Who owns the dealership website content and accounts?
Assume nothing is yours unless the contract says so. The items that matter are the domain registration, the analytics and search-console properties, the advertising accounts, the ad-account history, the creative, the content and the tracking configuration. Each can be held in the provider's name, and each is difficult to recover after a relationship ends badly.
The domain is first
Confirm the domain is registered to the dealership entity, at a registrar the dealership controls, with dealership contacts. A domain held by an agency is the single largest point of leverage against you.
Accounts should be dealer-owned with provider access
The correct structure is that the dealership owns the advertising, analytics and search-console properties and grants the provider access — not the reverse. Access can be revoked; ownership cannot be reclaimed easily.
History has value
Advertising accounts accumulate learning and history that affect performance. Starting a new account is not a neutral event. Ask what transfers and what does not.
Put content rights in writing
Establish who owns photography, video, written content and page templates at the end of the relationship, and whether you can continue using them on a new platform.
What to verify
Confirm the domain is registered to the dealership entity
Own the advertising and analytics accounts; grant provider access
Establish what ad-account history transfers at the end
Put content and photography rights in writing
Continue the research
Dealership websites & CMS
Inventory-native websites, content management, landing pages and OEM programs.
Compare providers →Digital advertising
Paid search, social, display, video, OTT and inventory-aware media.
Compare providers →Digital marketing agencies & managed services
Cross-channel dealership marketing strategy, execution, media, creative and performance management.
Compare providers →Related dealership technology questions
What software do car dealerships use?
Most dealerships use a DMS as the operating and financial backbone, plus a CRM, website/CMS, inventory tools, digital retailing, communications, marketing, analytics, F&I and fixed-operations systems. The right combination depends on franchise obligations, market, store count and operating model.
Dealership software pricingHow much does dealership software cost?
There is no dependable universal price because dealership software is commonly quoted by rooftop, module, user, usage, media spend, data volume or transaction. Compare a three-year total-cost schedule instead of a headline monthly amount.
Vendor shortlist sizeHow many dealership software vendors should be evaluated?
A dealership should discover the broad market, apply objective eligibility gates, and conduct deep evaluations with the smallest set that still preserves a real choice—often two to four finalists. The correct number depends on the category and how many providers meet non-negotiable requirements.
Dealership website provider selectionHow should a dealership choose a website provider?
Evaluate a dealership website provider on inventory accuracy, speed, accessibility, SEO controls, conversion workflows, analytics, OEM eligibility, integrations, content portability, support and migration—not appearance alone.