For most car dealership profiles the best primary category is Car dealer — use it when: new and/or used car sales. Choose Used car dealer instead if pre-owned only. Automotive categories are split finely (repair, body work, glass, tyres, detailing). Pick the one that matches most of your jobs and keep the rest as services.
Open the free tool for a car dealership → tick what you really offer and get a copy-ready setup sheet
Primary category
- Car dealer — New and/or used car sales
- Used car dealer — Pre-owned only
Secondary (additional) categories
Add one only if the condition is genuinely true at this location. Fewer, accurate categories beat a full list of nine.
- Auto repair shop — only if: service department who else uses it
- Auto parts store — only if: parts counter who else uses it
Categories to avoid
These are often added to car dealership profiles but usually describe a different or broader business:
- Car rental agency
- Auto broker
Car dealers have specific brand-category rules (e.g. 'Toyota dealer') — use a brand category only if you're an authorised franchise dealer.
Address or service area?
Usually a storefront: show the full address exactly as it appears on your signage, and keep it identical on Google, Apple Business Connect, Bing Places and your website. Service-area vs storefront rules.
Starter services to add
Categories say what you are; services say what you do. Good first entries:
- Used cars for sale
- Part-exchange / trade-in
- Financing
Check before you change anything
Search “car dealer” on Google Maps in your own area, open the top few profiles and note their primary category (shown under the business name). Use what's common as a sanity check, not a template — your categories must describe your business. Ready to switch? How to change your category safely.
Profile problems?
Suspended, stuck in verification, or not showing on Maps? See the free fix guides: suspended profile · verification failed · not on Maps · name rules.