AUTOTRADER INFLUENCES 55% OF SALES. MAKE SURE YOU’RE PART OF IT.
Autotrader influenced 55% of all auto sales in 2024 — and your competitors are closing those deals. One listing connects you to in-market shoppers across Autotrader, Kelley Blue Book, and Car and Driver. We deliver buyers who actually close — at a 69% higher rate than any other third-party provider. Here’s what you’re missing.
Shopping behavior has changed — and Autotrader is at the center of it
Buyers are spending more time online, engaging with more touchpoints, and making decisions long before they walk through your door. Autotrader sits right in the middle of that journey — and has the scale to prove it.
Not all leads are created equal
Other listing sites focus on volume. Autotrader focuses on buyers who are actually ready to purchase — and the results speak for themselves.
Higher close rate than the nearest third-party provider
Digital touchpoints the average buyer engages with
Identify the quality touchpoints that really drive sales
At Autotrader, we’ll help you drive and identify the quality touchpoints that you should be measuring to see where real shopper engagements and leads come from. Instead of only tracking the last click or last lead form, with multi-touch attribution you map meaningful shopper interaction — from first browse to final purchase — so you know exactly which channels and touchpoints are earning their place in your budget.
Without Autotrader, you’re missing:
Access to buyers who don’t submit leads but still purchase
55% of the engaged, in-market buyers in your area shopping now on Autotrader
A close rate advantage — 69% higher close rate than the nearest third-party provider
Clairvoy 2024 sales data: Clairvoy is a marketing technology firm in the automotive industry. They collected and analyzed anonymous buyer data from 1,181,705 sales in 2024.
Cox Automotive Car Buyer Journey Study: In 2024, Cox Automotive surveyed roughly 2,300 people who purchased or leased a vehicle between September 2023 and August 2024 and used the internet as part of their buying experience.
Based on average close rates across Autotrader and Kelley Blue Book compared to sales across other third-party listing sites, VINSolutions, February – July 2025
FAQs
Listing on Autotrader helps your dealership reach in-market shoppers while they are researching, comparing and deciding where to buy. It gives your inventory more opportunities to be discovered beyond your own website or CRM lead sources.
Key benefits:
- More exposure to active car shoppers
- Inventory visibility across Autotrader, Kelley Blue Book and Car and Driver
- Access to shoppers who may not submit a lead before they buy
Proof point: Autotrader influenced 55% of sales under multi-touch attribution, compared to 21% under last-touch attribution.
Key takeaway: Autotrader helps create buyer influence that lead-only reporting may not capture.
Autotrader is built to help dealers reach shoppers earlier in the buying journey and understand sales influence beyond lead volume. The value is not just more leads; it is better visibility into how shoppers discover and engage with your inventory.
Key differences:
- Focus on buyer quality and sales influence
- Inventory exposure across multiple trusted shopping destinations
- Measurement that helps show impact beyond the final lead form
Proof point: Buyers from one Autotrader listing close at a 69% higher rate than any other third-party provider.
Key takeaway: Autotrader helps dealers compete for shoppers who are actively researching and ready to take the next step.
Yes, when you measure value beyond cost per lead. Autotrader can help influence shoppers throughout the buying journey, including shoppers who never submit a form but still purchase from a dealership.
Value drivers:
- Sales influence beyond lead volume
- Broader inventory exposure
- Higher-intent shopper engagement
Proof point: In 2024, 1 in 3 car sales happened without a lead conversion, which means many sales are missed when dealers use lead counts alone.
Key takeaway: Autotrader is most valuable when you measure total sales influence, not just the number of leads.
Autotrader helps dealers reach shoppers who are actively researching vehicles and comparing options. That shopper quality can lead to stronger sales opportunities than lead volume alone suggests.
Proof point: Autotrader buyers close at a 69% higher rate than any other third-party provider.
Implication: A higher close rate points to stronger buyer quality, not just more activity.
Autotrader can play a role across many points in the buyer journey, from early research to inventory comparison and website visits.
Proof point: Autotrader influenced 55% of sales under multi-touch attribution, compared to 21% under last-touch attribution.
Key takeaway: Autotrader’s impact is often larger when you measure the full path to purchase.
Autotrader can play a role across many points in the buyer journey, from early research to inventory comparison and website visits.
Proof point: Autotrader influenced 55% of sales under multi-touch attribution, compared to 21% under last-touch attribution.
Key takeaway: Autotrader’s impact is often larger when you measure the full path to purchase.
One listing gives your inventory exposure across multiple Cox Automotive shopping destinations.
Your inventory appears on:
- Autotrader
- Kelley Blue Book (KBB)
- Car and Driver
All from a single listing.
Key takeaway: Your inventory can reach shoppers across multiple trusted shopping environments from a single listing.
Millions of shoppers use Autotrader as part of their vehicle research. Many buyers engage with marketplaces before they ever submit a lead or visit a dealership website.
Proof point: 26+ million unique monthly visitors across Autotrader and Kelley Blue Book.
Implication: Autotrader helps dealers get in front of shoppers while they are still researching and comparing options.
Getting started is a straightforward sales consultation and setup process. Your Autotrader representative can help determine the right package and next steps for your dealership.
Steps:
- Request a consultation
- Choose the right package
- Sync inventory
- Launch listings
Key takeaway: Your rep can walk you through the setup and help align your listing strategy to your dealership goals.
You may miss shoppers who begin their research outside of your dealership website. Many buyers use marketplaces to discover inventory, compare vehicles and decide which dealers to contact or visit.
They miss:
- Early discovery opportunities
- High-intent shoppers comparing vehicles
- Sales influence that may not show up as a CRM lead
Proof point: 48% of buyers start on a marketplace, compared to 14% on a dealer site.
Result: Without marketplace visibility, your dealership may be left out of key moments in the shopping journey.
See what you’re missing.
Talk to an Autotrader rep to see the opportunity for your dealership.
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