The Best SEO Keywords for Car Dealers

Attracting potential customers to my car dealership relies heavily on a strong SEO strategy. In today’s digital world, most consumers begin their car-buying journey online, using search engines like Google to locate the best dealerships nearby.

Choosing the right SEO keywords is essential for driving organic traffic to my website and boosting sales. For car dealers, it’s not just about attracting any visitors, but about reaching high-intent buyers ready to make a purchase through effective keyword research.

Understanding the search intent of my potential customers is essential. Are they seeking general information about car dealerships, or are they specifically looking for one in their vicinity?

Aligning my SEO strategy with my audience’s search intent allows me to create content that meets their needs and positions my dealership as a trusted and reliable option in the automotive market.

In this article, I’ll explore the best SEO keywords for car dealers, covering categories from general and high-volume keywords to local, vehicle-specific, and service-related keywords. By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of how to use a keyword grouping tool effectively to choose and implement SEO keywords to enhance your online presence and attract more customers to your dealership.

The List Of The Best SEO Keywords for Car Dealers

Keyword	Volume
car dealers	1 220 000
car dealer	1 220 000
car dealerships near me	1 000 000
used vehicles for sale near me	823 000
used cars for sale	673 000
toyota dealership	673 000
ford dealership near me	673 000
honda dealership	673 000
toyota dealer near me	550 000
toyota near me	550 000
ford dealership	450 000
dealerships near me	450 000
kia car	450 000
toyota car	450 000
honda dealership near me	368 000
chevy dealer near me	368 000
honda near me	368 000
cars for sale near me	301 000
nissan dealer near me	301 000
nissan dealership	301 000
kia dealership	301 000
dealership	301 000
dealerships	301 000
kia dealership near me	246 000
jeep dealership near me	246 000
chevy dealership	246 000
used cars for sale near me	246 000
hyundai dealership	246 000
used car dealerships near me	246 000
dodge dealership	246 000
mazda dealership	246 000
hyundai near me	246 000
car shop near me	246 000
hyundai dealership near me	201 000
carmax sell my car	201 000
used car dealers	201 000
ford near me	201 000
gmc dealership near me	201 000
mazda dealer near me	165 000
dodge dealer near me	165 000
subaru dealer near me	165 000
subaru dealership	165 000
jeep dealership	165 000
chevrolet dealership	165 000
bmw near me	165 000
volkswagen dealership	165 000
buy used cars	165 000
vw dealership	165 000
auto sales near me	165 000
car lots near me	135 000
lexus dealer near me	135 000
volkswagen dealership near me	135 000
gmc dealership	135 000
nissan near me	135 000
vw dealer near me	135 000
bmw dealership	135 000
acura dealership	135 000
chevrolet dealer near me	110 000
subaru near me	110 000
mazda near me	110 000
lexus dealership	110 000
audi dealership near me	110 000
ram dealership near me	110 000
bmw dealership near me	110 000
volkswagen near me	110 000
used car lots near me	90 500
cadillac dealer near me	90 500
buick dealership near me	90 500
lexus near me	90 500
audi dealership	90 500
audi near me	90 500
mercedes dealership near me	90 500
chevrolet near me	90 500
auto sales	90 500
mercedes benz dealer near me	90 500
buy here pay here car lots	74 000
toyota camry for sale	74 000
jeep near me	74 000
buy car	74 000
ram dealership	74 000
toyota rav 4 for sale	74 000
used car dealer near me	74 000
chrysler dealership	60 500
mitsubishi dealer near me	60 500
acura dealer near me	60 500
mini cooper for sale	60 500
range rover for sale	60 500
mercedes dealership	60 500
car places near me	60 500
car lots	60 500
porsche for sale	60 500
porsche dealership	60 500
toyota sienna for sale	49 500
used tesla for sale	49 500
toyota supra for sale	49 500
infiniti dealership	49 500
toyota sequoia for sale	49 500
cadillac dealership	49 500
used car lots	49 500
mercedes benz dealership	49 500
porsche near me	49 500
mitsubishi dealership	49 500
mitsubishi near me	49 500
used suvs for sale near me	40 500
chrysler dealership near me	40 500
infiniti dealer near me	40 500
used bmw for sale	40 500
used car near me	40 500
dodge near me	40 500
chevy near me	40 500
lincoln dealership	40 500
buick dealership	40 500
used lexus for sale	33 100
carmax used cars	33 100
vw near me	33 100
acura near me	33 100
porsche dealer near me	33 100
affordable cars	33 100
land rover defender for sale	33 100
buy my car	27 100
cheap cars for sale near me	27 100
used honda civic for sale	27 100
used toyota tacoma for sale	27 100
toyota for sale	27 100
cadillac near me	27 100
new car dealerships near me	27 100
best place to buy used cars	27 100
gm dealership near me	27 100
buy here pay here dealerships	22 200
buy here pay here car lots near me	22 200
used range rover for sale	22 200
used corvette for sale	22 200
used jeeps for sale	18 100
used honda accord for sale	18 100
used audi for sale	18 100
used chevy silverado for sale	18 100
used vehicles for sale	18 100
dodge ram dealership	18 100
used toyota camry for sale	18 100
mini countryman for sale	18 100
range rover near me	18 100
used dealerships near me	18 100
infiniti near me	18 100
budget car sales	18 100
used toyota corolla for sale	18 100
used ford ranger for sale	18 100
honda crv used for sale	18 100
toyota fj cruiser for sale	18 100
toyota rav 4 for sale near me	14 800
used jeeps for sale near me	14 800
dealer toyota	14 800
toyota inventory	14 800
mini vans for sale	14 800
toyota 4runner for sale near me	14 800
used minivans for sale near me	14 800
used subarus near me	14 800
used 4runner for sale	14 800
car shopping	14 800
used mini cooper for sale	14 800
used toyota rav4 for sale	14 800
used toyota tundra for sale	14 800
chevy camaro for sale	14 800
camaro for sale near me	14 800
nissan dealerships near me	12 100
used honda pilot for sale	12 100
dodge ram dealer near me	12 100
toyotas for sale near me	12 100
kia deals	12 100
toyota venza for sale	12 100
used cars for sale by owner	12 100
used jeep wranglers for sale near me	9 900
toyota highlander for sale near me	9 900
toyota camry hybrid for sale	9 900
used honda odyssey for sale	9 900
used prius for sale	9 900
toyota rav4 hybrid for sale	9 900
honda deals	9 900
us auto sales	9 900
used mercedes benz for sale	9 900
hondas for sale near me	9 900
audi for sale near me	9 900
arnold clark sell my car	8 100
used toyota highlander for sale	8 100
chrysler jeep dodge	8 100
used subaru for sale	8 100
carmax appraisal	6 600
buy used cars near me	6 600
rav4 for sale near me	6 600
range rover for sale near me	6 600
kia sorento for sale near me	6 600
car buyers near me	5 400
carmax offer	5 400
used hondas for sale near me	5 400
carmax buy my car	4 400
used jeep grand cherokee for sale	4 400
used jeep cherokee for sale	4 400
carmax sell car	3 600
carmax quote	3 600
places that buy cars	2 900
places that buy used cars	1 300

Top General SEO Keywords for Car Dealers

General versus Specific Keywords

When it comes to SEO for car dealers, it’s important to distinguish between general and specific keywords. General keywords are broad and attract a wide audience but often face high competition and lower conversion rates. Specific keywords, or long-tail keywords, are more targeted and can drive higher-quality traffic to my website.

General keywords for car dealerships include terms like “car dealership,” “car dealerships near me,” and “used car dealerships near me.” These keywords have high search volumes and are vital for building a broad online presence. For example, “car dealerships near me” gets around 823,000 searches each month, making it a competitive but valuable term to target.

Here are some top general SEO keywords I consider incorporating into my content and website optimization:

• Car dealership: With about 92,000 monthly searches, this keyword is fundamental for any car dealership’s SEO strategy.
• Car dealerships near me: Highly sought after with over 823,000 monthly searches, ideal for attracting local customers.
• Used car dealerships near me: Around 65,000 searches per month, important for dealerships specializing in used vehicles.
• New car dealerships near me: Although it has about 4,600 monthly searches, it’s still important for dealerships focusing on new cars.

While these general keywords are essential, balancing them with specific, long-tail keywords helps target buyers with clear intentions and reduces competition. Combining both types of keywords creates a robust SEO strategy that attracts both broad and targeted traffic to my website.

High-Volume Keywords: Driving Traffic to Your Dealership

High-volume keywords are key to attracting a large number of potential customers to my car dealership’s website. These keywords have significant search volumes and, when optimized correctly, can greatly enhance my online visibility and drive more traffic to my site.

Here are some of the most effective high-volume keywords to consider in my SEO strategy:

• Car dealerships near me: With over 823,000 monthly searches, this keyword is essential for attracting local customers.
• Used car dealerships near me: Around 65,000 monthly searches, vital for dealerships specializing in used vehicles.
• Car dealership: A general term with about 92,000 monthly searches, fundamental for establishing a broad online presence.
• New car dealerships near me: Approximately 4,600 monthly searches, important for dealerships focusing on new cars.

Integrating these high-volume keywords into various parts of my website, including the homepage, inventory pages, blog posts, and metadata, is essential. Here are some tips for effective keyword usage:

• Title Tags and Headers: Include high-volume keywords in title tags and headers to improve visibility in search results. For example, “Used Car Dealerships Near Me” could be a title tag for a used car inventory page.
• Content Optimization: Naturally incorporate these keywords into my content, aiming for a keyword density of about 2-3%. This helps search engines understand the relevance of my content to the search query.
• Local SEO: Combine high-volume keywords with local search terms to target specific markets. For instance, “Car Dealerships in [City Name]” can help rank higher in local searches.

Focusing on high-volume keywords can drive significant traffic to my dealership’s website, increasing the likelihood of converting visitors into customers.

Local SEO Keywords: Capturing the Local Market

Local SEO is essential for car dealerships aiming to attract customers from their immediate area. Using location-specific keywords ensures that my dealership appears in local search results, driving more targeted traffic to both my website and physical location.

Local City and Neighborhood Keywords

To effectively capture the local market, I incorporate keywords that specify my city, county, neighborhoods, and even ZIP codes. Here are some strategies and examples to optimize for local SEO:

• City-Specific Keywords: Target keywords that include the name of my city. For example, “car dealerships in Houston” receives around 8,100 searches per month, while “car dealerships in Denver” gets about 3,600 searches per month.
• Neighborhood Keywords: Focus on specific neighborhoods or areas within my city. For instance, creating content around “car dealerships in Downtown [City Name]” or “used car dealerships in [Neighborhood Name]” helps attract local buyers.
• ZIP Code Keywords: Including ZIP codes in keywords can further narrow down the target audience. For example, “car dealerships in 77002” (a ZIP code in Houston) can reach customers in that specific area.

Examples of local city keywords I use include:

• Car dealerships in [City Name]: Helps rank for searches specific to my city, such as “car dealerships in San Antonio” or “car dealerships in Phoenix.”
• [Make/Model] dealership in [City Name]: Combining the car make and model with the city name attracts buyers looking for specific vehicles, like “Ford dealership in Austin” or “Toyota dealership in Las Vegas.”
• Used car dealerships in [City Name]: Targets buyers specifically looking for used cars in the area, such as “used car dealerships in Denver” or “used car dealerships in Corpus Christi.”

Incorporating these local keywords into my website content, meta tags, and other online materials improves visibility in local search results, attracting more local customers to my dealership.

Additionally, I ensure that my Google Business Profile is fully optimized with accurate and consistent business information, including address, phone number, and hours of operation. Consistency across local directories and my website boosts local search rankings and builds trust with potential customers.

Vehicle-Specific Keywords: Targeting Buyers’ Needs

When buyers are in the market for a new or used vehicle, they often have specific makes, models, and features in mind. Using vehicle-specific keywords helps my dealership’s website appear in search results for these targeted queries, increasing the chances of attracting ready-to-buy customers.

Brand-Specific Keywords

Brand-specific keywords are highly effective for targeting buyers interested in a particular car brand. Here are some strategies and examples for optimizing these keywords:

• Make and Model Keywords: Focus on keywords that include the specific make and model of the vehicles I sell, such as “Ford Mustang,” “Toyota Camry,” or “Honda Civic.” This attracts buyers searching for those exact models.
• Year-Specific Keywords: Including the vehicle’s year in keywords can be beneficial, like “2023 Ford Mustang” or “2022 Toyota Camry,” targeting buyers looking for newer models.
• Trim and Feature Keywords: Targeting specific trim levels or features narrows down the audience further. Keywords like “Ford Mustang GT” or “Toyota Camry Hybrid” attract buyers with specific preferences.

Examples of brand-specific keywords I use include:

• [Make] dealership in [City]: Helps rank for searches specific to a brand in my area, such as “Ford dealership in Atlanta” or “Toyota dealership in Las Vegas.”
• [Make] [Model] for sale in [City]: Targets buyers looking to purchase a specific model in my area, like “Ford Mustang for sale in Denver” or “Honda Civic for sale in Phoenix.”
• [Make] certified pre-owned in [City]: Ideal for dealerships offering certified pre-owned vehicles, such as “Ford certified pre-owned in Houston” or “Toyota certified pre-owned in Dallas.”

By incorporating these vehicle-specific keywords into my website content, meta tags, and other online materials, I can better align my SEO strategy with the specific needs and preferences of potential buyers, increasing the chances of converting them into customers.

Service and Maintenance Keywords

Besides attracting buyers for new or used vehicles, optimizing my website for service and maintenance-related keywords is beneficial. These keywords target car owners needing routine maintenance, repairs, or other vehicle services, potentially turning them into repeat customers.

Here are some key service and maintenance keywords to consider:

• General Maintenance Keywords: Target car owners looking for routine upkeep. Examples include:
  • Oil change: Variations like “oil change near me” or “quick oil change.”
  • Tire rotation: Keywords like “tire rotation near me” or “tire rotation services.”
  • Wheel alignment: Terms such as “wheel alignment near me” or “car wheel alignment.”
• Repair Keywords: Attract customers with specific repair needs. Examples include:
  • Brake repair: Keywords like “brake repair near me” or “car brake repair.”
  • Transmission repair: Terms such as “transmission repair near me” or “car transmission repair.”
  • Battery replacement: Keywords like “car battery replacement near me” or “battery replacement services.”
• Diagnostics and Inspections: Target customers seeking diagnostic services or inspections. Examples include:
  • Check engine light: Keywords like “check engine light diagnosis” or “why is my check engine light on?”
  • Emissions testing: Terms such as “emissions testing near me” or “state inspection.”
• Specialty Services: Help stand out by targeting specialty services. Examples include:
  • Hybrid repair: Keywords like “hybrid car repair near me” or “hybrid vehicle maintenance.”
  • Mobile repair services: Terms such as “mobile auto repair” or “emergency mobile mechanic.”

Incorporating these service and maintenance keywords into my website content, meta tags, and other online materials allows me to attract a broader audience and position my dealership as a comprehensive automotive service provider. This not only drives traffic but also builds trust and loyalty with my customers.

Special Feature Keywords: Highlighting Unique Offers

To stand out in a competitive market, highlighting unique offers and special features through targeted SEO keywords is essential. These keywords attract buyers looking for specific deals, promotions, or services that set my dealership apart from others.

Here are some special feature keywords to capture potential customers’ attention:

• Financing and Incentives: Keywords like “0% APR financing,” “cash back offers,” or “low-interest car loans” attract budget-conscious buyers, especially during promotional periods or special events like summer clearance sales or Black Friday car deals.
• Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles: Highlighting certified pre-owned cars can be a major draw. Use keywords such as “certified pre-owned cars near me” or “certified pre-owned [Make] [Model]” to attract buyers seeking assurance in certified vehicles.
• Special Promotions and Events: Seasonal and holiday-specific keywords drive timely traffic. For example, “summer car sales,” “Black Friday car deals,” or “end-of-year clearance” capitalize on peak buying periods.
• Advanced Features and Technologies: Target buyers interested in specific vehicle features. Keywords like “[Brand] with advanced safety features,” “[Model] with Apple CarPlay,” or “high-performance [Make] [Model]” attract buyers looking for particular technologies or performance attributes.
• Trade-In and Exchange Programs: Keywords such as “automotive trade-ins” or “car trade-in programs near me” attract customers looking to trade in their current vehicle for a new one.
• Test Drive and Appointment Keywords: Encouraging potential buyers to schedule test drives is a powerful conversion tactic. Use keywords like “test drive appointments near me” or “schedule a test drive [Make] [Model]” to facilitate this process.

By incorporating these special feature keywords into my website content, blog posts, and metadata, I can highlight the unique value propositions of my dealership and attract more qualified leads. This approach not only drives traffic but also helps convert visitors into customers by addressing their specific needs and preferences.

Conclusion

Implementing a robust SEO strategy is essential for car dealerships to attract and retain customers in today’s digital landscape. Key points to remember include conducting thorough keyword research to target both general and local searches, optimizing your website for on-page SEO with relevant keywords, meta tags, and fast-loading pages, and building high-quality backlinks to enhance your site’s authority.

Local SEO is vital, so ensure your website and Google Business Profile are optimized for local searches. Additionally, highlight special features and services, such as certified pre-owned vehicles and maintenance services, to attract specific buyer intents.

By following these best practices, you can significantly improve your online visibility, drive more traffic to your website, and ultimately increase sales. Don’t overlook the importance of mobile-friendly design, website speed, and user-friendly content. Take action today to enhance your dealership’s online presence and stay ahead of the competition.