US Automotive Online Car Retailers - PPC Market Share Analysis April 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 20.6369845022
79.3630154978
20%

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 63
37
63%

Search Intent Distribution

Breakdown of search queries by their underlying goal.

Intent Distribution
Investigational 30%
Transactional 31%
Navigational 7%
Seasonal 0%
Local 3%
Problem Solving 9%

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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 30.8
kbb.com 24.09
cargurus.com 5.85
cars.com 5.51
carmax.com 5.11
autotrader.com 4
enterprise.com 3.73
edmunds.com 2.46
carfax.com 2.42
turo.com 2.02
others 14.01
  • carvana.com - 30.8%
  • kbb.com - 24.09%
  • cargurus.com - 5.85%
  • cars.com - 5.51%
  • carmax.com - 5.11%
  • autotrader.com - 4%
  • enterprise.com - 3.73%
  • edmunds.com - 2.46%
  • carfax.com - 2.42%
  • turo.com - 2.02%
  • others - 14.01%

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In the competitive landscape of Google PPC, Carvana leads with 30.8% click share, followed by KBB at 24.09%. Others collectively hold 14.01%, showcasing diverse competition.

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 cargurus.com carmax.com kbb.com cars.com enterprise.com autotrader.com driveway.com autonation.com edmunds.com
2026/04/01 18.88% 8.99% 13.99% 10.33% 5.74% 3.4% 2.82% 1.66% 3.09% 3.44%
2026/04/02 18.21% 12.67% 13.39% 8.51% 4.87% 3.46% 3.52% 1.98% 1.96% 2.32%
2026/04/03 21.69% 9.81% 14.08% 6.37% 4.26% 4.11% 3.67% 3.19% 2.13% 3.54%
2026/04/04 15.72% 9.37% 14.96% 7.75% 4.76% 5.21% 3.98% 2.8% 2.38% 3.98%
2026/04/05 21.3% 8.56% 13.03% 7.53% 4.22% 3.59% 3.23% 2.81% 3.23% 3.02%
2026/04/06 17.6% 11.43% 14.23% 8.23% 5.11% 5.13% 4.24% 2.23% 2.48% 2.46%
2026/04/07 15.47% 12.27% 14.72% 10.71% 4.1% 4.88% 2.87% 3.13% 2.35% 2.98%
2026/04/08 19.44% 12.03% 13.17% 8.43% 4.65% 4.44% 2.91% 2.59% 2.46% 2.03%
2026/04/09 18.66% 11.76% 12.1% 6.99% 4.99% 4.79% 3.57% 2.15% 2.08% 2.61%
2026/04/10 15.65% 12.32% 14.88% 8.96% 5.22% 4.26% 3.71% 3.24% 2.05% 3.26%
2026/04/11 14.9% 8.74% 14.38% 11.01% 4.84% 3.75% 3.69% 5.39% 1.87% 2.56%
2026/04/12 16.57% 9.25% 13% 10.54% 4.64% 5.25% 4.05% 3.91% 4.02% 3.91%
2026/04/13 15.95% 12.81% 10.67% 10.77% 5.51% 4.41% 4.44% 2.95% 2.65% 2.13%
2026/04/14 15.58% 9.96% 13.39% 13.49% 4.5% 4.2% 3.7% 1.91% 1.63% 2.9%
2026/04/15 16.58% 11.68% 12.19% 10.41% 5.25% 3.65% 4.37% 2.86% 3.22% 2.14%
2026/04/16 17.31% 12.21% 9.71% 7.41% 5.4% 5.29% 3.82% 3.05% 3.78% 3.21%
2026/04/17 16.43% 9.55% 13.81% 7.85% 5.51% 3.72% 3.59% 3.73% 1.95% 2.55%
2026/04/18 16.51% 6.03% 14.76% 7.46% 7.25% 3.32% 4.55% 3.03% 3.38% 2.38%
2026/04/19 20.95% 8.7% 14.07% 7.81% 5.64% 3.4% 3.16% 2.88% 2.75% 2.37%
2026/04/20 18.9% 10.46% 12.14% 6.88% 6.58% 4% 4.38% 2.25% 3.5% 2.44%
2026/04/21 15.24% 10.23% 11.72% 9.53% 6.79% 4.91% 2.62% 3.18% 2% 3.72%
2026/04/22 16.04% 9.75% 11.51% 8.51% 7.05% 4.86% 4.18% 2.82% 1.75% 2.86%
2026/04/23 17.41% 7.99% 13.46% 8.15% 6.51% 4.02% 3.03% 4.4% 1.91% 2.15%
2026/04/24 15.75% 9.39% 12.03% 9.61% 6.7% 5.4% 3% 2.55% 1.74% 2.4%
2026/04/25 18.43% 10.2% 13.06% 7.49% 6.06% 3.1% 2.63% 3.29% 1.77% 2.43%
2026/04/26 17.07% 10.02% 14.22% 7.62% 5.94% 3.83% 3.42% 4.1% 1.55% 2.99%
2026/04/27 20.88% 10.09% 12.41% 5.62% 7.07% 5.44% 2.75% 2.98% 1.11% 2.7%
2026/04/28 15.56% 11.1% 12.27% 9.99% 6.31% 5.15% 3.35% 1.91% 1.5% 2.42%
2026/04/29 36.29% 5.73% 8.51% 6.79% 5.5% 5.34% 2.23% 1.41% 1.3% 2.08%
2026/04/30 27.95% 9.02% 8.51% 5.81% 5.7% 4.18% 3.4% 2.5% 2.35% 2.02%
  • carvana.com
  • cargurus.com
  • carmax.com
  • kbb.com
  • cars.com
  • enterprise.com
  • autotrader.com
  • driveway.com
  • autonation.com
  • edmunds.com

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Carvana’s PPC spend surged dramatically on April 29, reaching 36.29%, before settling at 27.95% by month’s end. Cargurus and Carmax maintained steady shares, while KBB and Cars.com fluctuated. Enterprise and Autotrader showed minor variations, with Edmunds and Autonation remaining stable.

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
2026/04/01 739
2026/04/02 803
2026/04/03 792
2026/04/04 823
2026/04/05 793
2026/04/06 871
2026/04/07 794
2026/04/08 775
2026/04/09 794
2026/04/10 836
2026/04/11 705
2026/04/12 712
2026/04/13 788
2026/04/14 782
2026/04/15 794
2026/04/16 714
2026/04/17 777
2026/04/18 827
2026/04/19 706
2026/04/20 779
2026/04/21 743
2026/04/22 764
2026/04/23 797
2026/04/24 725
2026/04/25 690
2026/04/26 760
2026/04/27 770
2026/04/28 691
2026/04/29 750
2026/04/30 717

Copyright © Adthena. All rights reserved.

April saw fluctuating advertiser numbers, peaking at 871 on April 6th. The month concluded with 717 advertisers, reflecting a dynamic landscape.

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 7.36%
cars.com 1%
carbravo.com 0.35%
givemethevin.com 0.26%
carfax.com 0.23%
carmax.com -0.51%
edmunds.com -0.65%
turo.com -0.91%
cargurus.com -1.3%
kbb.com -5.14%

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Carvana surged with a 7.36% click share increase, while KBB faced a 5.14% decline.

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 cars.com autonation.com driveway.com autotrader.com carfax.com edmunds.com
2026/04/01 27.27% 13% 9.03% 9.37% 4.02% 3.55% 0.98% 2.17% 1.94% 4.23%
2026/04/02 23.65% 13.34% 13.25% 8.16% 4.36% 2.68% 1.91% 3.24% 2.74% 3.08%
2026/04/03 23.71% 13.34% 10.68% 6.72% 3.7% 2.82% 4.35% 3.18% 2.19% 4.01%
2026/04/04 16.63% 15.58% 9.88% 8.14% 4.17% 3.03% 3.08% 3.53% 2.63% 5.94%
2026/04/05 29.55% 12.75% 8% 7.28% 3.42% 4.33% 2.62% 2.81% 1.95% 3.16%
2026/04/06 22.21% 13.88% 13.03% 8.77% 3.91% 3.29% 2.14% 3.77% 2.26% 3.22%
2026/04/07 13.48% 16.45% 13.14% 11% 4.11% 4.02% 4.1% 2.91% 1.86% 3.38%
2026/04/08 23.11% 13.07% 13.38% 8.83% 4.08% 2.08% 2.93% 3.07% 2.37% 2.5%
2026/04/09 22.54% 12.85% 12.37% 6.88% 4.59% 2.05% 2.05% 3.62% 2.71% 3.25%
2026/04/10 13.92% 16.43% 12.86% 9.3% 4.87% 2.86% 4.44% 3.5% 2.81% 3.7%
2026/04/11 14.12% 16.1% 8.68% 11.37% 3.98% 1.77% 7.55% 3.49% 2.12% 3.66%
2026/04/12 18.17% 14.58% 9.27% 9.8% 4.05% 5.32% 4.45% 3.44% 1.56% 3.99%
2026/04/13 14.83% 10.67% 13.18% 12.17% 4.95% 1.52% 3.55% 4.29% 2.26% 3.25%
2026/04/14 14.96% 14.7% 11.73% 14.07% 4.21% 2.08% 1.88% 3.7% 1.95% 4.29%
2026/04/15 15.86% 13.29% 12.75% 10.09% 4.62% 4.08% 3.51% 4.04% 3.78% 2.75%
2026/04/16 17.31% 11.49% 13.55% 6.99% 4.9% 4.75% 3.77% 3.36% 3.41% 3.6%
2026/04/17 17.67% 13.54% 10.88% 7.79% 4.59% 2.18% 5.24% 3.71% 4.62% 2.86%
2026/04/18 16.04% 17.01% 7.9% 7.51% 5.22% 4.2% 3.35% 4.68% 4.53% 2.84%
2026/04/19 26.24% 15.7% 8.81% 7.15% 4.09% 2.67% 2.67% 2.73% 2.11% 2.82%
2026/04/20 17.17% 15.06% 11.39% 6.32% 4.97% 5.75% 2.15% 3.73% 2.23% 2.77%
2026/04/21 15.11% 12.75% 10.18% 9.9% 5.86% 2.58% 3.28% 2.66% 2.78% 4.35%
2026/04/22 20.01% 14.43% 10.03% 8.2% 5.58% 2.88% 2.42% 3.62% 3.38% 3.05%
2026/04/23 19.5% 16.65% 8.16% 7.7% 4.71% 2.4% 5.65% 2.64% 4.3% 1.95%
2026/04/24 15.29% 13.22% 11.15% 10.68% 5.95% 2.21% 2.46% 3.12% 3.38% 2.49%
2026/04/25 16.09% 16.49% 11.51% 6.67% 4.01% 3.47% 4.86% 2.39% 1.9% 2.15%
2026/04/26 15.26% 17.01% 11.53% 8.11% 5.21% 1.19% 4.59% 3.53% 3.23% 3.4%
2026/04/27 19.42% 14.33% 12.56% 6.44% 6.39% 1.19% 2.48% 3.22% 2.99% 2.78%
2026/04/28 15.94% 13.72% 12.11% 10.36% 5.31% 1.71% 1.92% 3.2% 2.01% 2.51%
2026/04/29 37.15% 10.09% 8.39% 6.5% 4.41% 1.8% 0.98% 1.85% 2.18% 2.3%
2026/04/30 27.87% 12.1% 11.68% 5.41% 4.61% 4.06% 3.45% 2.98% 2.13% 1.9%
  • carvana.com
  • carmax.com
  • cargurus.com
  • kbb.com
  • cars.com
  • autonation.com
  • driveway.com
  • autotrader.com
  • carfax.com
  • edmunds.com

Copyright © Adthena. All rights reserved.

Carvana’s impression share fluctuated, peaking at 37.15% on April 29. Carmax and Cargurus maintained steady shares, while KBB and Cars.com saw minor variations. Autonation and Driveway experienced sporadic changes. April concluded with Carvana leading.

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

    Confirm Your Car's Value — Want To Trade? Find Out Your Car's Value And Take Up To 7-Days To Compare Your Options. Selling? Know Your Options. Find Out Your Car's Worth Online In 2-Minutes At CarMax®.

  2. 2
    Cars.com https://www.cars.com

    Official Cars.com Site — Cars.com - Your One-Stop-Shop for Buying and Selling Cars. 2M+ Vehicles Available! Explore 2M...

  3. 3
    Chapman Arizona - Shop Used Car Inventory Online https://www.chapmanaz.com

    Used Cars for sale in Phoenix, AZ - Chapman Used Vehicle Inventory. Explore our inventory and find your perfect pre-owned vehicle today.

  4. 4
    How Much Is My Car Worth, Right Now? | Driveway 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 › shop › kbb

    From Car Research To Auto Repair Pricing, Kelley Blue Book® Is A Great Car Resource. Used Car Values & Instant Cash Offers. Shop, Sell, Trade with Kelley Blue Book®. Find The Right Car.

Copyright © Adthena. All rights reserved.

CarMax entices with a quick 2-minute car value check, while Cars.com offers a vast 2 million vehicle inventory. Chapman Arizona highlights its Phoenix-based used car selection. Driveway focuses on maximizing trade-in value, and Kelley Blue Book emphasizes comprehensive car resources.

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