally expected for the acquisition or development of a long-lived asset, current or future operating or cash flow losses that demonstrate continuing losses associated with the use of a long-lived asset, or a current expectation that, more likely than not, a long-lived asset will be sold or otherwise disposed of significantly before the end of its previously-estimated useful life. The Company performs impairment testing at the asset group level that represents the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities. If events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset group may not be recoverable and the expected undiscounted future cash flows attributable to the asset group are less than the carrying amount of the asset group, an impairment loss equal to the excess of the asset’s carrying value over its fair value is recorded. Fair value is determined based upon estimated discounted future cash flows. During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2021, the Company recorded ROU asset impairment charges of $2.4 million and $1.7 million, respectively, related to certain operating leases. See Note 4 for additional information.
Goodwill	Goodwill Goodwill represents the excess of the aggregate purchase price paid over the fair value of the identifiable assets and liabilities acquired in the Company’s business combinations. Goodwill is not amortized and is tested for impairment at least annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. Events or changes in circumstances that could trigger an impairment review include a significant adverse change in business climate, an adverse action or assessment by a regulator, unanticipated competition, a loss of key personnel, significant changes in the manner of use of the acquired assets or the Company’s overall business strategy, significant negative industry or economic trends, significant underperformance relative to expected historical or projected future results of operations, or a decline in the Company’s stock price and market capitalization. Due to the impacts of our analysis described in the following paragraphs, the Company does not have a goodwill balance as of December 31, 2023 and 2022. During the second quarter of 2022, as a result of the continued economic disruption as well as a decline in the Company’s stock price and market capitalization, the Company concluded a triggering event had occurred as of June 30, 2022. The Company performed an interim quantitative impairment test, in which the Company estimated the fair value of its single reporting unit by utilizing a market approach, which is based on the market capitalization of the Company using its share price in the Nasdaq Global Select Market and an appropriate control premium. Determining the control premium requires the exercise of significant assumptions and judgments, which are considered Level 3 inputs under the fair value hierarchy, including expected future cash flows, which were based on the synergies market participants could realize if they acquire the reporting unit, and the discount rate. Based on the results of the interim impairment test, the Company concluded that the fair value of its reporting unit was greater than the carrying value and that goodwill was not impaired as of June 30, 2022. During the third quarter of 2022, as a result of additional macroeconomic disruptions, including rising interests rates, and a further decline in market capitalization, the Company concluded a triggering event had occurred. The Company performed an interim quantitative impairment test as of September 30, 2022 utilizing an income approach. Under the income approach, the Company used a discounted cash flow analysis. Determining fair value requires the exercise of significant assumptions and judgments, which are considered Level 3 inputs under the fair value hierarchy, including the amount and timing of expected future cash flows, long-term growth rates, and the discount rates. The Company also performed a reconciliation of the fair value of the reporting unit to the Company’s market capitalization as of September 30, 2022. The market capitalization reconciliation included the estimation of a reasonable control premium and other market factors such as control premiums observed in market transactions. Based on the results of the impairment test, the Company concluded that the carrying value of its single reporting unit exceeded the fair value and, accordingly, recorded a non-cash impairment charge of $59.8 million during the three months ended September 30, 2022.
Revenue Recognition	Revenue Recognition The Company recognizes revenue when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to the Company’s customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration it expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. The Company determines revenue recognition through the following steps: •Identification of the contract, or contracts, with a customer; •Identification of the performance obligations in the contract; •Determination of the transaction price; •Allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and •Recognition of revenue when, or as, the performance obligation or obligations are satisfied. Dealer Revenue Dealer revenue is comprised of Auto Buying Program revenue as well as revenue from TrueCar Trade and Sell Your Car and DealerScience. Auto Buying Program revenues include fees paid by customers participating in the Company’s dealer network with which the Company has an agreement (“TrueCar Certified Dealers” or “Dealers”). TrueCar Certified Dealers pay the Company fees in one of three ways: on a per-vehicle basis for sales to Auto Buying Program users, on a per-introduction basis for introductions to Auto Buying Program users, or under a subscription arrangement. Additionally, certain Dealers pay an incremental subscription fee for add-on products within our Auto Buying Program. Contracts are cancellable by the Dealer or the Company at any time. The Company does not provide significant Dealer financing terms. The Company’s performance obligation to TrueCar Certified Dealers is the same for all payment types for our Auto Buying Program revenues: to provide Dealers with introductions to in-market consumers through the use of the TrueCar platform, so that those Dealers have the opportunity to sell vehicles to those consumers. Control transfers to Dealers upon delivery of introductions, which is the point at which the Company recognizes revenue. When a user decides to proceed with a vehicle purchase through the Company, the user provides his or her name, address, email, and phone number during the process of obtaining price offers on actual vehicle inventory, which gives the Company the identity and source of a TrueCar introduction provided to a specific Dealer before an actual sale occurs. After a sale occurs, the Company receives information regarding the sale, including the identity of the purchaser, through the Dealer Management System used by the Dealer that makes the sale. The Company also receives information regarding vehicle sales from a variety of other data sources, including third-party car sales aggregators, car dealer networks, and other publicly available sources (collectively, “sales data”) and uses this sales data to further verify that a sale has occurred between an Auto Buying Program user and a TrueCar Certified Dealer, as well as to invoice Pay-Per-Sale Dealers shortly after the completion of the sales transaction. Pay-Per-Sale. Under fee arrangements based on a pay-per-sale billing model, revenue for the Auto Buying Program is recognized when introductions are delivered to the Dealer and for the amount that the Company estimates it will be able to earn. To formulate this estimate, the Company uses the expected value method based primarily on an analysis of the expected number of sales resulting from in-period introductions. This estimate is based on historical introductions to vehicle sale close rate trends as well as actual sales measured in period. Under the contractual terms and conditions of arrangements with TrueCar Certified Dealers that pay on a per-vehicle-sale basis, the Dealer is not obligated to pay the Company until a vehicle sale has occurred between the Auto Buying Program user and the Dealer, for which the introduction was provided to the Dealer by the Company. Contractually, the Dealers’ obligation to pay is not contingent on verification or acceptance of the transaction by the Dealer. As a result, revenue recognition occurs earlier than billing as an estimate of the variable consideration to be received upon control transfer of the delivered introduction, resulting in a contract asset. Pay-Per-Introduction. Under fee arrangements based on a pay-per-introduction billing model, revenue for the Auto Buying Program is recognized when introductions are delivered. The Company also recognizes revenue from Dealers under subscription agreements. Subscription fee arrangements are short-term in nature with terms ranging from one to six months and are also cancellable by the Dealer or the Company at any time. Subscription arrangements fall into three types: flat-rate subscriptions, subscriptions subject to downward adjustment based on a minimum number of vehicle sales (“guaranteed sales”), and subscriptions based on introduction or impressions volume, including those subject to downward adjustment based on a minimum number of introductions (“guaranteed introductions”). For all subscription arrangements, the Company recognizes the fees as revenue when introductions or impressions are delivered by allocating a portion of the monthly subscription fee to each delivered introduction or impression. For guaranteed sales and guaranteed introduction subscriptions, the amount allocated is adjusted at the end of each month for any credits, as described below. Flat-Rate Subscription. Under flat-rate subscription arrangements, fees are charged at a monthly flat rate regardless of the number of introductions provided by the Company to the Dealer or sales made to users of the Company’s platform by the Dealer. Guaranteed-Sales Subscription. Under guaranteed-sales subscription arrangements, monthly fees are charged based on the number of guaranteed sales multiplied by a fixed amount per vehicle. To the extent that the actual number of vehicles sold by the Dealers to users of the Company’s platform is less than the number of guaranteed sales, the Company provides a credit to the Dealer. If the actual number of vehicles sold exceeds the number of guaranteed sales, the Company is not entitled to any additional fees. Guaranteed-Introductions Subscription. Under guaranteed-introductions subscription arrangements, monthly fees are charged based on a periodically-updated formula that considers, among other things, the introductions anticipated to be provided to the Dealer. To the extent that the number of actual introductions is less than the number of guaranteed introductions, the Company provides a credit to the Dealer. If the actual number of introductions provided exceeds the number guaranteed, the Company is not entitled to any additional fees. Auto Buying Program Add-On Features. The Company offers additional add-on products to eligible Dealers as part of the Auto Buying Program to increase traffic and retarget in-market consumers. These products include TrueCar Sponsored Listings (“Sponsored Listings”) and TrueCar Reach (“Reach”). Sponsored Listings enables a Dealer to place qualifying vehicles at more prominent positions within the inventory search results page. Reach is a service offered to retarget in-market consumers on the Dealer’s behalf with co-branded emails. Fees are charged based on a monthly subscription rate for the right to sponsor up to a set number of vehicles at any time throughout the month under Sponsored Listings. Fees for the Reach product are also charged on a flat monthly rate regardless of the number of emails delivered. Subscription fees are recognized on a monthly basis. TrueCar Trade and Sell Your Car. TrueCar Trade provides consumers with information on the value of their vehicle, while providing Dealers with introductions to these in-market consumers so that those Dealers have the opportunity to buy vehicles from those consumers. Dealers pay a fee under a per-introduction or guaranteed-introductions model for access to the Company’s Sell Your Car product. Prior to offering Sell Your Car, the Company charged Dealers a monthly subscription fee for access to the Company’s Trade solution, which varied depending on the level of service provided. The Company phased out these subscription packages in 2022. Subscription fees were recognized on a monthly basis. Under the pay-per-introduction billing model, revenue is recognized when introductions are delivered. Under the guaranteed-introductions model, revenue is recognized based on the anticipated number of introductions to be provided to the Dealer. To the extent that the number of actual introductions is less than the number of guaranteed introductions, the Company provides a credit to the Dealer. If the actual number of introductions provided exceeds the number guaranteed, the Company is not entitled to any additional fees. DealerScience. DealerScience revenues consist of monthly subscription fees paid by dealers for access to DealerScience’s products and services. DealerScience provides dealers with advanced digital retailing software tools that allow them to calculate accurate monthly payments, expedite vehicle desking, which is the process of presenting and agreeing upon financial terms and financing options, and streamline the consumers’ experience from shopping to showroom. Subscription fees are recognized on a monthly basis. The Company stopped offering DealerScience products in 2023. OEM Incentives Revenue The Company enters into arrangements with OEMs to promote the sale of their vehicles primarily through the offering of additional consumer incentives. These manufacturers pay a per-vehicle fee to the Company for promotion of the incentive after the sale of the vehicle has occurred between the Auto Buying Program user and the Dealer. The Company’s performance obligation to OEMs is to deliver incentive offers to consumers. Control transfers upon delivery of incentive offers, which is the point at which the Company recognizes revenue. The Company recognizes revenue for the amount that the Company estimates it will be able to earn. To formulate this estimate, the Company uses the expected value method based primarily on an analysis of the expected number of sales resulting from in-period incentive offers delivered. This estimate is based on historical incentive offers to vehicle sale close rate trends as well as delivered incentive offers resulting in actual sales measured in period. As a result, revenue recognition occurs earlier than billing as an estimate of the variable consideration to be received upon control transfer, resulting in a contract asset. Incremental Costs to Obtain a Contract The revenue standard requires capitalization of the incremental costs to obtain a contract, which the Company has identified as certain of its sales commissions paid to internal sales representatives for the sale of TrueCar’s services to Dealers. These costs are deferred and then amortized over the expected customer life. Amortization expense is included within sales and marketing on the accompanying consolidated statements of comprehensive loss.
Cost of Revenue (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	Cost of Revenue (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) Cost of revenue includes expenses related to the fulfillment of the Company’s services, consisting primarily of data costs and licensing fees paid to third-party service providers and expenses related to operating the Company’s website and mobile applications, including those associated with its data centers, hosting fees, data processing costs required to deliver introductions to its network of TrueCar Certified Dealers, employee costs related to certain dealer operations and facilities costs. Cost of revenue excludes depreciation and amortization of software development costs and other hosting and data infrastructure equipment used to operate the Company’s platforms, which are included in the depreciation and amortization line item on its statements of comprehensive loss.
Sales and Marketing	Sales and Marketing Sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of digital media spend, such as search engine marketing, social network and connected TV costs and affinity group partner marketing fees, which also includes loan subvention costs where the Company pays certain affinity group marketing partners a portion of consumers’ borrowing costs for car loan products offered by these affinity group marketing partners. In addition, sales and marketing expenses include employee-related expenses for sales, customer support, marketing, and public relations employees, including salaries, bonuses, benefits, severance, and stock-based compensation expenses; third-party contractor fees; and facilities costs. Marketing and advertising costs promote our services and are expensed as incurred, except for media production costs which are expensed the first time the advertisement is aired.
Technology and Development	Technology and Development Technology and development expenses consist primarily of employee-related expenses for technology and development staff, including salaries, benefits, bonuses, severance, and stock-based compensation; the cost of certain third-party service providers; and facilities costs. Technology and development expenses are expensed as incurred.
General and Administrative	General and Administrative General and administrative expenses consist primarily of employee-related expenses for administrative, legal, finance, and human resource staffs, including salaries, benefits, bonuses, severance, and stock-based compensation; professional fees; insurance premiums; other corporate expenses; gain and loss from lease exit; impairment of ROU assets; and facilities costs.
Stock Based Compensation	Stock-Based Compensation The Company recognizes stock-based compensation expense related to employee stock options, restricted stock units, and performance stock units based on the fair value of the awards on the grant date. Stock-based compensation for employee awards is generally recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. The Company estimates the grant-date fair value of option grants, and the resulting stock-based compensation expense, using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. For issuances of restricted stock units, the Company determines the fair value of the award based on the closing market value of its common stock on the grant date. For issuances of performance stock units, the Company calculates the fair value of the award using a Monte Carlo simulation valuation model on the grant date. The stock-based compensation expense for the performance stock units is recognized over the requisite service period using the proportionate amount of the award’s fair value that has been earned through service to date. Compensation expense for non-employee stock-based awards is recognized in accordance with Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2018-07, Stock-based Compensation - Improvements to Nonemployee Share-based Payment Accounting, which the Company adopted on January 1, 2019. This ASU aligns much of the guidance on measuring and classifying nonemployee awards with that of awards to employees. Under this new guidance, the measurement of nonemployee equity awards is fixed on the grant date. Awards for nonemployees are measured and expense is recognized consistent with that for employee awards as outlined above.
Share Repurchase Program	Share Repurchase Program Shares repurchased pursuant to the Company’s share repurchase program are immediately retired upon purchase. Repurchased common stock is reflected as a reduction of stockholders’ equity. The Company’s accounting policy related to its share repurchases is to reduce its common stock based on the par value of the shares and to reduce its capital surplus for the excess of the repurchase price over the par value. Since the inception of its share repurchase program in the third quarter of 2020, the Company has had an accumulated deficit balance; therefore, the excess over the par value has been applied to additional paid-in-capital. Once the Company has retained earnings, the excess will be charged entirely to retained earnings.
Income Taxes	Income Taxes The Company uses the liability method of accounting for income taxes, under which deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to the differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to be in effect when such assets and liabilities are recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the year that includes the enactment date. The Company determines deferred tax assets including net operating losses and liabilities, based on temporary differences between the book and tax bases of assets and liabilities. A valuation allowance is established to reduce net deferred tax assets to amounts that are more likely than not to be realized. The Company considers all available evidence, both positive and negative, in assessing the need for a valuation allowance. The Company has a full valuation allowance, and has concluded, based on the weight of all available evidence, that it is more likely than not that our net deferred tax assets will not be realized, primarily due to historical net operating losses. The Company uses a two-step approach for evaluating uncertain tax positions. Step one, recognition, requires the Company to determine if the weight of available evidence indicates that a tax position is more likely than not to be sustained upon audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. If a tax position is not considered “more likely than not” to be sustained, no benefits of the position are recognized. If the Company determines that a position is “more likely than not” to be sustained, then the Company proceeds to step two, measurement, which is based on the largest amount of benefit which is more likely than not to be realized on effective settlement. The Company recognizes interest and penalties accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits, if any, in its income tax provision in the accompanying statements of comprehensive loss.
Comprehensive Loss	Comprehensive Loss Comprehensive loss encompasses all changes in equity other than those arising from transactions with stockholders.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	Recent Accounting Pronouncements From time to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the FASB or other standard setting bodies and adopted by the Company as of the specified effective date. The Company has evaluated recently issued pronouncements and does not believe any will have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements or related financial statement disclosures. Unless otherwise discussed, the Company believes the impact of recently issued standards that are not yet effective will not have a material impact on its financial position or results of operations upon adoption.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

The Company’s accounting and financial reporting policies conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).

The Company is reporting the historical results of the divested ALG subsidiary, including its results of operations and cash flows, as discontinued operations for all periods presented. Unless otherwise noted, the accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements have all been revised to reflect continuing operations only.

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of TrueCar and its wholly owned subsidiaries. Business acquisitions are included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements from the date of the acquisition. The Company’s purchase accounting results in all assets and liabilities of acquired businesses being recorded at their estimated fair values on the acquisition dates. Divestitures are included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements through the date of disposition. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Assets and liabilities that are subject to judgment and use of estimates include sales allowances and allowances for doubtful accounts, contract assets, the fair value of assets and liabilities assumed in business combinations, the recoverability and related impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets, valuation allowances with respect to deferred tax assets, useful lives associated with property and equipment and intangible assets, measurement of right-of-use assets and operating lease liabilities, contingencies, and the valuation and assumptions underlying stock-based compensation awards and other equity instruments. On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates its estimates compared to historical experience and trends, which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities. In addition, the Company engaged valuation specialists to assist with management’s determination of the fair values of its single reporting unit related to goodwill impairment, right-of-use assets and lease liabilities, assets and liabilities assumed in business combinations, assets and liabilities of its equity method investment and performance-based stock units.

Segments

The Company has one operating segment. The Company has gone through various organizational changes in the current year, and as a result of these changes, the Company’s chief operating decision maker (the "CODM") was comprised of a group of individuals including the President and CEO, the Chief Operating Officer ("COO"), and the CFO at various points from January 1, 2023 through October 2, 2023. During this time period, the CODM jointly managed the Company’s operations based on consolidated financial information for purposes of evaluating financial performance and allocating resources. Due to the evolution of roles and responsibilities among executive leadership, the CODM was comprised solely of the President and CEO from October 2, 2023 through December 31, 2023, who managed the Company’s operations based on consolidated financial information for purposes of evaluating financial performance and allocating resources.

The CODM reviews financial information on a consolidated basis, accompanied by information about dealer revenue, OEM incentive revenue, and other revenue (Note 6). All of the Company’s principal operations, decision-making functions and assets are located in the United States.

Equity Method Investment

The Company recognizes its proportional share of the income or loss from the equity method investment on a one-quarter lag due to the timing and availability of financial information from Accu-Trade.Included in the initial carrying value of $22.9 million, which represents the fair value on the transaction date, was a basis difference of $22.9 million related to the difference between the cost of the investment and the Company’s proportionate share of the net assets of Accu-Trade. The carrying value of the equity method investment is primarily adjusted for the Company’s share in the income and losses of Accu-Trade and amortization of the basis difference. The Company amortizes its basis difference between the estimated fair value and the underlying book value of Accu-Trade’s technology and guarantor relationship over their respective useful lives using the straight-line method

Fair Value Measurements

Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date.

Valuation techniques used to measure fair value must maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. Accounting standards describe a fair value hierarchy based on the following three levels of inputs, of which the first two are considered observable and the last unobservable, that may be used to measure fair value:

•Level 1 — Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets, liabilities or funds.

•Level 2 — Inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.

•Level 3 — Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

Fair Value Methods

Fair value is based on quoted market prices, if available. If listed prices or quotes are not available, fair value is based on internally-developed models that primarily use market-based or independently sourced market parameters as inputs.

For assets and liabilities measured at fair value, the following section describes the valuation methodologies, key inputs, and significant assumptions.

Cash equivalents, consisting primarily of money market instruments and debt securities, represent highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less at purchase. Generally, market prices are used to determine the fair value of money market instruments and debt securities.

Concentrations of Credit and Business Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents and accounts receivable.

The Company, at times, maintains cash balances at financial institutions in excess of amounts insured by United States government agencies or payable by the United States government directly. The Company places its cash and cash equivalents with high credit quality financial institutions.

Credit is extended to customers based on an evaluation of their financial condition and other factors. The Company generally does not require collateral or other security to support accounts receivable. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts based on these evaluations. No single customer comprised more than 10% of the Company’s total revenues for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021. At December 31, 2023 one customer comprised 32.3% of the Company’s accounts receivable balance. At December 31, 2022 no single customer comprised more than 10% of the Company’s accounts receivable balance.

Accounts Receivable, Allowance for Doubtful Accounts, and Sales Allowances

The Company extends credit in the normal course of business to its customers and performs credit evaluations on a case-by-case basis. The Company does not obtain collateral or other security related to its accounts receivable.

Accounts receivable are recorded based on the amount due from the customer and do not bear interest. The Company reduces accounts receivable for sales allowances and its allowance for doubtful accounts. For contract assets, the Company records the assets net of sales allowances and an allowance for doubtful accounts, which are estimated in the same manner as for accounts receivable balances.

The Company establishes sales allowances at the time of revenue recognition based on its history of adjustments and credits provided to its network of dealers. Sales allowances relate primarily to credits issued where a dealer claims that an introduction was previously identified by the dealer from a source other than the Company. While the dealer is contractually obligated to pay the invoice, the Company may issue a credit against the invoice to maintain overall dealer relations. In assessing the adequacy of its sales allowances, the Company evaluates its history of adjustments and credits made through the date of the issuance of the financial statements. Estimated sales adjustments and credits and ultimate losses may vary from actual results which could be material to the financial statements; however, to date, actual sales allowances have been materially consistent with the Company’s estimates.

The Company determines its allowance for doubtful accounts based on historical write-off experience and specific circumstances that make it likely that recovery will not occur. The Company reviews the allowance for doubtful accounts periodically and assesses the aging of account balances, with an emphasis on those that are past due over ninety days. Account balances are charged off against the allowance when the Company determines that it is probable the receivable will not be recovered. The Company does not have any off-balance sheet credit exposure related to its customers.

The Company considers the need to adjust historical information to reflect the extent to which the Company expects current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts to differ from the conditions that existed for the period over which historical information was evaluated. The primary current and future economic indicators that the Company uses to develop its current estimate of expected credit losses include the current and forecast U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The Company calculates the expected credit losses on a pool basis for those trade receivables that have similar risk characteristics. For those trade receivables that do not share similar risk characteristics, the allowance for doubtful accounts is calculated on an individual basis. Risk characteristics relevant to the Company’s accounts receivable include revenue billing model and aging status.

Property and Equipment, net

Property and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which is generally three years for computer hardware and software, five years for furniture and equipment, and over the shorter of the lease term or the useful life of the assets for leasehold improvements. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. When assets are retired or otherwise disposed of, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any resulting gain or loss is reflected in the Company’s results of operations.

Leases

The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception and determines the classification of the lease, as either operating or finance, at commencement. The Company does not have any finance leases.

Right-of-use (“ROU”) assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. As the Company’s leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. The Company estimates the incremental borrowing rate to reflect the profile of secured borrowing over the expected term of the leases based on the information available at the later of the initial date of adoption or the lease commencement date.

The operating lease ROU asset also includes any lease payments made and excludes lease incentives. Lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option. Lease expense for lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Sublease rental income is recognized as a reduction to the related lease expense on a straight-line basis over the sublease term. See Note 4 for additional information.

Software and Website Development Costs

The Company accounts for the costs of computer software obtained or developed for internal use in accordance with FASB ASC 350, Intangibles — Goodwill and Other. Computer software development costs and website development costs are expensed as incurred, except for internal use software or website development costs that qualify for capitalization as described below, and include certain employee related expenses, including salaries, bonuses, benefits and stock-based compensation expenses; costs of computer hardware and software; and costs incurred in developing features and functionality. These capitalized costs are included in property and equipment on the consolidated balance sheets.

The Company expenses costs incurred in the preliminary project and post-implementation stages of software development and capitalizes costs incurred in the application development stage and costs associated with significant enhancements to existing internal use software applications.

Software costs are amortized using the straight-line method over an estimated useful life of three years commencing when the software project is ready for its intended use.

Costs incurred related to less significant modifications and enhancements as well as maintenance are expensed as incurred.

Intangible Assets Acquired in Business Combinations

The Company values assets acquired and liabilities assumed on each acquisition accounted for as a business combination, and allocates the purchase price to the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on its best estimate of fair value. Acquired intangible assets include: customer relationships and developed technology. The Company determines the appropriate useful life of intangible assets by performing an analysis of cash flows based on historical experience of the acquired businesses. Intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives based on the pattern in which the economic benefits associated with the asset are expected to be consumed, which to date has approximated the straight-line method of amortization. The estimated useful lives for customer relationships and technology are generally two to ten years and one to ten years, respectively.

Long Lived Assets

Long-Lived Assets

The Company evaluates the recoverability of its long-lived assets, including its ROU assets, with finite useful lives for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Such triggering events or changes in circumstances may include: a significant decrease in the market price of a long-lived asset, a significant adverse change in the extent or manner in which a long-lived asset is being used, a significant adverse change in legal factors or in the business climate, the impact of competition or other factors that could affect the value of a long-lived asset, a significant deterioration in the amount of revenue or cash flows expected to be generated from an asset group, an accumulation of costs significantly in excess of the amount originally expected for the acquisition or development of a long-lived asset, current or future operating or cash flow losses that demonstrate continuing losses associated with the use of a long-lived asset, or a current expectation that, more likely than not, a long-lived asset will be sold or otherwise disposed of significantly before the end of its previously-estimated useful life. The Company performs impairment testing at the asset group level that represents the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities. If events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset group may not be recoverable and the expected undiscounted future cash flows attributable to the asset group are less than the carrying amount of the asset group, an impairment loss equal to the excess of the asset’s carrying value over its fair value is recorded. Fair value is determined based upon estimated discounted future cash flows. During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2021, the Company recorded ROU asset impairment charges of $2.4 million and $1.7 million, respectively, related to certain operating leases. See Note 4 for additional information.

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of the aggregate purchase price paid over the fair value of the identifiable assets and liabilities acquired in the Company’s business combinations. Goodwill is not amortized and is tested for impairment at least annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. Events or changes in circumstances that could trigger an impairment review include a significant adverse change in business climate, an adverse action or assessment by a regulator, unanticipated competition, a loss of key personnel, significant changes in the manner of use of the acquired assets or the Company’s overall business strategy, significant negative industry or economic trends, significant underperformance relative to expected historical or projected future results of operations, or a decline in the Company’s stock price and market capitalization. Due to the impacts of our analysis described in the following paragraphs, the Company does not have a goodwill balance as of December 31, 2023 and 2022.

During the second quarter of 2022, as a result of the continued economic disruption as well as a decline in the Company’s stock price and market capitalization, the Company concluded a triggering event had occurred as of June 30, 2022. The Company performed an interim quantitative impairment test, in which the Company estimated the fair value of its single reporting unit by utilizing a market approach, which is based on the market capitalization of the Company using its share price in the Nasdaq Global Select Market and an appropriate control premium. Determining the control premium requires the exercise of significant assumptions and judgments, which are considered Level 3 inputs under the fair value hierarchy, including expected future cash flows, which were based on the synergies market participants could realize if they acquire the reporting unit, and the discount rate. Based on the results of the interim impairment test, the Company concluded that the fair value of its reporting unit was greater than the carrying value and that goodwill was not impaired as of June 30, 2022.

During the third quarter of 2022, as a result of additional macroeconomic disruptions, including rising interests rates, and a further decline in market capitalization, the Company concluded a triggering event had occurred. The Company performed an interim quantitative impairment test as of September 30, 2022 utilizing an income approach. Under the income approach, the Company used a discounted cash flow analysis. Determining fair value requires the exercise of significant assumptions and judgments, which are considered Level 3 inputs under the fair value hierarchy, including the amount and timing of expected future cash flows, long-term growth rates, and the discount rates. The Company also performed a reconciliation of the fair value of the reporting unit to the Company’s market capitalization as of September 30, 2022. The market capitalization reconciliation included the estimation of a reasonable control premium and other market factors such as control premiums observed in market transactions. Based on the results of the impairment test, the Company concluded that the carrying value of its single reporting unit exceeded the fair value and, accordingly, recorded a non-cash impairment charge of $59.8 million during the three months ended September 30, 2022.

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to the Company’s customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration it expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. The Company determines revenue recognition through the following steps:

•Identification of the contract, or contracts, with a customer;

•Identification of the performance obligations in the contract;

•Determination of the transaction price;

•Allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and

•Recognition of revenue when, or as, the performance obligation or obligations are satisfied.

Dealer Revenue

Dealer revenue is comprised of Auto Buying Program revenue as well as revenue from TrueCar Trade and Sell Your Car and DealerScience.

Auto Buying Program revenues include fees paid by customers participating in the Company’s dealer network with which the Company has an agreement (“TrueCar Certified Dealers” or “Dealers”). TrueCar Certified Dealers pay the Company fees in one of three ways: on a per-vehicle basis for sales to Auto Buying Program users, on a per-introduction basis for introductions to Auto Buying Program users, or under a subscription arrangement. Additionally, certain Dealers pay an incremental subscription fee for add-on products within our Auto Buying Program. Contracts are cancellable by the Dealer or the Company at any time. The Company does not provide significant Dealer financing terms.

The Company’s performance obligation to TrueCar Certified Dealers is the same for all payment types for our Auto Buying Program revenues: to provide Dealers with introductions to in-market consumers through the use of the TrueCar platform, so that those Dealers have the opportunity to sell vehicles to those consumers. Control transfers to Dealers upon delivery of introductions, which is the point at which the Company recognizes revenue.

When a user decides to proceed with a vehicle purchase through the Company, the user provides his or her name, address, email, and phone number during the process of obtaining price offers on actual vehicle inventory, which gives the Company the identity and source of a TrueCar introduction provided to a specific Dealer before an actual sale occurs. After a sale occurs, the Company receives information regarding the sale, including the identity of the purchaser, through the Dealer Management System used by the Dealer that makes the sale. The Company also receives information regarding vehicle sales from a variety of other data sources, including third-party car sales aggregators, car dealer networks, and other publicly available sources (collectively, “sales data”) and uses this sales data to further verify that a sale has occurred between an Auto Buying Program user and a TrueCar Certified Dealer, as well as to invoice Pay-Per-Sale Dealers shortly after the completion of the sales transaction.

Pay-Per-Sale. Under fee arrangements based on a pay-per-sale billing model, revenue for the Auto Buying Program is recognized when introductions are delivered to the Dealer and for the amount that the Company estimates it will be able to earn. To formulate this estimate, the Company uses the expected value method based primarily on an analysis of the expected number of sales resulting from in-period introductions. This estimate is based on historical introductions to vehicle sale close rate trends as well as actual sales measured in period. Under the contractual terms and conditions of arrangements with TrueCar Certified Dealers that pay on a per-vehicle-sale basis, the Dealer is not obligated to pay the Company until a vehicle sale has occurred between the Auto Buying Program user and the Dealer, for which the introduction was provided to the Dealer by the Company. Contractually, the Dealers’ obligation to pay is not contingent on verification or acceptance of the transaction by the Dealer. As a result, revenue recognition occurs earlier than billing as an estimate of the variable consideration to be received upon control transfer of the delivered introduction, resulting in a contract asset.

Pay-Per-Introduction. Under fee arrangements based on a pay-per-introduction billing model, revenue for the Auto Buying Program is recognized when introductions are delivered.

The Company also recognizes revenue from Dealers under subscription agreements. Subscription fee arrangements are short-term in nature with terms ranging from one to six months and are also cancellable by the Dealer or the Company at any time. Subscription arrangements fall into three types: flat-rate subscriptions, subscriptions subject to downward adjustment based on a minimum number of vehicle sales (“guaranteed sales”), and subscriptions based on introduction or impressions volume, including those subject to downward adjustment based on a minimum number of introductions (“guaranteed introductions”). For all subscription arrangements, the Company recognizes the fees as revenue when introductions or impressions are delivered by allocating a portion of the monthly subscription fee to each delivered introduction or impression. For guaranteed sales and guaranteed introduction subscriptions, the amount allocated is adjusted at the end of each month for any credits, as described below.

Flat-Rate Subscription. Under flat-rate subscription arrangements, fees are charged at a monthly flat rate regardless of the number of introductions provided by the Company to the Dealer or sales made to users of the Company’s platform by the Dealer.

Guaranteed-Sales Subscription. Under guaranteed-sales subscription arrangements, monthly fees are charged based on the number of guaranteed sales multiplied by a fixed amount per vehicle. To the extent that the actual number of vehicles sold by the Dealers to users of the Company’s platform is less than the number of guaranteed sales, the Company provides a credit to the Dealer. If the actual number of vehicles sold exceeds the number of guaranteed sales, the Company is not entitled to any additional fees.

Guaranteed-Introductions Subscription. Under guaranteed-introductions subscription arrangements, monthly fees are charged based on a periodically-updated formula that considers, among other things, the introductions anticipated to be provided to the Dealer. To the extent that the number of actual introductions is less than the number of guaranteed introductions, the Company provides a credit to the Dealer. If the actual number of introductions provided exceeds the number guaranteed, the Company is not entitled to any additional fees.

Auto Buying Program Add-On Features. The Company offers additional add-on products to eligible Dealers as part of the Auto Buying Program to increase traffic and retarget in-market consumers. These products include TrueCar Sponsored Listings (“Sponsored Listings”) and TrueCar Reach (“Reach”). Sponsored Listings enables a Dealer to place qualifying vehicles at more prominent positions within the inventory search results page. Reach is a service offered to retarget in-market consumers on the Dealer’s behalf with co-branded emails. Fees are charged based on a monthly subscription rate for the right to sponsor up to a set number of vehicles at any time throughout the month under Sponsored Listings. Fees for the Reach product are also charged on a flat monthly rate regardless of the number of emails delivered. Subscription fees are recognized on a monthly basis.

TrueCar Trade and Sell Your Car. TrueCar Trade provides consumers with information on the value of their vehicle, while providing Dealers with introductions to these in-market consumers so that those Dealers have the opportunity to buy vehicles from those consumers. Dealers pay a fee under a per-introduction or guaranteed-introductions model for access to the Company’s Sell Your Car product. Prior to offering Sell Your Car, the Company charged Dealers a monthly subscription fee for access to the Company’s Trade solution, which varied depending on the level of service provided. The Company phased out these subscription packages in 2022. Subscription fees were recognized on a monthly basis. Under the pay-per-introduction billing model, revenue is recognized when introductions are delivered. Under the guaranteed-introductions model, revenue is recognized based on the anticipated number of introductions to be provided to the Dealer. To the extent that the number of actual introductions is less than the number of guaranteed introductions, the Company provides a credit to the Dealer. If the actual number of introductions provided exceeds the number guaranteed, the Company is not entitled to any additional fees.

DealerScience. DealerScience revenues consist of monthly subscription fees paid by dealers for access to DealerScience’s products and services. DealerScience provides dealers with advanced digital retailing software tools that allow them to calculate accurate monthly payments, expedite vehicle desking, which is the process of presenting and agreeing upon financial terms and financing options, and streamline the consumers’ experience from shopping to showroom. Subscription fees are recognized on a monthly basis. The Company stopped offering DealerScience products in 2023.

OEM Incentives Revenue

The Company enters into arrangements with OEMs to promote the sale of their vehicles primarily through the offering of additional consumer incentives. These manufacturers pay a per-vehicle fee to the Company for promotion of the incentive after the sale of the vehicle has occurred between the Auto Buying Program user and the Dealer. The Company’s performance obligation to OEMs is to deliver incentive offers to consumers. Control transfers upon delivery of incentive offers, which is the point at which the Company recognizes revenue. The Company recognizes revenue for the amount that the Company estimates it will be able to earn. To formulate this estimate, the Company uses the expected value method based primarily on an analysis of the expected number of sales resulting from in-period incentive offers delivered. This estimate is based on historical incentive offers to vehicle sale close rate trends as well as delivered incentive offers resulting in actual sales measured in period. As a result, revenue recognition occurs earlier than billing as an estimate of the variable consideration to be received upon control transfer, resulting in a contract asset.

Incremental Costs to Obtain a Contract

The revenue standard requires capitalization of the incremental costs to obtain a contract, which the Company has identified as certain of its sales commissions paid to internal sales representatives for the sale of TrueCar’s services to Dealers. These costs are deferred and then amortized over the expected customer life. Amortization expense is included within sales and marketing on the accompanying consolidated statements of comprehensive loss.

Cost of Revenue (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)

Cost of revenue includes expenses related to the fulfillment of the Company’s services, consisting primarily of data costs and licensing fees paid to third-party service providers and expenses related to operating the Company’s website and mobile applications, including those associated with its data centers, hosting fees, data processing costs required to deliver introductions to its network of TrueCar Certified Dealers, employee costs related to certain dealer operations and facilities costs. Cost of revenue excludes depreciation and amortization of software development costs and other hosting and data infrastructure equipment used to operate the Company’s platforms, which are included in the depreciation and amortization line item on its statements of comprehensive loss.

Sales and Marketing

Sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of digital media spend, such as search engine marketing, social network and connected TV costs and affinity group partner marketing fees, which also includes loan subvention costs where the Company pays certain affinity group marketing partners a portion of consumers’ borrowing costs for car loan products offered by these affinity group marketing partners. In addition, sales and marketing expenses include employee-related expenses for sales, customer support, marketing, and public relations employees, including salaries, bonuses, benefits, severance, and stock-based compensation expenses; third-party contractor fees; and facilities costs.

Marketing and advertising costs promote our services and are expensed as incurred, except for media production costs which are expensed the first time the advertisement is aired.

Technology and Development

Technology and development expenses consist primarily of employee-related expenses for technology and development staff, including salaries, benefits, bonuses, severance, and stock-based compensation; the cost of certain third-party service providers; and facilities costs. Technology and development expenses are expensed as incurred.

General and Administrative

General and administrative expenses consist primarily of employee-related expenses for administrative, legal, finance, and human resource staffs, including salaries, benefits, bonuses, severance, and stock-based compensation; professional fees; insurance premiums; other corporate expenses; gain and loss from lease exit; impairment of ROU assets; and facilities costs.

Stock Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company recognizes stock-based compensation expense related to employee stock options, restricted stock units, and performance stock units based on the fair value of the awards on the grant date. Stock-based compensation for employee awards is generally recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. The Company estimates the grant-date fair value of option grants, and the resulting stock-based compensation expense, using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. For issuances of restricted stock units, the Company determines the fair value of the award based on the closing market value of its common stock on the grant date. For issuances of performance stock units, the Company calculates the fair value of the award using a Monte Carlo simulation valuation model on the grant date. The stock-based compensation expense for the performance stock units is recognized over the requisite service period using the proportionate amount of the award’s fair value that has been earned through service to date.

Compensation expense for non-employee stock-based awards is recognized in accordance with Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2018-07, Stock-based Compensation - Improvements to Nonemployee Share-based Payment Accounting, which the Company adopted on January 1, 2019. This ASU aligns much of the guidance on measuring and classifying nonemployee awards with that of awards to employees. Under this new guidance, the measurement of nonemployee equity awards is fixed on the grant date. Awards for nonemployees are measured and expense is recognized consistent with that for employee awards as outlined above.

Share Repurchase Program

Shares repurchased pursuant to the Company’s share repurchase program are immediately retired upon purchase. Repurchased common stock is reflected as a reduction of stockholders’ equity. The Company’s accounting policy related to its share repurchases is to reduce its common stock based on the par value of the shares and to reduce its capital surplus for the excess of the repurchase price over the par value. Since the inception of its share repurchase program in the third quarter of 2020, the Company has had an accumulated deficit balance; therefore, the excess over the par value has been applied to additional paid-in-capital. Once the Company has retained earnings, the excess will be charged entirely to retained earnings.

Income Taxes

The Company uses the liability method of accounting for income taxes, under which deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to the differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to be in effect when such assets and liabilities are recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the year that includes the enactment date. The Company determines deferred tax assets including net operating losses and liabilities, based on temporary differences between the book and tax bases of assets and liabilities. A valuation allowance is established to reduce net deferred tax assets to amounts that are more likely than not to be realized. The Company considers all available evidence, both positive and negative, in assessing the need for a valuation allowance. The Company has a full valuation allowance, and has concluded, based on the weight of all available evidence, that it is more likely than not that our net deferred tax assets will not be realized, primarily due to historical net operating losses.

The Company uses a two-step approach for evaluating uncertain tax positions. Step one, recognition, requires the Company to determine if the weight of available evidence indicates that a tax position is more likely than not to be sustained upon audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. If a tax position is not considered “more likely than not” to be sustained, no benefits of the position are recognized. If the Company determines that a position is “more likely than not” to be sustained, then the Company proceeds to step two, measurement, which is based on the largest amount of benefit which is more likely than not to be realized on effective settlement. The Company recognizes interest and penalties accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits, if any, in its income tax provision in the accompanying statements of comprehensive loss.

Comprehensive Loss

Comprehensive loss encompasses all changes in equity other than those arising from transactions with stockholders.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

From time to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the FASB or other standard setting bodies and adopted by the Company as of the specified effective date. The Company has evaluated recently issued pronouncements and does not believe any will have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements or related financial statement disclosures. Unless otherwise discussed, the Company believes the impact of recently issued standards that are not yet effective will not have a material impact on its financial position or results of operations upon adoption.