Automotive Website SEO Audit: 15 Common Issues to Fix Today

By: CanizDMS

If you've ever Googled your auto shop and wondered why it's buried under competitors—or why your beautifully designed website just isn’t bringing in enough traffic or calls—this guide is for you. The truth is, having a sleek automotive website is only half the equation. The other half? Search Engine Optimization (SEO).

Think of SEO like your vehicle's engine: it powers everything under the hood and determines how fast (or slow) your online visibility can go. Without a solid SEO tune-up, your site might look great but still be stalling when it comes to bringing in leads.

In this guide, we’ll break down an Automotive Website SEO Audit into 4 easy-to-digest sections, each highlighting common but fixable issues that might be dragging your site down. Whether you're a mechanic, body shop owner, or dealership, these insights will help you get your site running at full speed.

Automotive Website | Technical SEO Tune-Up

Before diving into keywords and content, we need to check the basics. Technical SEO ensures that search engines can crawl, index, and rank your automotive website effectively.

1. Slow Load Speeds

Imagine waiting for a customer to pull into your shop and they never show up because the garage door wouldn’t open. That’s what happens when your website takes too long to load.

Common causes of slow sites:

• Unoptimized images

• Bloated code or unnecessary scripts

• Cheap or overloaded hosting

Fix it: Use tools like GTmetrix or PageSpeed Insights to find bottlenecks. Then, compress images, use lazy loading, and consider switching to faster hosting.

2. Broken Links & 404 Errors

Dead ends on your website are a big no-no. If search engines or users click a link that leads to nowhere, it hurts trust and SEO.

Fix it: Run a crawl using tools like Screaming Frog or Ahrefs to locate broken links. Then, either fix them or set up redirects to relevant pages.

3. Mobile-Friendliness Issues

Google now prioritizes mobile-first indexing. If your automotive website looks off on phones or loads weirdly, you’re missing out on most of your traffic.

Fix it: Use Wix’s mobile editor to preview and optimize every page. Check usability reports in Google Search Console for mobile-specific issues.

On-Page SEO Inspection

Once the engine's purring smoothly, let’s take a look under the hood of your website's content and structure.

4. Missing Meta Titles & Descriptions

These are the first things users and Google see in search results. Leaving them empty or duplicating them site-wide is like putting the same sticker on every car in your lot.

Fix it: Customize every title and meta description using relevant keywords. Keep titles under 60 characters and descriptions under 160. Make them compelling!

5. Weak Heading Structure (H1, H2, H3)

Search engines use headings to understand your content. If you overuse H1s, skip headings, or write them unclearly, your pages become unreadable (for bots and humans).

Fix it: Stick to one H1 per page, use H2s for section breaks, and sprinkle in H3s for finer points. Include your primary keyword (like "automotive website") naturally in headings.

6. Lack of Internal Linking

Internal links help spread SEO authority and keep visitors browsing. It also tells Google how your site is structured.

Fix it: Link to related blog posts, service pages, or contact forms where relevant. For example, if you mention car detailing, link to your detailing services page.

Content Pit Stop

Time to take a good, hard look at what your website is saying—and if it's saying it the right way.

7. Thin Content on Key Pages

A one-paragraph page that says "We fix cars" won’t rank well. Google needs depth, relevance, and value.

Fix it: Aim for at least 300-500 words on core pages like "Auto Repair Services" or "Collision Center." Add useful content like process explanations, FAQs, or customer testimonials.

8. No Blog or Fresh Content

An inactive website looks abandoned. Regularly updated content tells Google you're active and relevant.

Fix it: Start a blog with topics like:

• "5 Signs Your Brake Pads Need Replacing"

• "How to Prepare Your Car for Winter in [Your City]"

• "What to Do After a Minor Collision"

Use this to incorporate keywords and build trust.

9. Poor Keyword Targeting

Are you using keywords that real people actually search for? Or just guessing?

Fix it: Use tools like Ubersuggest or Google Keyword Planner. Target local phrases like:

• "Automotive website in Montreal"

• "Collision repair shop near me"

• "Oil change Saint-Laurent"

Place keywords in your headers, titles, URLs, and image alt text without overstuffing.

Local SEO & Conversion Optimization

Let’s make sure people can find you locally—and then take action once they do.

10. Incomplete Google Business Profile

Your Google listing is often the first impression. A half-filled profile looks sketchy and hurts rankings.

Fix it: Add photos, business hours, services, reviews, and a short description with keywords. Ensure your NAP (Name, Address, Phone) matches your site exactly.

11. No Location Pages

If you serve multiple areas but only have one generic contact page, you’re losing out on local traffic.

Fix it: Create a dedicated page for each city or neighborhood. Example:

• /auto-repair-saint-laurent

• /collision-montreal

• /towing-laval

12. Missing Call-to-Actions (CTAs)

Once someone lands on your page, what do you want them to do? Book? Call? Email? Don’t leave it to chance.

Fix it: Add strong CTAs like:

• "Book Your Free Estimate Today"

• "Call Us for 24/7 Towing"

• "Request a Quote Now"

Make them stand out visually and position them in logical spots (top, middle, bottom).

Bonus Pit Lane Problems (Quick Fixes That Help)

Let’s round this out with a few bonus tune-ups that can take your SEO from good to great.

13. No Schema Markup

Schema is code that helps search engines better understand your content—and can trigger rich results like stars, reviews, and pricing in search.

Fix it: Add local business schema, service schema, and review schema to your site. Wix allows this via the SEO settings or Velo custom code.

14. Unoptimized Images

High-res images slow you down and hurt rankings if they aren’t properly compressed or labeled.

Fix it: Compress images before uploading (use TinyPNG), rename them with keywords (e.g., auto-repair-montreal.jpg), and always fill in the "alt text" field.

15. No HTTPS/SSL Certificate

This is a trust issue. Google flags unsecure sites, and many users will bounce.

Fix it: Make sure your site uses HTTPS. Wix automatically includes SSL on all domains, so just make sure it's activated.

🚀 Wrapping It Up: Time to Put It in Drive

SEO doesn’t have to be scary or overly technical. With the right tune-up, your automotive website can rank higher, load faster, and convert more visitors into paying customers. Whether you handle it in-house or partner with a pro, small improvements can drive big results over time.

And if you're ever unsure where to start, CanizDMS is always here to help. As a trusted local provider of automotive web solutions, we specialize in creating high-performance websites that not only look great, but also work hard under the hood.

Ready to take your digital presence from 0 to 100? Let's talk.