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AutoTrader.ca — DealerRefresh Vendor Library
AutoTrader.ca is Canada's largest online automotive marketplace, operated by TRADER Corporation, offering dealerships inventory listing services, digital…
AutoTrader.ca
part of TRADER Corporation
Limited discussion
23 DealerRefresh discussions
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About suggest a correction →
AutoTrader.ca is Canada's largest online automotive marketplace, operated by TRADER Corporation, offering dealerships inventory listing services, digital advertising solutions, and lead generation tools that connect over 5,000 dealer partners with millions of qualified car shoppers monthly. The platform provides dealers with best-of-breed advertising packages, market data insights, and AI-driven vehicle recommendation features such as AutoMatch. It sits within TRADER Corporation's broader suite of dealer products alongside AutoSync (dealer/OEM software) and Dealertrack (automotive finance solutions).
What you do with it
list and merchandise their vehicles on Canada's largest automotive marketplace, so they can generate more qualified leads and VDP views from in-market buyers
When a Canadian dealer needs to put their inventory in front of millions of active car shoppers online
leverage bundled digital advertising and website solutions through a single vendor relationship, so they can reduce vendor complexity while maintaining a connected online presence
When a dealer wants to maximize listing performance without building their own digital marketing infrastructure
access market data and partner integrations (e.g., vAuto) through the AutoTrader.ca ecosystem, so they can make faster, more confident inventory and pricing decisions
When a dealer needs to understand how their inventory is priced and positioned relative to the local market
Community evidence → Stable
The DealerRefresh community acknowledges AutoTrader.ca as the dominant Canadian marketplace, with at least one dealer reporting a 25% lift in leads after increasing photo counts and another citing strong referral traffic metrics (1,542 visits, 14% bounce rate). However, sentiment is notably mixed-to-negative on execution: photo quality bundled in classifieds packages is called out as poor, pricing is flagged as exceeding $1,000/week with restrictive exclusivity contracts, and technology offerings are described as outdated. Bundled products like Dealer.com websites and iBeacon integrations generate skepticism, with one voice dismissing the proximity marketing pitch as likely to alienate customers rather than convert them.
Lead and traffic volume from marketplace listings4 mentions
Photo quantity and quality impact on VDP performance3 mentions
High pricing and restrictive contracts2 mentions
Bundled vendor ecosystem (Dealer.com, vAuto, Dealertrack)6 mentions
Outdated or unproven technology features (iBeacon, app-based tools)3 mentions
Distinction from AutoTrader.com (US) causing market confusion2 mentions
23 mentions · 6 negative · Scored from 20+ years of candid DealerRefresh discussion. Scores shift as new conversations happen.
NEGATIVE
"I've seen 3 companies, including AutoTrader.ca, pitching applications that integrate with iBeacon."
Is the Secret Sauce Spoiled? →
NEGATIVE
"This is what AutoTrader.ca is trying to leverage as their app is already installed on many shopper's phones. Without an app it doesn't do anything. Without permission from the user, the app can't do anything. In my opinion it's a bunch of horse poop and will piss customers off more than anything"
Engaging the mobile car shopper with GEO-Targeting →
NEGATIVE
"significant frustration among Canadian dealers with AutoTrader.ca's outdated technology offerings, high pricing (over $1,000/week), and restrictive exclusivity contracts"
AutoTrader.ca looking to sell - Deal Pending? →
NEGATIVE
"Up in Canada the top "vendor" for this is AutoTrader.ca (not the .com company). They offer it as part of the classifieds package, but the photos are generally poor."
Poll: Let's Talk Inventory Photos →
NEGATIVE
"if we start now then all our 2 year old AutoTrader.ca issues will be all jealous"
Reynolds Capcha →
NEUTRAL
"When we get an elead from anywhere (Our website, Autotrader.ca, Kijiji.ca etc)"
Internet Lead Follow-up →
NEUTRAL
"The comments are searched by the "keyword" box on AutoTrader.ca so better comments made a difference of over 40% more VDP views"
Is there really a science behind car pricing? →
NEUTRAL
"AutoTrader.ca, the Canadian on-line auto site that is not connected to AutoTrader.com"
AutoTrader.com's Vehicle Purchase Program →
NEUTRAL
"Trader and Dealer.com have signed a long-term, exclusive commercial agreement making Dealer.com's web solutions available to Trader's extensive customer base in Canada served under its AutoTrader™ brand."
Trader buys 20 per cent equity interest in Dealer.com →
NEUTRAL
"Canada's AutoTRADER.ca Corporation Partners with vAuto"
Canada’s AutoTRADER.ca Corporation Partners with vAuto →
NEUTRAL
"Being in Canada we are using Autotrader.ca which is a fair bit different compared to Autotrader.com. For my dealership (independent, used), with an average of 230 used vehicles in stock, last month (January 2013) Autotrader.ca referred the following (info from my Google Analytics) 1542 Visits, 63% New Visits, Avg Time 6:10, Bounce Rate 14%"
See You Later Autotrader! →
NEUTRAL
"I'm using Carchat24 for our main site through Autotrader.ca/dealer.com"
ActivEngage vs ContactAtOnce vs CarChat24? →
NEUTRAL
"When our stores went from 12 images to 25 images on AutoTrader.ca the leads went up at least 25%"
9 pics per vehicle?? →
NEUTRAL
"With AutoTrader.ca/Trader owning 20% of Dealer, it might be a struggle."
Dealer.com & AutoTrader →
NEUTRAL
"AutoTrader.ca resells Dealer.com websites in Canada and there's some interesting history if you know who owns all the companies involved."
Dealertrack agrees to buy Dealer.com? YES →
NEUTRAL
"We have 3 or more dealer to dealer auction sites and even AutoTrader.ca tried to get into this game."
Think Netflix, but for the car business... →
NEUTRAL
"AutoTrader.ca Client 1 - Average 20 Photos / Vehicle + Generated Photo Slideshow Video - Toyota Used: 2:33 New: 1:47 (6 photos / vehicle) Certified Used: 2:27 [B]AutoTrader.ca Client 2[/B] - Average 20 Photos / Vehicle + Generated Photo Slideshow Video - Lexus Used: 1:56 New: 1:43 (no photos) Certified Used: 1:59"
VDP: What's the average length of shopper's visit? →
NEUTRAL
"AutoTrader.ca saw this and launched their own competitor built into their product offering."
Yo Canada - how is eBlock.ca? →
NEUTRAL
"Starts threads on AutoTrader.ca, CarGurus, Google Vehicle Listing Ads, and Canadian market trends."
DealerRefresh Roadmap - taking requests →
NEUTRAL
"mobile site: iphone.autodome.ca (Autotrader.ca/Dealer.com)"
The Rise of Mobile In Automotive Shopping →
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