CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for new car dealers in Knoxville, TN
New car dealers in the Knoxville, TN metro area: 62 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 60-person team.
- Establishments
- 62CBP 2023
- Employees
- 3,718mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 6.5U.S. 6.4
- Rank
- 60th of 800areas by count
The new car dealership market in Knoxville, TN
The Census Bureau's 2023 County Business Patterns lists 62 establishments classified as New Car Dealers (NAICS 441110) in the Knoxville, TN metro area. Together they reported 3,718 mid-March employees and $328.9 million of payroll for the year. That ranks 60th of the 800 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 958,000 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 6.5 new car dealers per 100,000 people, in line with the national rate of 6.4. Establishments average 60.0 employees, 16.1% above the U.S. average of 51.6. Payroll per employee comes to $88,449, 11.5% above the national $79,300.
| Measure | Knoxville, TN | Tennessee | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 62 | 430 | 21,910 |
| Mid-March employees | 3,718 | 22,736 | 1,131,340 |
| Annual payroll | $328,854,000 | $1,814,153,000 | $89,715,562,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 60.0 | 52.9 | 51.6 |
| Payroll per employee | $88,449 | $79,792 | $79,300 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 6.5 | 5.9 | 6.4 |
Census County Business Patterns 2023 (mid-March employment; annual payroll). Employees and payroll flagged high-noise are shown but not used in the text. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
How big new car dealers in Knoxville, TN are
Of the new car dealers in Knoxville, TN that had employees in March 2023, 13.1% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 14.1%). 18.0% had fewer than ten. Small teams usually share the phone: the person who answers is often also serving a customer or doing the job, which is when calls get missed.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 8 | 13.1% | 14.1% |
| 5–9 employees | 3 | 4.9% | 5.1% |
| 10–19 employees | 4 | 6.6% | 8.8% |
| 20–49 employees | 12 | 19.7% | 31.2% |
| 50 or more employees | 34 | 55.7% | 40.8% |
Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Why the phone matters for new car dealers in Knoxville, TN
Dealerships route calls between sales, service and parts, and each department has different peak times. Fast follow-up on sales inquiries is critical. That holds for new car dealers in Knoxville, TN as much as anywhere.
A few of the calls that come in to new car dealers in Knoxville, TN:
- A customer calls the parts department.
- A customer calls about a recall.
- Sales calls a shopper back after an online lead.
When nobody can pick up
Shoppers call evenings and weekends, so capturing those leads matters.
With business-hours routing, calls after closing can go to transcribed voicemail or an optional AI receptionist instead of ringing an empty room.
What a phone system costs a new car dealership in Knoxville, TN
The average new car dealership in Knoxville, TN has 60.0 employees, so a 60-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 60 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $1,800.00 a month and 60 on Ooma Office Pro cost $1,497.00. On Callata the same 60 people cost $1,199.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $7,212. Some vendors discount annual contracts; the table shows month-to-month prices.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $1,199.00 | $14,388.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $1,140.00 | $13,680.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $1,380.00 | $16,560.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $1,497.00 | $17,964.00 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $1,620.00 | $19,440.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $1,800.00 | $21,600.00 |
Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.
Which area code to use in Knoxville, TN
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 2 area codes. 865 has the most, with 409 of 436 exchanges (94%). Callata's plan includes up to 3 local numbers; you can pick them in the area codes your customers recognize, subject to carrier inventory, or port the number you already have for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 865 | 409 | Eastern | 1999 | none |
| 423 | 27 | Eastern and Central | 1995 | 729 |
Exchanges are NANPA-assigned central office codes (NPA-NXX) in the rate centers matched to the area's named places. Source: NANPA utilized code and NPA reports.
What new car dealers in Knoxville, TN get with Callata
Callata Office costs $99 per month for up to 5 people, and each additional user is $20 a month. That covers up to 3 local numbers, calling from a browser or your cell, transcribed voicemail, recorded calls with AI summaries, after-hours routing and E911 on each number.
If you already have a number in Knoxville, TN, porting it to Callata is free. Texting from a local number requires a one-time carrier registration (10DLC, $49), and the numbers available in any area code depend on carrier inventory when you choose them.
Optional AI agents (receptionist, sales, support or scheduler) can answer calls after hours or when nobody picks up, take messages, text, email and transfer to your team. They are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute, identify themselves as AI, and may only place outbound calls to people who consented, between 8am and 9pm.
Sales calls and texts to leads require appropriate consent under telemarketing rules.
Frequently asked questions
How many new car dealers are there in Knoxville, TN?
Census County Business Patterns counted 62 new car dealers in the Knoxville, TN metro area in 2023. They employed 3,718 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 60-person new car dealership?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 60 users cost $1,800.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $1,497.00 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $1,199.00.
What area code should a new car dealership in Knoxville, TN use?
Area code 865 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 423. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a new car dealership?
Yes. Callata's optional AI agents can answer when the team is busy or closed, take a message, text, email or transfer the call. They disclose that they are AI and are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute. Sales calls and texts to leads require appropriate consent under telemarketing rules.