What Cars.com subscription do I need?

Any Cars.com dealer package works—Basic, Enhanced, or Premium. Dealer Essential connects via their standard dealer feed system. You keep your existing subscription, we just automate the inventory management.

How often does inventory sync to Cars.com?

Inventory syncs continuously—typically within 5-15 minutes of any change. Add a car to Dealer Essential and it's on Cars.com almost instantly. Mark it sold and it disappears just as fast.

How do I know if my Cars.com spend is working?

Dealer Essential tracks every lead by source. You'll see exactly how many inquiries, test drives, and sales came from Cars.com specifically—so you can decide if the subscription is delivering ROI or if you should reallocate that budget.

Can I manage Cars.com leads in Dealer Essential?

Yes. All Cars.com leads flow directly into your unified inbox alongside leads from every other platform. Respond from one place, never miss a lead, and let AI handle after-hours follow-up automatically.

What if my Cars.com listings aren't getting views?

Low views usually mean stale inventory, poor photos, or uncompetitive pricing. Dealer Essential fixes all three: automatic updates keep listings fresh, AI photo editing creates professional images, and market-based pricing keeps you competitive.

Do I need to keep logging into Cars.com?

Nope. Once connected, Dealer Essential handles everything. Add inventory, update prices, remove sold cars—all from one dashboard. You might never need to log into the Cars.com dealer portal again.

How does this affect my Cars.com listing quality score?

Positively. Cars.com rewards complete, fresh listings with professional photos. Dealer Essential ensures your listings always meet their quality standards with complete vehicle info, multiple high-quality photos, and detailed descriptions.

Is there a contract or setup fee?

No contracts, no setup fees, no per-user fees. Pricing starts at $59/month based on your inventory size. If Dealer Essential helps you sell one extra car from Cars.com leads, it pays for itself for the entire year. Cancel anytime.

What if I'm not tech-savvy?

If you can send a text message, you can use Dealer Essential. We designed it for busy dealers, not IT departments. Plus, our onboarding team will set everything up for you and walk you through it personally.

Can I try it before committing to another monthly expense?

Absolutely. Schedule a demo and we'll show you exactly how it works with your specific inventory. Most dealers are up and running within 24 hours of signing up, and you can cancel anytime if it's not the right fit.

25M+ monthly shoppers visit Cars.com

Your cars
aren't on Cars.com

Cars.com buyers have done their research—they're ready to act. Slow response, outdated inventory, or mediocre photos? You lose to the dealer who got there first.

Floor plan cost: $0.00× every unlisted car

SYNCING

2024 Mercedes-Benz GL

$34,995

32 sites

+25 more

The problem

Sound familiar?

Monday, 8:47 AM

You need to update 15 listings on Cars.com—new photos, price adjustments, add that warranty info. That's 3 hours of portal work.

Wednesday, 11:42 PM

A Cars.com lead just came in asking about your Accord. Great timing—you're asleep. By 9am, they've already scheduled with your competitor.

Friday, End of Month

Your Cars.com rep calls. "Your response time is 4.2 hours. Top dealers respond in under 5 minutes. Want to stay in the top results?"

What if Cars.com was hands-off—and leads got instant responses?

The Solution

One upload. Cars.com + 30 marketplaces.

Dealer Essential syncs to Cars.com automatically. Perfect listings, instant lead response, measurable ROI.

2019 Mercedes GL

$34,995

2024 Nissan Kicks

$22,900

+27 more

dealeressential.net/inventory

Synced to

32 marketplaces

+27

$34,995

New

$18,500

Featured

$22,900

$15,750

Sale

Automated Cars.com feed

VIN decode populates every field. Photos, specs, features—all formatted perfectly for Cars.com.

Instant lead response

AI responds to Cars.com leads in under 30 seconds, 24/7. Your response time stats will be the best in your market.

Clear ROI tracking

See exactly how many leads, appointments, and sales came from your Cars.com spend.

"Our Cars.com response time went from 4 hours to 30 seconds. We're now #1 in our market for dealer responsiveness—and leads have doubled."
Maria Delgado
Sales Manager, Westside Motors • 42 cars/month
2x more leads