10 Unique Automotive SEO Tips for Car & Vehicle Websites

  • 7 min read
  • January 17, 2025
10 Automotive SEO Tips for Car & Vehicle Websites

While basic search engine optimisation tips like optimising meta descriptions and adding alt text to images are useful, they won’t always give you the edge. To help your car dealership, repair shop, or vehicle-focused website rise above the competition, the team at KIJO has compiled some less conventional automotive SEO strategies.

Related Read: 5 Examples of the Best Car Websites

What is SEO?

An Olympian Motors' vehicle sat on a coastal road, with the dramatic sea as a backdrop. KIJO designed this business' website. Strong, high quality images like this contribute to good automotive SEO.

SEO, or Search Engine Optimisation, is the process of improving a website’s visibility on search engine results pages (SERPs) to attract more organic (non-paid) traffic. It involves optimising various aspects of your website so that search engines like Google, Bing, and others can better understand its content and rank it higher for relevant searches.

Key Components of SEO

SEO includes on-page optimisation, off-page, technical and local:

On-Page SEO

  • Content Optimisation: Ensuring your website’s content is valuable, relevant, and includes targeted keywords naturally.
  • Meta Tags: Crafting compelling title tags and meta descriptions that help search engines and users understand your page.
  • Headings and Structure: Using proper formatting (H1, H2, etc.) to make content easy to read and accessible.
  • URL Structure: Keeping URLs short, descriptive, and keyword-rich.

Off-Page SEO

  • Backlinks: Earning links from other reputable websites, signalling trust and authority to search engines.
  • Social Signals: Building a strong presence on social media platforms to drive traffic and engagement.
  • Brand Mentions: Being cited or mentioned online, even without direct links, as a sign of authority.

Technical SEO

  • Site Speed: Ensuring your website loads quickly to improve user experience and ranking.
  • Mobile-Friendliness: Making sure your website is optimised for mobile devices, as search engines prioritise mobile-first indexing.
  • Indexing and Crawling: Structuring your website so search engines can efficiently find and index your pages.
  • Secure Connections: Using HTTPS to protect user data and boost trustworthiness.

Local SEO

  • Focused on optimising your website for local searches, such as “car dealerships near me.” This includes managing your Google My Business listing, gathering customer reviews, and targeting location-based keywords.

SEO is crucial because it drives traffic to your website, builds credibility and fosters brand trust, and supports your business’s long term growth. But, what other unique automotive SEO strategies can you implement to rev your website even more?

7 Out of the Ordinary Automotive SEO Tips for Your Car or Vehicle Business

The Olympian Motors website, designed by KIJO. Various pages are displayed over mobile tablet screens. A well-designed website like this improves your automotive SEO.

Here are 7 unconventional automotive SEO tips compiled by the KIJO team.

1. Leverage Long-Tail Keywords That Reflect Buying Intent

While generic keywords like “used cars” or “car repairs” may drive traffic, they’re highly competitive and often too broad to convert effectively. Instead, target long-tail keywords like:

  • “2025 hybrid SUVs under £30,000”
  • “best car repair shop near Bristol for MOT tests”
  • “eco-friendly electric vehicles with government grants UK”

These phrases reflect specific buyer intent and cater to audiences ready to take action. Use tools like Google’s People Also Ask section or AnswerThePublic to uncover niche questions potential customers are asking.

2. Create Location-Specific Content Hubs

The Best Scene Routes in the UK - an automotive SEO targeted article published by Land Rover

For car dealerships and garages, local SEO is essential. Go beyond the typical “car dealers near me” optimisation by creating location-specific content hubs. Examples include:

  • “Top 5 Scenic Drives in Yorkshire with Your New SUV”
  • “Why Birmingham Drivers Choose Hybrid Cars: A Local Perspective”
  • “Winter Tyre Maintenance Tips for Manchester Roads”

This hyper-local content not only boosts SEO rankings but also helps establish your authority in the local automotive market.

3. Optimise for Voice Search Queries

With the rise of voice assistants like Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant, voice search is shaping how users find information. People often phrase voice searches conversationally, so optimise for natural language queries like:

  • “What’s the best electric car for families in the UK?”
  • “Where can I book a same-day car service in London?”

Structure your content to answer these questions clearly, with direct and concise answers, and ensure your website loads quickly to accommodate voice search demands.

4. Add Rich Media for Interactive User Experiences

The creamy brown, sleek interior of an Olympian Motors car from a website KIJO built.

Incorporate visually engaging, interactive elements that go beyond basic images and videos. Consider:

  • 360° virtual car tours: Let customers explore interiors and exteriors of vehicles online.
  • Customised car configurators: Allow users to “build” their dream car with features like paint colours, trims, and accessories.
  • Interactive fuel cost calculators: Help potential buyers estimate savings with hybrid or electric models.

Rich media not only improves engagement metrics like time-on-page but can also earn backlinks from industry websites, boosting your automotive SEO.

5. Implement Schema Markup Specific to Automotive Websites

Schema markup can help search engines better understand your content, improving visibility in search results. Use specialised schemas like:

  • Vehicle Schema: Highlight key car details such as make, model, year, fuel type, and price.
  • Service Schema: Specify automotive services like MOT testing, tyre replacements, or car washes.
  • Review Schema: Showcase customer reviews directly in search results to build trust.

This added context can lead to rich snippets, which often improve click-through rates significantly.

6. Host and Optimise Automotive Webinars or Tutorials

A Siemens' webinar on Intelligent Substations for Elective Vehicle Charging Infrastructure

Educational content is a powerful way to engage users and boost your website’s authority. Consider hosting webinars or creating tutorials on topics such as:

  • “Understanding Electric Vehicle Charging for Beginners”
  • “How to Choose the Right Car Insurance in the UK”
  • “DIY Car Maintenance Tips for Extending Vehicle Life”

Record these sessions and transcribe them into blog posts for added automotive SEO value. Use targeted keywords and provide actionable insights to keep users engaged.

7. Monitor Seasonal Trends and Create Timely Content

Automotive needs often vary by season. Capitalise on seasonal trends with content tailored to specific times of the year, such as:

  • “Top 10 Winter Tyres for Icy UK Roads”
  • “How to Prepare Your Car for Summer Road Trips”
  • “Best EV Charging Solutions for Cold Weather”

Pair these articles with keyword research tools to identify emerging seasonal searches and stay ahead of competitors.

8. Optimise Dealership Listings Across Aggregators

High-quality images were used for each car listing on the Olympian Motors website designed by KIJO. This is an example displayed on a mobile tablet.

If you’re a car dealership, ensure your business is listed and optimised on automotive aggregators like AutoTrader and Motors.co.uk. Tips for optimisation include:

  • Using high-quality images for each car listing.
  • Including detailed descriptions with relevant keywords.
  • Keeping prices, mileage, and specifications up to date.

These listings can drive traffic directly to your website and improve your overall domain authority when linked back.

9. Leverage Customer Reviews to Drive Local SEO

Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews on platforms like Google My Business, Trustpilot, or specific automotive review sites. Respond to reviews—positive or negative—to build trust and improve engagement. Additionally, embed these reviews on your website to create dynamic, trust-building content.

10. Target Car Enthusiasts with Community Pages

The presitigious Goodwood Estate in the UK's event calendar

Build an online hub for car enthusiasts with forums, event calendars, or blog posts on topics such as:

  • “Upcoming UK Car Shows and Meetups in 2025”
  • “Classic Car Restoration Tips for Beginners”
  • “Top 5 UK Driving Routes for Supercar Owners”

Engaging this niche audience not only improves brand awareness but can also lead to backlinks and shares from passionate users.

Drive Your Success with Out-of-the-Ordinary Automotive SEO

Automotive SEO is about more than just ticking boxes; it’s about creatively connecting with your audience in ways your competitors aren’t. By implementing these unique strategies — like location-specific content, interactive media, and voice search optimisation — you can enhance your visibility and engage users more effectively.

If you’re ready to turbocharge your website’s performance, our team of SEO specialists can help. Contact us today to get started.

Book a Complimentary Consultation with KIJO’s Head of Partnerships

Need expert SEO guidance on your automotive SEO, website design, or considering your next digital project? Book a complimentary, 30-minute consultation with our Head of Partnerships & Co-Founder, Kirk Thompson. Let’s bring the vision of your brand to life — book your free consultation via the link below:

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