Billboards for Auto Dealers and Service Shops: Drive Sales and Service Traffic

The U.S. automotive industry generates over $1 trillion in retail sales annually (BEA), but competition is brutal. Dealers fight for buyers, repair shops compete with national chains, and car washes struggle for visibility.

Billboards are the one channel that reaches customers in their cars, on the road, already thinking about automotive decisions. If your business isn’t advertising with billboards, your competitors are — and they’re taking your customers.

Why Billboards Work for Automotive Businesses

• Automotive is a top billboard category
Auto dealers and service providers are consistently among the Top 10 billboard-spending industries in the U.S. (OAAA Facts & Figures 2024).
• Cost per thousand views (CPM) is unbeatable
Billboard advertising averages $7–$20 CPM, comparable to Facebook and Google but with guaranteed roadside visibility. (TastyAd CPM Comparison)
• High recall, real results
3 in 4 adults take an action after seeing an OOH ad, from visiting a dealership to calling a repair shop. (OAAA/Morning Consult)
• Food and fashion may be impulse buys — but cars and car care are big-ticket. One sale or a few dozen repair jobs can cover the entire campaign.

Market Threats and Challenges

• Digital ad inflation
Google Ads CPC for automotive searches (“auto repair near me,” “car dealership near me”) often costs $5–$10 per click. (Wordstream Auto Industry Benchmarks) You pay even if the click doesn’t convert.
• National brands dominate
Firestone, Meineke, and big dealership groups pour millions into ads. Without visibility, local shops and independents get overlooked.
• Thin margins
Dealerships face shrinking margins on car sales; repair shops need volume. Every wasted ad dollar hurts more.
• Customer loyalty is weak
More than half of buyers will switch dealerships for a better offer. (Cox Automotive 2024 Study) Without brand awareness, you lose them before they ever walk in.

Cost Comparison: Google Ads CPC vs Billboard CPM

Channel Typical Cost What You Get
Google Ads (Automotive Keywords) $5–$10 per click You pay every time someone clicks, whether they buy or not. High competition means costs keep rising.
Billboards (OOH / DOOH) $7–$20 per 1,000 views Thousands of guaranteed local impressions. High recall, visible 24/7, with no wasted clicks.

👉 In plain terms: the cost of two clicks on Google equals 1,000 guaranteed billboard views.

How Billboards Help Automotive Businesses Win

• Dealerships: Promote financing, weekend sales, or new models to dominate your market.
• Repair shops: Use directional boards to capture urgent demand — “Brakes Repaired – Exit 10.”
• Car washes: Simple price-driven offers like “$5 Wash – Exit 14” deliver immediate ROI.
• Tire shops: Seasonal ads — “Snow Tires Installed Today” — bring in predictable business.

Example Campaigns

Campaign Type Best Format Goal Example Billboard Message
Dealership Sales Event Static 12 weeks Increase foot traffic “0% APR – Drive Today at [Dealer Name]”
Auto Repair Shop 4-week DOOH Capture urgent demand “Need Brakes? Exit 10 – Open Late”
Car Wash 2-week DOOH burst Boost service volume “$5 Wash – Open Now”
Tire Shop Static 8 weeks Seasonal awareness “Winter Tires – Installed Today”

What It Costs

• Static billboards: $500–$1,500 per month in regional markets. (Dash Two)
• Digital billboards: Flexible bursts starting from a few dollars per play.
• ROI: One financed car sale, a handful of brake jobs, or 100 extra car washes can pay for the entire campaign.

Why Now Is the Time

• Automotive sales exceed $1 trillion annually — the customers are out there. (BEA)
• OOH ad spend hit $9.13B in 2024, with digital OOH growing 7.5% year-over-year. (OAAA Facts & Figures 2024)
• Digital ad costs keep rising, squeezing margins further. If you wait, you’ll spend more for less.