The company said joining the two firms would create an insurance platform that leverages the strength of Cartel's 20-year-old insurance distribution network and TurboCoverage's "first-of-its-kind" technology platform for online auto insurance.

TurboCoverage has placed Internet-connected kiosks at various California dealerships, the company said.

Phil Barry, ExpressLink chief executive officer, said the new firm could offer consumers and dealers a better way to secure insurance because of "our proven track record of success," an experienced management team and board of directors, and a set of strategic partners.

The company said that using its system, consumers are able to arrange coverage "in minutes" and immediately take possession of their vehicles, while satisfying state insurance requirements. At the same time, ExpressLink asserted that it would help vehicle retailers sell more units and improve overall customer satisfaction.

ExpressLink said it plans to roll out its platform nationally through an exclusive agreement with Computerized Vehicle Registration, a wholly owned subsidiary of Automatic Data Process in Roseland, N.J. and Reynolds and Reynolds of Dayton Ohio.

The company noted that CVR, and Reynolds and Reynolds have relationships with more than 80 percent of the dealers in the country.

Jack Edelstein, president of ExpressLink said, "Our strategic partnership with CVR provides ExpressLink with a footprint to expand our national sales efforts, while giving us a very important interface to the ADP and Reynolds and Reynolds dealer management systems. As a result, we will move quickly to build a national business."

ExpressLink said it will leverage CVR's national sales force to sell to automotive retailers.

"We will benefit from the integration of the ExpressLink Auto Insurance product with the major dealer management systems to provide a more efficient product," said Dale Penn, vice president, sales and marketing of ExpressLink.

ExpressLink said its typical customers at auto insurance dealers are usually defined as "non-standard" drivers?primarily first-time motorists with no previous insurance; those whose coverage has lapsed, or those considered higher risk based on their previous driving record.

According to ExpressLink, the merged operation starts with a sales level of more than 70,000 policies a year, making it the largest single, point-of-sale insurance provider in the country. The company offers insurance products in California, Nevada and Arizona, and plans to be approved in the 40 most populous states in 2002.

Besides, Mr. Barry, Mr. Edelstein and Mr. Penn, ExpressLink said its top management includes: Robert Humphries, chairman; David Diem, chief operating officer; Laurie Holcomb, national sales manager; Pam Vogt, vice president of finance; Jon Danley, vice president of administration, and Sean Willis, director of information systems.

ExpressLink's board members, in addition to Mr. Humphries, Mr. Barry, Mr. Edelstein and Mr. Diem, include:

? Michael Smythe, formerly president of Smythe European, Inc., the nation's fifth-largest Mercedes Benz and the second-largest Volvo dealership. Mr. Symthe was formerly Chairman of the Board of TurboCoverage.

? Eric McAfee, principal in Berg McAfee Companies and Cagan McAfee Capital Partners, a member of President Bush's Information Technology National Advisory Board.

? Ron Goldsberry, chairman of the board of OnStation, an e-commerce company providing software for the automotive aftermarket.