1. Introduction: Why Retargeting Matters
2. What Is Retargeting in Car Sales?
3. How to Bring Website Visitors Back w/ Retargeting Ads
4. How to Use Retargeting for Online Car Sales
5. An Expert’s Guide to Successful Retargeting
6. Remarketing & Retargeting Strategies That Can Boost Your Sales
7. Why Your Dealership Needs Remarketing Campaigns
8. 15 Best Retargeting Ads Campaign and Examples
9. Email Retargeting: What It Is and How It Works
10. Step-by-Step Retargeting Strategy for Car Dealerships
11. Final Thoughts: Turn Interest Into Action
12. FAQs

Introduction: Why Retargeting Matters

Imagine this: A potential buyer visits your car dealership website, browses a few models, and even clicks “Schedule a Test Drive”… but then disappears. We’ve all seen it happen.

So, how do you bring those website visitors back? That’s where retargeting strategies come in. These techniques help remind interested visitors about your cars even after they’ve left your site. Whether through display ads, social media, or email — retargeting is your dealership’s second chance to seal the deal.

What Is Retargeting in Car Sales?

Retargeting (also called remarketing) is a form of online advertising that targets users who have previously interacted with your website or app. Instead of starting from scratch, you focus on people already familiar with your brand.

Think of it as a digital follow-up. A friendly nudge.

How to Bring Website Visitors Back w/ Retargeting

So, how to bring website visitors back w/ retargeting ads?

Here’s a short story.

Mark, a 33-year-old car buyer, visited your site and viewed a few SUVs. Later that day, while reading the news online, he saw a display ad featuring the exact SUV he liked — with a limited-time discount.

Boom. That ad pulled Mark back in.

This is the power of retargeting ads: They use cookies to track visitors and show relevant ads across websites they later visit. Popular platforms like Google Ads and Facebook Ads make this super easy to set up.

How to Use Retargeting for Online Car Sales

To use retargeting for online car sales, you need to:

1. Segment Your Audience
   Separate users based on their actions—such as visiting a specific car model page or adding to the wishlist.
2. Design Targeted Ads
   Show them the exact vehicle they were interested in. Use urgency like “Limited Stock” or “Ends Tonight.”
3. Choose the Right Platform
   Platforms like Google Display Network or Meta Pixel help you display dynamic retargeting ads.

An Expert’s Guide to Successful Retargeting

Here’s an expert’s guide to successful retargeting:

• Keep Frequency Low: Don’t bombard users. 5–7 ads per user per week is a sweet spot.
• Use Compelling CTAs: Say “Book a Test Drive” or “Explore Financing Options.”
• Test and Tweak: A/B test your ad copies, creatives, and timings regularly.

Tip: Use tools like AdRoll or Criteo for advanced targeting.

Remarketing & Retargeting Strategies That Can Boost Your Sales

Let’s talk about remarketing & retargeting strategies that can boost your dealership’s success:

• Cart Abandonment Emails for users who started filling the lead form but didn’t finish.
• Video Retargeting on platforms like YouTube for brand recall.
• Dynamic Ads showing real-time availability and pricing of the cars they viewed.

These can boost engagement, build trust, and reduce the decision-making time.

Why Your Dealership Needs Remarketing Campaigns

You might ask, “Do I really need remarketing?”

Here’s why your dealership needs remarketing campaigns:

• 97% of users leave without converting. Retargeting gets them back.
• It’s cost-effective — you’re only targeting warm leads.
• Helps build brand familiarity. Seeing your ad multiple times increases recall.

Even luxury car buyers respond to consistent remarketing.

15 Best Retargeting Ads Campaign and Examples

Here are 15 best retargeting ads campaign and examples that can inspire you:

1. Toyota’s “Come Back and Test Drive” series.
2. Hyundai’s local dealership retargeting with Google Display.
3. Tesla’s showroom reminder email campaign.
4. Honda showing new financing deals to past visitors.
5. Ford’s carousel retargeting ads on Facebook.
6. BMW’s personalized retargeting using past viewed colors.
7. Nissan’s remarketing campaign post-auto show visit.
8. Kia using video retargeting to explain car features.
9. Audi’s VIN-specific retargeting.
10. Chevrolet showing insurance quotes alongside car ads.
11. Volkswagen’s geofenced retargeting for local offers.
12. Mazda combining SMS + retargeting for high-intent users.
13. Mercedes-Benz email retargeting with exclusive previews.
14. Subaru combining blog readers + retargeting ads.
15. Jeep running retargeting after mobile site visits.

Use these as templates and tweak them for your audience!

Email Retargeting: What It Is and How It Works

Email retargeting is one of the most effective (yet underused) tools. So, what is it and how does it work?

Let’s say Sarah signed up for your newsletter but didn’t book a test drive. You can now send her:

• A reminder email about her favorite car
• A limited-time discount
• A guide titled “Top 5 Reasons to Test Drive This Week”

Tools like Mailchimp or Klaviyo help set this up easily. Add eye-catching visuals and one-click test drive booking buttons.

Step-by-Step Retargeting Strategy for Car Dealerships

Step 1: Install a Pixel

Add a Facebook Pixel or Google Tag to your website to track visitors.

Step 2: Create Custom Audiences

Group people by behavior — viewed a car, clicked “Contact Us,” etc.

Step 3: Build Relevant Ads

Use clear messaging: “Still Thinking About the 2025 Civic? Test Drive Today!”

Step 4: Choose Ad Frequency and Platform

Use a combination of:

• Display Ads (Google)
• Social Media Ads (Facebook/Instagram)
• Video Retargeting (YouTube)

Step 5: Monitor and Optimize

Track:

• Click-through rate
• Conversions
• Return on ad spend (ROAS)

Make changes every 7–14 days based on data.

Final Thoughts: Turn Interest Into Action

Retargeting helps you connect with potential car buyers at just the right moment. With so many choices available to customers, it’s easy for them to forget about you — unless you gently remind them.

Whether you’re using display ads, email retargeting, or dynamic remarketing, the goal is the same: bring them back and book that test drive.

Make your dealership unforgettable.

FAQs

1. What’s the difference between retargeting and remarketing?

They’re often used interchangeably, but technically, retargeting refers to ads, while remarketing is usually done through email.

2. Can small dealerships benefit from retargeting?

Absolutely. Even with a small budget, retargeting helps you reach users who already know your brand — meaning higher conversion chances.

3. How long should I run retargeting campaigns?

Ideally, for 14–30 days per campaign. Monitor results and adjust based on performance.

4. What tools can help with retargeting?

Some top tools include Google Ads, Facebook Ads Manager, AdRoll, and Mailchimp.