Did you know that over 90% of car buyers read online reviews when car shopping?
After all, car reviews play a crucial role in today’s automotive industry, as they bridge the gap between businesses and customers by offering authentic insights.
Whether it’s a detailed review of a vehicle’s performance or a quick testimonial about a dealership’s service, these reviews shape perceptions.
For automotive businesses, reviews are more than just customer feedback—they’re a powerful tool to build trust, improve your SEO metrics, and boost your sales.
They influence buyers at every stage of the consumer decision-making process, from research to purchase.
But how can your business effectively leverage car reviews to stand out?
So, I’ll you understand why car reviews matter, review their benefits, and show you a few of the best strategies for using them to drive success.
5 key benefits of car reviews for automotive businesses
Car reviews do more than just share customer opinions—they directly impact the success of automotive businesses as they come with several important benefits:
- Boost trust and credibility – customers trust authentic reviews from other buyers more than traditional advertisements;
- Improve local SEO rankings – search engines prioritize businesses with frequent, positive reviews, improving your local SEO discoverability;
- Drive conversions – potential buyers are more likely to commit after reading glowing reviews about your vehicles or services;
- Highlight transparency – actively engaging with reviews demonstrates your business’s openness and commitment to customer satisfaction;
- Provide actionable insights – reviews reveal valuable feedback to help you improve your products, services, and overall customer experience.
With these car reviews benefits in mind, it’s clear that online feedback is a valuable tool for growth in the automotive industry, and you should rely on it at all times.
After all, your online reputation management strategy relies on the opinions shared by your buyers, and you must collect them always!
How to leverage car reviews with EmbedSocial?
One of the best methods to make the most out of your online car reviews is to utilize the best reviews management software out there for your needs.
That way, you can collect all your online reviews (regardless of where they are added), moderate them, and showcase them in a captivating car review widget.
EmbedSocial allows you to do that and more, as it comes equipped with everything you need to make the most out of the feedback you receive online.
The process to do that is quite simple, and here are a few simple steps on how you can complete it by getting the reviews off your Google business location:
Step 1: Sign up for EmbedSocial
First things first, you have to create your EmbedSocial account and log in:
Step 2: Connect your Google account
Then, you have to navigate to ‘Sources’ → ‘Add Source’ → ‘Google’:
Step 3: Choose your Google location(s)
After you connect your GBP account, you’ll have to choose the locations you want to include in our embeddable Google review widget:
Step 4: Select and customize your widget template
Now, you have to choose the template you want to use, and then further customize the widget look, colors, and elements it includes:
Step 5: Copy and paste the widget code on your website
Once you are done making the widget look like you want, you only have to tap ‘Copy code’ found in the ‘Embed’ section of the widget editor:
The last thing to do is open your website editor, add a customizable HTML element,w and paste the code. Once you save and refresh the page, the widget will be live!
That’s all you had to do! Now you have the latest Google reviews embedded on your website, and your widget will update itself as you start getting new feedback!
Benefits of using tools like EmbedSocial for automotive reviews
Are you wondering what else you might be getting if you sign up with EmbedSocial? Here’s a brief overview of the benefits of our review management platform:
- Mobile-responsive and fully customizable review widgets.
- Advanced AI-powered review management tools.
- Official API integrations with all major social media platforms.
- Features to collect, moderate, display, and respond to reviews.
- Aggregated star ratings for your products in Google’s search results.
- Over 60 different review widget templates to start from.
- Option to schedule and publish your Google posts.
You get the above and more for a low monthly fee. On top of that, our platform works great with almost every popular CMS and web builder out there!
Case study: EmbedSocial helps dealerships increase their sales via their online reviews!
Here’s one real-life example of how Focus Motor Store successfully utilizes EmbedSocial to get a slew of benefits, including relevance from the embedded UGC, increased trust, up-to-date fresh content, and best of all: the social proof needed to drive further sales:
Top car review websites every business should know
For automotive businesses, knowing where customers leave reviews can make all the difference. Here are the top car review websites you should leverage:
Google Reviews: For general customer feedback
Google Reviews is a go-to platform for every type of local business, including car dealerships, because of its high visibility on search engines. At the end of the day, Google plays a critical role in local SEO and helps customers make informed decisions:
Key advantages:
- Boosts local search rankings – reviews directly influence your Google Business Profile visibility;
- Easily accessible – customers can leave reviews with just a Google account;
- Broad reach – used by millions worldwide, making it a key source of feedback;
- Trusted by consumers – Google is one of the most credible review platforms.
By encouraging customers to leave reviews on Google, your dealership will definitely improve its reputation and attract more local buyers. However, in addition to regular car reviews, you get all the tools you need to manage your local SEO via Google.
Edmunds: A trusted platform for car enthusiasts
Edmunds is a well-established resource for in-depth car reviews and comparisons. It’s widely trusted by car enthusiasts for its expert reviews and vehicle pricing insights:
Key advantages:
- Expert-driven reviews – provide professional opinions on cars;
- Detailed specifications – offers comprehensive vehicle data for informed decisions;
- Helpful tools – include car comparison features and calculators for financing;
- Wide audience – frequented by serious car buyers in the U.S.
Ultimately, Edmunds is an excellent platform for showcasing online reviews and helping potential customers understand the value of your inventory.
Kelley Blue Book: Known for detailed automotive reviews
Kelley Blue Book (KBB) is synonymous with trusted car pricing and valuation. It’s a vital tool for buyers and sellers used every year in the automotive market:
Key advantages:
- Accurate pricing – provides market-based car valuations;
- Trusted reputation – widely recognized as a standard in the industry;
- Rich content – features expert reviews and consumer opinions;
- Ease of use – user-friendly website for seamless navigation.
Using Kelley Blue Book as a review platform allows your business to highlight fair pricing and customer satisfaction, thus boosting your credibility.
CarGurus: Focused on car-buying experiences
CarGurus is a popular platform that helps buyers compare local listings and find the best car deals on used and new cars. Its emphasis on transparency makes it a favorite among car shoppers.
Key advantages:
- Price comparisons – shows listings ranked by best deals of both gas and EV vehicles;
- Customer reviews – buyers leave feedback on dealerships and cars;
- Transparency tools – features like price history and market analysis;
- Global reach – while U.S.-focused, it also operates in other regions.
CarGurus is a valuable platform for showcasing customer experiences, helping your car business build trust and attract informed buyers looking for a good deal.
Best practices for managing online reviews in the automotive industry
Since effectively managing your online reviews is essential for your automotive business, you should look into tools like EmbedSocial, as they streamline the entire process and allow you to embed your Google and other reviews.
Then, you only have to follow a few sound practices:
- Automate your review collection – send automated review requests to customers after their visit, ensuring you gather feedback consistently and efficiently;
- Monitor and respond to all reviews – EmbedSocial allows you to track and manage reviews across multiple platforms from a single dashboard;
- Use review widgets to display testimonials on your website – you should embed your reviews on all your sites using customizable and updateable widgets;
- Encourage more reviews on platforms that matter – you should get incentivized reviews on all popular platforms, including Google, Edmunds, and CarGurus;
- Analyze review trends for actionable insights – EmbedSocial lets you track patterns in customer feedback, helping you identify areas for improvement.
As you can see, by leveraging EmbedSocial’s features, your business can simplify review management and create a positive online presence that drives results.
Conclusion: Car reviews drive trust and sales!
Why do reviews matter for your car dealership, then?
They are a cornerstone of success for the automotive industry, regardless of the type and size of dealership you are managing, as they build trust and offer insights.
Plus, reviews offer many SEO benefits, which will help you be discovered in search engines and, ultimately, boost your bottom line.
By leveraging tools like EmbedSocial to collect reviews, you streamline your review management, improve your customer trust, and drive meaningful business results.
So, now is the perfect time to prioritize reviews and ensure your dealership is making the most of them to stand out in a competitive market!
Ready to see how EmbedSocial can transform your review strategy? Try EmbedSocial for free or book a demo to learn more!
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FAQs about car reviews
Do dealerships care about reviews?
Yes, dealerships care deeply about reviews because they influence customer trust and buying decisions. Positive reviews can drive more foot traffic to their business while addressing negative ones helps improve reputation and customer experience.
Which car review site is most reliable?
Sites like Edmunds, Kelley Blue Book, and CarGurus are highly regarded for their in-depth and unbiased reviews. Each provides comprehensive insights into vehicle performance, pricing, and customer satisfaction, making them reliable resources for car buyers.
What do you talk about in a car review?
In a car review, focus on key aspects like performance, comfort, safety features, fuel efficiency, and value for money. Personal experiences, pros and cons, and comparisons to similar models also provide helpful insights for potential buyers.
