US Automotive Online Car Retailers - PPC Market Share Analysis January 2026

Leveraging Adthena’s Whole Market View, this analysis explores recent trends in Google Ads for the US Online Car Retailers category from the last month. Our Data Analyst, Ask Arlo provides commentary on key findings.

Online Car Retailers – US

Google AI Overview visibility for Automotive Online Car Retailers US

See how often AIOs appear and how search intent is distributed across buying signals.

AIO Frequency

How often a Google AI overview appears on search terms relevant to this category.

Frequency Percentage
Frequency 22.4077392086
77.5922607914
22%

Complex Query Frequency

A complex query is a longer, more detailed search that often contains multiple keywords, specific conditions, or multi-part questions.

Frequency Percentage
Frequency 70
30
70%

Search Intent Distribution

Breakdown of search queries by their underlying goal.

Intent Distribution
Investigational 32%
Transactional 27%
Navigational 5%
Seasonal 0%
Local 2%
Problem Solving 14%

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Market Exposure

Share of Clicks for top 10 US Automotive Online Car Retailers brands

Here are the Top 10 competitors in the industry by Share of Clicks for the last month.

Share of Clicks - Last month
Share of Clicks - Last month
Domain Share of clicks
carvana.com 26.62
kbb.com 24.88
cargurus.com 7.31
cars.com 5.18
edmunds.com 4.33
autotrader.com 4.19
carmax.com 4.15
enterprise.com 4.01
carfax.com 2.75
truecar.com 1.62
others 14.96
  • carvana.com - 26.62%
  • kbb.com - 24.88%
  • cargurus.com - 7.31%
  • cars.com - 5.18%
  • edmunds.com - 4.33%
  • autotrader.com - 4.19%
  • carmax.com - 4.15%
  • enterprise.com - 4.01%
  • carfax.com - 2.75%
  • truecar.com - 1.62%
  • others - 14.96%

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Carvana leads with 26.62% click share, followed by KBB at 24.88%. Others hold 14.96%, while CarGurus captures 7.31%.

Market Exposure

Share of Spend for the top 10 US Automotive Online Car Retailers brands

Curious about your market position? Here you can see the Top 10 competitors in the industry by Share of Spend for the last month. 

Share of Spend - Last Month
Share of Spend - Last Month
Date carvana.com carmax.com cargurus.com kbb.com edmunds.com cars.com carfax.com enterprise.com truecar.com autotrader.com
2026/01/01 20.64% 10.89% 12.9% 8.26% 3.47% 3.58% 1.99% 2.75% 2.46% 4.39%
2026/01/02 17.98% 10.59% 13.05% 10.37% 4.59% 3.35% 2.51% 2.6% 3.43% 3.54%
2026/01/03 17.32% 10.57% 12.8% 12.09% 4.44% 5.25% 3.38% 1.87% 3.26% 3.57%
2026/01/04 17.07% 9.54% 12.43% 12.84% 4.42% 4.67% 2.96% 2.67% 3.41% 4.7%
2026/01/05 18.92% 9.84% 10.15% 11.4% 4.67% 4.4% 2.17% 2.85% 3.45% 3.63%
2026/01/06 17.24% 8.98% 11.1% 11.06% 4.38% 3.63% 2.47% 2.98% 2.5% 4.62%
2026/01/07 17.32% 9.45% 10.31% 8.47% 2.91% 5.72% 2.96% 4.26% 3.23% 3.68%
2026/01/08 19.94% 10.59% 11.66% 10.42% 2.26% 4.34% 2.27% 3.25% 3.96% 3.03%
2026/01/09 17.93% 9.41% 10.28% 11.68% 3.21% 3.98% 2.83% 3.17% 3.46% 3.18%
2026/01/10 27.77% 8.49% 9.25% 8.33% 2.61% 5.61% 2.85% 2.07% 3.51% 3.7%
2026/01/11 23.71% 9.33% 8.9% 11.59% 3.39% 4.91% 2.57% 4.24% 3.44% 3.33%
2026/01/12 20.39% 7.71% 11.01% 10.84% 2.93% 5.51% 2.43% 3.37% 3.14% 3.88%
2026/01/13 19.65% 8.31% 9.01% 11.12% 2.63% 5.85% 2.94% 3.7% 2.98% 3.99%
2026/01/14 19.86% 7.93% 10.48% 12.09% 2.78% 4.29% 2.52% 3.39% 2.88% 3.04%
2026/01/15 19.72% 8.14% 10.96% 11.97% 3.31% 4.01% 2% 2.5% 3.05% 3.49%
2026/01/16 16.92% 8.88% 9.7% 11.02% 3.02% 3.75% 2.67% 2.99% 3.26% 3%
2026/01/17 21.28% 8.76% 11.82% 12.11% 3.74% 3.95% 2.16% 2.97% 2.52% 2.87%
2026/01/18 23.67% 7.46% 10.13% 11.61% 3.65% 4.97% 2.65% 2.87% 2.33% 3.67%
2026/01/19 19.75% 7.14% 10.18% 9.39% 3.19% 5.39% 2.46% 2.91% 3.1% 3.97%
2026/01/20 19.54% 8.28% 8.95% 11.05% 2.62% 5.82% 2.92% 3.68% 2.97% 3.96%
2026/01/21 26.92% 7.33% 10.76% 9.09% 2.9% 3.82% 3.06% 2.81% 2.1% 3.13%
2026/01/22 21.75% 7.24% 11.74% 9.16% 3.38% 4.03% 3.38% 3.4% 2.39% 3.6%
2026/01/23 25.36% 7.06% 11.56% 5.47% 2.76% 4.03% 2.67% 2.7% 2.32% 3.58%
2026/01/24 22.63% 8.82% 13.28% 5.13% 3.42% 4.78% 2.81% 2.17% 3.47% 3.41%
2026/01/25 19.51% 7.27% 12.94% 7.75% 2.77% 3.86% 2.83% 2.28% 2.01% 4.21%
2026/01/26 19.89% 8.19% 12.4% 6.58% 2.62% 3.89% 2.77% 3.89% 1.76% 3.71%
2026/01/27 25.16% 8.29% 12.3% 7.67% 3.19% 4.45% 3.08% 3.39% 1.57% 3.04%
2026/01/28 20.57% 8.58% 9.91% 12.75% 2.78% 4.49% 3.47% 3.17% 1.43% 3.14%
2026/01/29 23.75% 8.47% 9.4% 9.49% 2.07% 4.57% 3.36% 3.98% 1.41% 2.44%
2026/01/30 22.69% 10.05% 11.79% 6.96% 3.35% 6.33% 3.48% 3.18% 1.77% 3.56%
2026/01/31 22.4% 11.52% 10.52% 8.39% 4.37% 4.22% 3.2% 3.11% 2.32% 2.24%
  • carvana.com
  • carmax.com
  • cargurus.com
  • kbb.com
  • edmunds.com
  • cars.com
  • carfax.com
  • enterprise.com
  • truecar.com
  • autotrader.com

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Carvana led January with fluctuating spend, peaking at 27.77% on the 10th. Carmax and Cargurus showed steady trends, while KBB saw a mid-month dip. Edmunds and Cars.com maintained low shares. The month ended with Carvana still dominant.

Market Exposure

Competitor Count for US Automotive Online Car Retailers

Ever wondered how many competitors you’re up against in your industry? Well look no further, here we can see the number of advertisers bidding over the last month. 

Competitor Count - Last month
Competitor Count - Last month
Date Competitor Count
2026/01/01 1062
2026/01/02 1091
2026/01/03 1051
2026/01/04 1096
2026/01/05 1132
2026/01/06 1089
2026/01/07 971
2026/01/08 872
2026/01/09 954
2026/01/10 1062
2026/01/11 1005
2026/01/12 1057
2026/01/13 980
2026/01/14 1027
2026/01/15 1019
2026/01/16 954
2026/01/17 986
2026/01/18 992
2026/01/19 1018
2026/01/20 980
2026/01/21 1081
2026/01/22 1050
2026/01/23 1099
2026/01/24 1127
2026/01/25 1098
2026/01/26 1109
2026/01/27 1088
2026/01/28 1055
2026/01/29 1006
2026/01/30 1025
2026/01/31 1046

Copyright © Adthena. All rights reserved.

January saw fluctuating advertiser numbers, peaking at 1,132 on the 5th, dipping to 872 on the 8th, and closing at 1,046.

Campaign Efficiency

Market Loss & Market Gains for US Automotive Online Car Retailers

Here we’re looking at the Top 10 biggest industry movers by market share gains and losses for the last 30 days.

Market Loss & Market Gains - Last month
Market Loss & Market Gains - Last month
Name Market Trend
carvana.com 3.75%
cargurus.com 0.66%
carfax.com 0.54%
campingworld.com 0.24%
sixt.com 0.16%
enterprise.com -0.25%
autonation.com -0.26%
truecar.com -0.4%
edmunds.com -0.76%
kbb.com -3.62%

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Carvana surged with a 3.75% click share increase, while KBB.com faced a 3.62% decline. Cargurus and Carfax also saw positive growth, contrasting Edmunds and TrueCar’s slight drops.

Campaign Efficiency

US Automotive Online Car Retailers Share of Impressions

Take a look at the Top 10 competitors in the industry by Share of Impressions over the last month.

Date carvana.com carmax.com cargurus.com kbb.com edmunds.com cars.com carfax.com autotrader.com truecar.com autonation.com
2026/01/01 19.8% 13.4% 14.6% 7.45% 4.59% 3.16% 1.98% 3.96% 2.23% 2.29%
2026/01/02 16.14% 14.16% 14.08% 10% 7.71% 3.21% 2.28% 3.21% 3.09% 2.34%
2026/01/03 15.56% 13.87% 14.54% 10.95% 6.44% 4.47% 3.37% 3.53% 3.15% 2.24%
2026/01/04 15.04% 11.71% 13.89% 12.55% 7.03% 4% 3.1% 4.29% 2.79% 2.4%
2026/01/05 17.51% 12.25% 11.12% 10.73% 7.21% 3.87% 2.17% 3.32% 2.85% 3.5%
2026/01/06 16.86% 10.86% 12.73% 10.06% 8.28% 3% 2.52% 4.23% 2.37% 2.53%
2026/01/07 15.06% 11.95% 12.15% 7.17% 4.25% 4.74% 3.51% 3.68% 2.81% 2.66%
2026/01/08 19.36% 12.79% 14.32% 9.55% 2.82% 5.19% 2.61% 3.08% 4.41% 1.11%
2026/01/09 15.7% 13.37% 12.2% 9.57% 5.82% 3.51% 2.63% 2.85% 2.84% 3.38%
2026/01/10 27.89% 11.43% 10.04% 7.44% 3.56% 4.8% 3.01% 3.43% 2.95% 2.03%
2026/01/11 22.64% 16.33% 10.58% 9.63% 5.06% 4.12% 2.55% 2.76% 2.96% 1.72%
2026/01/12 18.11% 12.34% 13.6% 10.42% 4.32% 4.5% 2.76% 3.65% 2.48% 2.23%
2026/01/13 18.47% 13.03% 11.61% 10.71% 2.78% 4.9% 3.14% 3.59% 2.62% 2.3%
2026/01/14 17.77% 11.41% 12.13% 11.76% 4.85% 3.89% 3.04% 2.77% 2.67% 3.61%
2026/01/15 15.87% 11.63% 12.88% 10.16% 6.64% 3.52% 2.33% 3.31% 2.71% 2.6%
2026/01/16 15.7% 13.37% 12.2% 9.57% 5.82% 3.51% 2.63% 2.85% 2.84% 3.38%
2026/01/17 20.51% 11.37% 13.18% 11.04% 4.46% 3.95% 2.51% 2.75% 2.02% 2.43%
2026/01/18 24.58% 10.01% 12.11% 10.62% 3.93% 4.35% 3.29% 3.54% 2.19% 1.63%
2026/01/19 18.48% 9.33% 11.84% 9.94% 4.88% 5.16% 3.17% 3.99% 2.69% 3.37%
2026/01/20 18.47% 13.03% 11.61% 10.71% 2.78% 4.9% 3.14% 3.59% 2.62% 2.3%
2026/01/21 25.58% 8.88% 13.45% 8.44% 3.98% 3.61% 3.99% 3.04% 1.89% 2.3%
2026/01/22 20.4% 9.13% 13.23% 9.15% 5.48% 4.06% 4% 3.57% 2.14% 0.73%
2026/01/23 24.73% 7.88% 13.22% 5.88% 4.34% 3.95% 3.2% 3.55% 1.63% 1.06%
2026/01/24 20.02% 11.82% 14.09% 5.16% 5.51% 3.81% 2.94% 3.05% 3.62% 3.56%
2026/01/25 18.81% 8.64% 15.32% 7.95% 4.29% 3.82% 3.07% 3.88% 1.67% 2.13%
2026/01/26 17.84% 10.17% 15.28% 6.04% 3.77% 3.62% 3.21% 3.56% 1.29% 1.62%
2026/01/27 23.61% 9.57% 13.6% 7.84% 5.23% 4.57% 3.86% 2.85% 1.17% 1.69%
2026/01/28 20.71% 10.29% 10.88% 11.42% 3.37% 4.64% 3.6% 2.97% 1.11% 2.69%
2026/01/29 23.27% 11.01% 11.31% 8.51% 2.91% 4.57% 5.32% 2.26% 1.37% 3.63%
2026/01/30 21.31% 12.74% 12.44% 6.29% 5.43% 4.82% 3.97% 3.36% 1.57% 1.53%
2026/01/31 20.41% 13.92% 11.57% 8.64% 7.19% 3.99% 3.61% 2.19% 1.82% 1.23%
  • carvana.com
  • carmax.com
  • cargurus.com
  • kbb.com
  • edmunds.com
  • cars.com
  • carfax.com
  • autotrader.com
  • truecar.com
  • autonation.com

Copyright © Adthena. All rights reserved.

Carvana led January 2026 with fluctuating impressions, peaking at 27.89% on the 10th. Carmax and Cargurus followed, showing steady trends. KBB and Edmunds had moderate shares, while Cars.com, Carfax, Autotrader, Truecar, and Autonation maintained lower visibility.

Campaign Efficiency

Google Text Ad Copy Insights & Creative Trends for US Automotive Online Car Retailers

Ever wondered how your rivals’ ads are doing? Here we can see the top-performing ads in the industry over the last month.

Google Text Ad Copy Insights & Creative Trends for US Automotive Online Car Retailers - Last month
  1. 1
    Cheap Used Cars For Sale - Largest Online Inventory https://www.cargurus.com

    Best Prices From Local Dealers. Shop for Cheap Used Cars Today! Don't Miss Out.

  2. 2
    What's Your Car's Value? https://www.carmax.com

    Learn Your Vehicle's Value — Say Goodbye To Your Ride And Hello To Dough – With An Instant Online Offer From CarMax®.

  3. 3
    Buy, Sell, Or Trade Online https://www.carvana.com

    Shop Cars Online, Haggle-Free — Find The Right Used Car For You At Carvana®. Search By Make, Model, Mileage And More! Buy...

  4. 4
    How Much Is My Car Worth - Check our calculator https://www.driveway.com

    If you’re looking to sell your car or find its current trade-in value, check our calculator and learn how to get the most value out of your used vehicle.

  5. 5
    Official Kelley Blue Book Site - Find Your Car's Book Value https://www.kbb.com

    Kelley Blue Book® Empowering You in the Car Market. From Values To Service & Repair Guide

Copyright © Adthena. All rights reserved.

In the competitive world of online car retail, top advertisers like CarGurus, CarMax, Carvana, Driveway, and Kelley Blue Book captivate audiences with unique propositions. CarGurus highlights affordability and inventory size, while CarMax and Driveway focus on vehicle valuation. Carvana offers a seamless online experience, and Kelley Blue Book empowers buyers with trusted market insights.

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The data on this page is just a sample of the billions of data points we hold at Adthena. The insights generated by Ask Arlo, leverage real-time GenAI to answer questions about your search data.

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