CASE STUDY
Cars.com referral traffic converts nearly 2x better than Google Ads
Dealers using Cars.com replace unpredictable ad costs with flat-rate pricing, high-intent shoppers, and an 89% higher conversion rate vs. Google traffic.
Featuring
THE CHALLENGE Unpredictable ad costs & low quality leads
Google Ads locks dealers into an auction-based bidding war where costs spike unpredictably based on competitor spending.
Worse, Google’s broad targeting means you’re often paying for clicks from casual browsers, researchers, and service shoppers, resulting in wasted ad dollars and inefficient cost of acquisition.
THE SOLUTION Reach an in-market audience at a fixed cost
Cars.com flips the script with flat-rate pricing and an audience that’s already in-market to buy.
91% of Cars.com visitors haven’t chosen a dealer yet. And unlike Google, every shopper on Cars.com is actively searching for vehicles.
- Predictable, flat-rate pricing
- High intent, in-market audience
- Up to 10% of your total website traffic (more than any other marketplace)
- Shopper insights in every lead, so your team knows what each buyer wants before the first call
THE RESULTS
Higher conversion rates without the headaches
By trading unpredictable ad costs and broad audiences for flat-rate pricing and high-intent buyers, Cars.com marketplace dealers turn their marketing spend into a reliable, repeatable sales engine.
89%
higher lead conversion rate vs. Google traffic
+53%
more VDPs viewed with Cars.com & Dealer Inspire combined
50%
of sales include a Cars.com lead or connection
A customer that visits Cars.com, you know that’s an in-market shopper…if it wasn’t for Cars.com, I don’t think I’d be able to do the numbers that we’re doing today.
Bibi Singh
Business Director
Victory Mitsubishi
YOUR TURN Advertise smarter, not harder
Cars.com gives you predictable costs, high-intent shoppers, and conversion rates that actually move the needle. No bidding wars. No budget guesswork. Just serious buyers ready to make a decision.
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