The Buyer's Guide to Automotive Guest Posts

In the world of SEO, the Automotive industry is a high octane race.

This is a high ticket niche. A single lead for a luxury SUV or a fleet of trucks is worth thousands of dollars. Consequently, competition for backlinks is fierce. However, unlike other industries where any link might help, automotive SEO requires Topical Authority.

A link from a generic "news" site means nothing to a search engine trying to rank a site for "ceramic coating" or "performance exhaust." You need links from sites that speak the language of torque, horsepower, and reliability.

Furthermore, this niche is split between "Local SEO" (dealerships/shops) and "Global SEO" (parts manufacturers/blogs). Mixing up strategies here burns budget faster than a V8 engine burns gas.

This guide is your vetting manual. It details exactly how to find automotive guest posting sites that build authority, drive high intent traffic, and keep your site safe from penalties.

The Automotive Guest Post Cheat Sheet

Here is the executive summary for dealers and brands:

• The "Gearhead" Test: Google values E E A T (Experience). A link from a site written by actual mechanics or car enthusiasts is worth 10x more than a link from a generic "lifestyle" blog.
• The Local Rule: If you are a local mechanic, do not buy links from global news sites. You need local citations and regional auto blogs.
• The Visual Standard: Car lovers are visual. If you pitch a story without high resolution car photography, you will be rejected by top tier editors.
• The Pricing: Expect to pay $100 to $400 for decent mid tier auto blogs. Top tier magazines (MotorTrend, Car and Driver) are strictly editorial and cost nothing but expertise.
  

On This Page

• Step 1: The Dealership vs Enthusiast Distinction
• Step 2: Vetting Metrics (Traffic & Passion)
• The Ultimate List: 100+ Automotive Guest Post Sites
• Step 3: Pitching Strategy (News vs Evergreen)
• The Buyer's Checklist
• Automotive Guest Post FAQ
• The Strategic Bottom Line
  

Step 1: The Dealership vs Enthusiast Distinction

To make your budget effective, you must understand who you are trying to reach. This distinction is critical for ROI.

Know Your Audience:

• If you are ranking a Local Car Dealership: You need local relevance. Don't pay $500 for a link on a global site like Motor1. It looks unnatural to Google for a small town dealer to have global press. Instead, look for local news sites or regional auto blogs (e.g., "Texas Auto Writers") to build local SEO signals.
• If you are ranking a Car Part or Global Brand: You need topical relevance. Go for the high authority enthusiast sites (like Jalopnik or Autoblog) or broad tech sites (like TechCrunch if it is EV related). You need massive domain authority to compete for terms like "best dash cam."
  

Step 2: Vetting Metrics (Traffic & Passion)

In Auto SEO, "Domain Authority" (DA) is less important than Audience Engagement.

The Comment Section Test

Scroll to the bottom of an article.

• Good: Heated debates about Ford vs Chevy or EV reliability. This shows a real, passionate audience.
• Bad: Zero comments or spammy "great post" comments. This indicates a ghost town site that exists only to sell links.

The "Stock Photo" Red Flag

Car culture is visual.

• Warning: If a site uses generic stock photos of "happy family in car," it is likely a low quality content farm.
• Target: Look for sites featuring original photography of car shows, test drives, or garage projects.
  

The Ultimate List: 100+ Automotive Guest Post Sites

Below is a categorized directory of verified automotive sites. These are formatted as a listicle for easy reading and organization.

Part 1: 50 Free Guest Post Sites (Editorial & Authority)

These sites generally do not charge a fee. You "pay" with high-octane content, unique mechanical insights, or industry news.

Top Tier Automotive News & Reviews

• Autoblog – News & Reviews
• Jalopnik – Car Culture
• The Drive – Auto News/Tech
• MotorTrend – The Authority
• Car and Driver – Legendary Mag
• Edmunds – Buying Guides
• Kelley Blue Book – Valuation
• TopSpeed – News & Reviews
• Motor1 – Global News
• AutoGuide – Shopping
• The Car Connection – Reviews
• Green Car Reports – EVs
• InsideEVs – Electric Vehicles
• Electrek – Tesla & EV News
• CleanTechnica – Clean Transport
• Petrolicious – Classic Cars
• Hemmings – Collector News
• Hagerty Media – Classic Lifestyle
• Speedhunters – Culture/Photo
• StanceWorks – Modified Cars
  

Maintenance, Repair & Safety

• RepairPal – Repair Advice
• YourMechanic – Maintenance
• CarTalk – NPR Show Blog
• NAPA Know How – DIY Guides
• Advance Auto Parts – DIY Projects
• The Humble Mechanic – VW/Audi Focus
• EricTheCarGuy – DIY Video/Text
• CarCare.org – Consumer Ed
• Driving.ca – Canadian Auto
• Autotrader – Buying Tips
  

Niche: Motorcycles, RVs & Logistics

• Cycle World – Moto Reviews
• RevZilla (Common Tread) – Moto Culture
• RideApart – Moto News
• BikeExif – Custom Moto
• WebBikeWorld – Gear Reviews
• Trucks.com – Truck/SUV
• FreightWaves – Logistics
• RV Life – RV Lifestyle
• DoItYourselfRV – RV Mods
• Overland Journal – Adventure
  

General Tech & Business (Auto Sections)

• TechCrunch – Transportation
• The Verge – Future Cars
• Engadget – Car Tech
• Wired – Transport
• Forbes – Auto Business
• Business Insider – Transport
• Consumer Reports – Reliability
• Popular Mechanics – DIY Tech
• Ars Technica – Cars & Tech
• CNET Roadshow – Tech Reviews
  

Part 2: 50 Paid/Sponsored Guest Post Sites

These sites often have "Write for Us," "Submit PR," or "Sponsored Post" fees. Reliable for SEO agencies and local dealerships.

General Automotive Blogs (Paid/Sponsored)

• Car Novels – General Auto
• Global Cars Brands – Brand Info
• Auto Tribute – Tribute
• Car From Japan – Import/Export
• Philkotse – Philippines
• Naijauto – Nigeria
• Indian Autos Blog – India News
• MotorBeam – Sponsored
• RushLane – Auto News
• ZigWheels – Features
• CarDekho – Buying Guide
• The Truth About Cars – Opinions
• Auto Spies – Spy Shots
• Automotive World – Industry
• Just Auto – B2B
• WardsAuto – Analysis
• Automotive News – PR
• Aftermarket News – Aftermarket
• Tire Review – Tires
• Modern Tire Dealer – B2B Tires
• Auto Body News – Repair Biz
• Shop Owner Mag – Shop Mgmt
• Ratchet+Wrench – Repair Biz
• FenderBender – Collision
• Transport Topics – Trucking
  

Tech & Lifestyle (Auto Sections)

• TechTimes – EV Tech
• TechBullion – EV Fintech
• Innotech Today – Innovation
• Gear Patrol – Reviews
• Uncrate – Car Features
• HiConsumption – Consumption
• Man of Many – Men's Style
• Dmarge – Luxury
• Luxury Lifestyle Mag – Luxury
• Vents Magazine – Lifestyle
• Grit Daily – Startup/Auto
• TechRound – Tech
• London Loves Business – UK Biz
• International Business Times – Global
• Latin Post – Latin
  

Regional & Niche Paid Sites

• Dubai Cars – UAE
• Saudi Auto – KSA
• Paultan.org – Malaysia
• SG Car Mart – Singapore
• Carmudi – Philippines
• Tsikot – Philippines
• PakWheels – Pakistan
• Drivetribe – Community
• Car Throttle – Viral
• AutoTalk – NZ
  

Step 3: Pitching Strategy (News vs Evergreen)

Automotive editors are flooded with generic "Car Maintenance Tips" pitches. To win, you must be timely or technical.

The "News Hijack" Strategy

When a new model launches (e.g., the new Ford Mustang), pitch a comparison or a hot take immediately.

• Pitch: "Why the new Mustang's suspension changes will alienate purists."
• Why it works: Editors need content about trending topics now.

The "Evergreen Tech" Strategy

Pitch deep dives into complex technology.

• Pitch: "The complete guide to understanding solid state batteries for EVs."
• Why it works: This content has a long shelf life and attracts backlinks naturally.
  

The Buyer's Checklist

Before you finalize any deal, run this 4 point check:

1. Traffic Geo: If you are a US dealer, ensure the site gets US traffic. A link from IndianAutosBlog is great for a global brand, but useless for a Chicago dealership.
2. Affiliate Links: Check if the site is just an Amazon Affiliate farm reviewing "Best Car Wax." If so, they are unlikely to link to your product page without payment.
3. Link Type: Confirm Do Follow. No Follow links are common in big media, so clarify this before paying for a sponsored post.
4. Indexing: Search site:domain.com "guest post" to ensure Google is actually indexing their paid content.
   

Automotive Guest Post FAQ

Q: Can I use car specs from the manufacturer in my post?

A: Yes, but add unique value. Don't just copy paste the spec sheet. Explain what those specs mean for the driver. (e.g., "This torque figure means you can tow a boat, but passing on the highway will feel sluggish.")

Q: How much does an automotive guest post cost?

A: Prices range from $100 for smaller enthusiast blogs to $1,000+ for major industry publications via PR wires.

Q: Is it better to sponsor a review or write a guest post?

A: For products (parts, accessories), a Sponsored Review is better because it shows the product in action. For services (insurance, repair), a Guest Post demonstrating expertise is better.

The Strategic Bottom Line

In Automotive SEO, Authority is driven by Expertise.

Rely on Regional sites if you are a local dealer needing foot traffic.

Commit to Technical content on high authority enthusiast sites if you are a global brand building a reputation.

Audit the site, use high octane photography, and never write boring content.