History of Oakes Auto Group

Dan Oakes answered a Craigslist ad to lease an office in the back of another dealership located in Olathe, KS. Oakes Auto originated as a one-man operation. While working nights as an energy trader, Dan focused his off-work hours building Oakes Auto.

"I was looking to try my hand in the car business. I would tag along to KCI Auto Auction where I watched people buying cars and thought ‘if they can do it, I can do it.’ I proceeded to contact around 20 local banks all of which turned me down for a floor plan due to limited time in the business. I finally got a $50,000 line of credit from a floor plan company with high fees and went to work. I’d get a few cars from the auction and keep them near the back door by my office. Everything that happens in a car dealership had to be done by me or I wouldn’t have a vehicle that I could sell. This continued to be my side hustle while still working a full time job."

Dan quit his full-time job as a trader to focus on Oakes Auto.

In 2017 Oakes Auto was named DealerRater's 2017 Used Car Dealer of the Year for the State of Kansas.

Oakes Auto was named Used Car Dealer of the Year for the United States by DealerRater.

In September 2018, Oakes began operating Jack Miller Kia in North Kansas City.

Oakes Auto was named Top 200 Private-Sector Employers by the Kansas City Business Journal.

Oakes Auto named one of Kansas City’s Fastest-Growing Area Businesses for the second year in a row on Ingram’s Corporate 100 Report. Growth: 148.51% Average Annual Growth Rate: 49.5%

Oakes purchased Cox Motor Company in Pleasanton, KS, and rebranded the company Oakes Ford. Read the Linn County Newspaper article.

In August 2023, Oakes purchased Main Street Buick GMC at 3200 Main Street in Kansas City, MO. The company was renamed Oakes Buick GMC. Stephen Hill was brought on as Managing Partner of Oakes Buick GMC. Read the KC Business Journal article.

Oakes Kia was honored as an exclusive member of Kia America’s President Club for the third year in a row. Selected from the network of nearly 800 retailers, the Kia President’s Club recognizes dealers that have achieved the highest overall sales volume and provided outstanding customer satisfaction.