Can I switch from Car Show Pro to Car Show Expert?

Yes. You can create a Car Show Expert account and set up your event independently of any other platform. There's no requirement to close out an existing Car Show Pro account first.

Can I import my Car Show Pro registrations?

Car Show Expert does not currently provide a direct, automated Car Show Pro data migration tool. If you can export your existing registrations to a spreadsheet, you can reformat that data into Car Show Expert's CSV import template and bulk-upload it. Otherwise, you'd re-enter registrations manually or ask participants to register again.

Can I import my vehicle list?

Vehicle details (year, make, model, color, license plate) are part of the same CSV bulk import used for registrations, so they can be imported together as long as the source data is available in a CSV file matching the import template.

Do participants have to register again?

Not necessarily — if your existing participant and vehicle data can be exported to CSV and reformatted to match Car Show Expert's import template, that data can be bulk-imported. If it can't be exported in a usable format, organizers typically ask participants to register through the new system for the next event.

Can I keep my historical Car Show Pro data?

Yes — nothing about switching requires deleting your Car Show Pro account or data. Many organizers keep the old platform accessible for historical reference while running new events on Car Show Expert.

Can Car Show Expert handle judging?

Yes. Car Show Expert supports digital judging scorecards with custom criteria, pre-built judging templates, and multiple judge accounts per show.

Can Car Show Expert handle car show check-in?

Yes, including QR code-based check-in for entrants.

Can Car Show Expert handle People's Choice voting?

Yes, People's Choice voting is a built-in feature that can be configured per show, including which classes are included.

How much does Car Show Expert cost?

Car Show Expert has a free Standard plan (up to 3 active Basic shows), Expert Shows at $29/show with QR check-in, digital judging and People's Choice voting, and a Pro plan at $49/month with unlimited Expert Shows. See the pricing page for current details.

How long does it take to set up a show?

It depends on how many classes, registration questions, and judging criteria your event uses. A simple single-class show can be set up quickly; a multi-class show with custom judging and several registration questions takes longer to configure and test.

Switching From Car Show Pro

Why Organizers Switch Car Show Software

Organizers evaluate a different platform for all kinds of reasons — every show's needs are different. Common factors include:

•Pricing model
•Registration workflow
•Judging requirements
•Event-day check-in
•Voting functionality
•Ease of administration
•Volunteer workflow
•Feature requirements
•Support responsiveness
•Event size
•Payment processing requirements

What Can You Move to Car Show Expert?

A realistic look at what transfers and what needs to be rebuilt:

What can move from your existing setup to Car Show Expert
Your Existing Setup	Car Show Expert
Event information	Can be recreated Name, dates, location, description entered when you create the show.
Event date/location	Can be recreated
Vehicle classes	Can be recreated Custom classes, unlimited count.
Registration categories	Can be recreated Entry types (e.g. car, truck, motorcycle) are configurable per show.
Participant information	Can be imported Via CSV bulk import — name, email, phone.
Vehicle information	Can be imported Year/make/model/color/plate fields are included in the same CSV import.
Registration questions	Not currently supported Registration currently collects a fixed set of fields (contact and vehicle details) — there's no builder for organizer-defined custom questions.
Judging categories	Can be recreated Pre-built judging templates can speed this up, or build custom criteria.
Judging criteria	Depends on configuration Use a pre-built template or define your own scoring criteria.
Judges	Manual setup required Add judge accounts to the show after creating it.
Check-in process	Can be recreated QR code check-in is built in once the show and entries exist.
Voting	Can be recreated People's Choice voting is configured per show.
Results	Not currently supported Past results from another platform aren't imported; new results are generated as you judge.
Payment setup	Manual setup required Connect your own payment processing for the new show.
Participant communications	Can be recreated Confirmation emails are automatic once registration is open.

How to Switch From Car Show Pro

1
Create your Car Show Expert account
Sign up for free — no credit card required to start on the Standard plan.
2
Create your event
Enter your show's name, date, and location. This takes a few minutes and doesn't require anything from your old platform.
3
Recreate your classes and registration forms
Add your vehicle classes and any custom registration questions your show needs. If you have an existing participant/vehicle list in a spreadsheet, you can reformat it to Car Show Expert's CSV template and bulk-import it instead of entering entries one by one.
4
Configure judging and check-in
Set up judging using a pre-built template or your own custom criteria, add your judges, and QR check-in is available automatically once entries exist.
5
Publish your new registration link
Share your Car Show Expert registration link with participants through your usual channels (email list, social media, club site) so they can register for the next event.

What About Existing Registrations?

Car Show Expert does not currently provide a direct Car Show Pro data migration tool. In practice, organizers switching platforms use one of a few approaches:

•Export existing registrant/vehicle data if your current platform supports it, then reformat it to match Car Show Expert's CSV import template and bulk-upload it
•Manually enter existing registrations for a small show where re-typing a handful of entries is faster than reformatting a file
•Ask participants to register again through the new system for the next event
•Keep the old platform active for historical records while running your next event on Car Show Expert

Do I Have to Make My Participants Register Again?

It depends on whether your existing participant data can be exported in a usable format. If your existing platform lets you export registrant and vehicle details to a spreadsheet, you can reformat that file to match Car Show Expert's CSV import template and bulk-upload it, carrying that information over without participants re-typing it. If that export isn't available, or the data doesn't map cleanly to the import template, organizers typically ask participants to register through the new system for the next event.

What Happens to My Existing Car Show Data?

Switching platforms doesn't delete anything on your old system. Historical registrations, past winners, participant records, vehicle information, judging history, and prior event results stay wherever they currently live — Car Show Expert doesn't automatically pull any of that in. If you want that history accessible going forward, keeping your existing account active for reference (even if you stop running new events on it) is a common approach. Car Show Expert stores full history for events you run on it going forward, including results and judging records for those shows.

Can Car Show Expert Handle Your Existing Workflow?

Switching software is easier when the new platform supports the way your show already operates. Here's a practical look at the common workflows car show organizers use and how Car Show Expert handles them today — based on what the product actually supports, not what sounds plausible.

Important: Car Show Expert does not currently provide direct, automated import from Car Show Pro or any other platform. Registrant and vehicle data can be bulk-imported via CSV if it's reformatted to match Car Show Expert's import template — otherwise it needs to be recreated or re-registered. See What About Existing Registrations? above for details.

Car Show Expert support status for common car show organizer workflows
Workflow	Car Show Expert	Notes
Online registration	Supported	Organizers can configure online registration and collect entrant name, contact and vehicle details through a public form that doesn't require participants to create an account.
Vehicle classes	Supported	Organizers can create unlimited custom vehicle classes, with per-class entry limits or fee overrides.
Participant information	Supported	Entrant and vehicle details captured at registration are viewable and editable from the organizer dashboard.
Custom registration questions	Not currently supported	Registration currently collects a fixed set of fields (contact and vehicle details). There's no builder for organizer-defined custom questions.
Digital judging	Supported	Judges score vehicles from their own phone or tablet using scoring criteria the organizer defines, or a pre-built judging template.
Judge scoring	Supported	Judges enter scores per vehicle against the configured criteria, and results tally as scores come in.
Multiple judges	Supported	More than one judge can be assigned to a show, and their scores for the same vehicle are combined.
Judging categories	Supported	Scoring criteria can be organized into categories per class, either from a pre-built template or built from scratch.
Judge assignments	Supported	Individual judges can be scoped to specific vehicle classes rather than judging the entire show.
Event-day check-in	Supported	Staff can check entrants in at the gate from any phone once registration is open.
QR-code check-in	Supported	Each entrant gets a QR code that staff scan to check them in; check-in also works by name search.
People's Choice voting	Supported	Attendees vote by QR code, with duplicate-vote protection and the ability to configure which classes are included or excluded.
Online payments	Supported	Registration fees can be collected online by card at the time of registration.
Participant communication	Supported	Automated confirmation emails go out at registration, and organizers can send announcements to registered entrants.
Event results	Supported	Results and awards are tracked per show and published to a public results page.
Winner publishing	Supported	Organizers publish placements and awards, viewable on the show's public page.
Vehicle/entrant management	Supported	Organizers can view, edit and manage entrant and vehicle records from a dashboard after registration.
Volunteer/event staff workflows	Supported	Show staff (registration, judge and head judge access levels) and a separate public volunteer sign-up system are both supported.
Mobile access	Supported	The platform is browser-based and works on phones and tablets; there's no separate app to install.
Offline functionality	Partially supported	Check-in and judging can continue without a signal and sync once connectivity returns; other parts of the platform require an internet connection.
Data import / CSV import/export	Supported	Registrant and vehicle data can be bulk-imported from a CSV file using a provided template, and the registrations list can be exported to CSV. This is the only supported import mechanism — there's no dedicated importer for any other platform's export format.
Event duplication/templates	Supported	Any past show can be copied to start a new one with its settings, classes, entry types and sponsors, which you can review and edit before creating it. Registrations and results aren't copied. Pre-built judging templates also speed up setting up judging criteria.
Historical event data	Supported	Past shows remain in the organizer's account after they end, including their registrations, judging records and results.

Online registrationSupported
Organizers can configure online registration and collect entrant name, contact and vehicle details through a public form that doesn't require participants to create an account.
Vehicle classesSupported
Organizers can create unlimited custom vehicle classes, with per-class entry limits or fee overrides.
Participant informationSupported
Entrant and vehicle details captured at registration are viewable and editable from the organizer dashboard.
Custom registration questionsNot currently supported
Registration currently collects a fixed set of fields (contact and vehicle details). There's no builder for organizer-defined custom questions.
Digital judgingSupported
Judges score vehicles from their own phone or tablet using scoring criteria the organizer defines, or a pre-built judging template.
Judge scoringSupported
Judges enter scores per vehicle against the configured criteria, and results tally as scores come in.
Multiple judgesSupported
More than one judge can be assigned to a show, and their scores for the same vehicle are combined.
Judging categoriesSupported
Scoring criteria can be organized into categories per class, either from a pre-built template or built from scratch.
Judge assignmentsSupported
Individual judges can be scoped to specific vehicle classes rather than judging the entire show.
Event-day check-inSupported
Staff can check entrants in at the gate from any phone once registration is open.
QR-code check-inSupported
Each entrant gets a QR code that staff scan to check them in; check-in also works by name search.
People's Choice votingSupported
Attendees vote by QR code, with duplicate-vote protection and the ability to configure which classes are included or excluded.
Online paymentsSupported
Registration fees can be collected online by card at the time of registration.
Participant communicationSupported
Automated confirmation emails go out at registration, and organizers can send announcements to registered entrants.
Event resultsSupported
Results and awards are tracked per show and published to a public results page.
Winner publishingSupported
Organizers publish placements and awards, viewable on the show's public page.
Vehicle/entrant managementSupported
Organizers can view, edit and manage entrant and vehicle records from a dashboard after registration.
Volunteer/event staff workflowsSupported
Show staff (registration, judge and head judge access levels) and a separate public volunteer sign-up system are both supported.
Mobile accessSupported
The platform is browser-based and works on phones and tablets; there's no separate app to install.
Offline functionalityPartially supported
Check-in and judging can continue without a signal and sync once connectivity returns; other parts of the platform require an internet connection.
Data import / CSV import/exportSupported
Registrant and vehicle data can be bulk-imported from a CSV file using a provided template, and the registrations list can be exported to CSV. This is the only supported import mechanism — there's no dedicated importer for any other platform's export format.
Event duplication/templatesSupported
Any past show can be copied to start a new one with its settings, classes, entry types and sponsors, which you can review and edit before creating it. Registrations and results aren't copied. Pre-built judging templates also speed up setting up judging criteria.
Historical event dataSupported
Past shows remain in the organizer's account after they end, including their registrations, judging records and results.

Not sure whether your current setup will transfer cleanly? Compare your existing workflow with Car Show Expert before your next event, or see the platform's full feature list.

How Much Does It Cost to Switch?

Pricing checked: September 17, 2026. See the pricing page for current details.

Car Show Expert's current pricing: a free Standard plan (up to 3 active Basic shows), Expert Shows at $29/show (QR check-in, digital judging, People's Choice voting, unlimited entries), or a Pro plan at $49/month for unlimited Expert Shows plus custom branding. There's no separate migration fee.

Costs worth weighing when switching:

•Software subscription or per-show fee on the new platform
•Any registration fees passed on to participants
•Payment processing fees on the new platform
•Any remaining commitment on your existing platform
•Time spent on setup and testing before your event

How Long Does It Take to Switch?

Setup time scales with how complex your show is:

Small show

Few vehicle classes
Few registration questions
Simple judging criteria
Small participant count

Large show

Many vehicle classes
Multiple judges
More complex scoring
Multiple registration categories
Larger participant database

Pre-built judging templates can shorten the judging setup step for common formats rather than building criteria from scratch.

Should You Switch Before Your Next Show?

Consider switching before the next event if:

Your event setup is straightforward
You have enough time to test the new workflow
Your judges can test the judging process
Your volunteers can test check-in
You've verified payment configuration
You've tested participant registration

Consider waiting until after the next event if:

Your event is only days away
You have a complicated existing workflow
Many participants are already registered elsewhere
You haven't tested the new system yet
Your event has unusual requirements

Switching Checklist

Review current event setup
Export existing data
Document vehicle classes
Document registration questions
Document judging categories
Document judges
Document check-in process
Document voting rules
Create Car Show Expert event
Recreate classes
Configure registration
Configure judging
Test check-in
Test registration
Test payments
Test results
Send participants the new registration link
Train volunteers/judges
Run a final test before event day

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I switch from Car Show Pro to Car Show Expert?: Yes. You can create a Car Show Expert account and set up your event independently of any other platform. There's no requirement to close out an existing Car Show Pro account first.
Can I import my Car Show Pro registrations?: Car Show Expert does not currently provide a direct, automated Car Show Pro data migration tool. If you can export your existing registrations to a spreadsheet, you can reformat that data into Car Show Expert's CSV import template and bulk-upload it. Otherwise, you'd re-enter registrations manually or ask participants to register again.
Can I import my vehicle list?: Vehicle details (year, make, model, color, license plate) are part of the same CSV bulk import used for registrations, so they can be imported together as long as the source data is available in a CSV file matching the import template.
Do participants have to register again?: Not necessarily — if your existing participant and vehicle data can be exported to CSV and reformatted to match Car Show Expert's import template, that data can be bulk-imported. If it can't be exported in a usable format, organizers typically ask participants to register through the new system for the next event.
Can I keep my historical Car Show Pro data?: Yes — nothing about switching requires deleting your Car Show Pro account or data. Many organizers keep the old platform accessible for historical reference while running new events on Car Show Expert.
Can Car Show Expert handle judging?: Yes. Car Show Expert supports digital judging scorecards with custom criteria, pre-built judging templates, and multiple judge accounts per show.
Can Car Show Expert handle car show check-in?: Yes, including QR code-based check-in for entrants.
Can Car Show Expert handle People's Choice voting?: Yes, People's Choice voting is a built-in feature that can be configured per show, including which classes are included.
How much does Car Show Expert cost?: Car Show Expert has a free Standard plan (up to 3 active Basic shows), Expert Shows at $29/show with QR check-in, digital judging and People's Choice voting, and a Pro plan at $49/month with unlimited Expert Shows. See the pricing page for current details.
How long does it take to set up a show?: It depends on how many classes, registration questions, and judging criteria your event uses. A simple single-class show can be set up quickly; a multi-class show with custom judging and several registration questions takes longer to configure and test.

Compare Car Show Pro and Car Show Expert

Before switching, compare the two platforms feature by feature.

Compare Car Show Pro vs Car Show Expert

Car Show Expert is an independent car show management platform and is not affiliated with Car Show Pro.

Switching From Car Show Pro?