Before creating your car directory, let’s get some idea about the common types of car directory websites. These types will help to broaden your business idea. You can primarily start with a single type and extend with multiple types through multi directory model. However, the type is, the core objective remains the same . To help users buy, while others focus on and sell vehicles, rentals, dealerships, or services. And, as a directory owner, you earn money by helping these two groups. Here are some common types of car directory websites:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- New Car Buy and Sell Directory<\/strong>: This type of directory lists only brand-new vehicles from dealers or authorized sellers. It lets buyers compare new car models, prices, features, and special offers in one place.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Used Car Directory<\/strong>: This directory features pre-owned vehicles. Sellers and dealers can post listings with details like model, year, mileage, condition, and price.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Dealer Directory<\/strong>: This directory lists car dealerships by brand, location, or specialty. It helps users find trusted dealers, see available cars, and contact the right seller easily.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Car Rental Directory<\/strong>: This type is for businesses offering cars for short or long-term rental. Users can browse available vehicles, compare rental companies, and check prices and booking options.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- EV Directory<\/strong>: This directory focuses on electric vehicles, including listings for electric cars, dealers, charging stations, and rental options. This area is growing as more people become interested in electric mobility.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Auto Service Directory<\/strong>: This directory lists automotive service providers such as repair shops, car washes, detailing services, and mechanics. It is helpful for users looking for vehicle services instead of just car listings.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Create a Car Directory Website with These Easy Steps<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
We will only show you incorporating the important aspects. We will recommend you not to skip or swap the steps with one another to avoid any unwanted results along the way. We assume that you already have your WordPress website in place. If not, you can follow our ultimate guide<\/a><\/strong> to complete the process. Now let’s follow the steps one by one:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 1: Install & activate Directorist<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
For this tutorial, we will be using\u00a0Directorist\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>as it offers the most versatile features even in the free version. In addition, it has 20,000+ active installations with more than 4.7 ratings in WordPress.org.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once your fresh WordPress website is up and running, you can go to\u00a0WP Admin Dashboard > Plugins > Add New > Search for the keyword \u2018directorist\u2019 > Install the following plugin<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/directorist.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/05\/Install-Directorist-Manually-1024x359.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nNext up, you need to activate and configure the setup wizard to get the ball rolling. We recommend you to visit our official documentation<\/a> that will help you to do so with ease. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 2: Install a car directory theme<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
You can use any theme for your directory website but choosing a directory website optimized theme will add extra flavor to the appearance. Thus we will be using a niche specific and Directorist optimized classified theme called \u2018dCar<\/strong><\/a>\u2018. You can get the theme for here. If you’ve tight budget, Directorist also has another free theme called OneListing<\/strong><\/a><\/strong>. This free theme will not offer premium extensions and require a bit more customization as this is build for all directory entrepreneur who have a budget limitation. We have a full guide on this how to create a directory website for free.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nDownload dCar <\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nSo now, once you get the theme from your dashboard, navigate to the\u00a0WP Admin Dashboard > Appearance > Themes > Add New<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"How](\"https:\/\/directorist.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/10\/2-installing-onelisting-1024x433.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThen click on Upload Theme > Choose File and select the \u2018onelisting.zip\u2019 > Install Now<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/directorist.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/09\/install-dcar-theme-1-1024x291.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nNow, activate <\/strong>the theme to take an effect:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/directorist.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/10\/4-activate-onelisting-1024x325.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhile installing the theme, make sure you have installed all the suggested extensions so that the theme works perfectly. So, we recommend you hit the “Begin Installing Plugins” option to install them all at once.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/directorist.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/09\/install-required-extenstions-of-dcar-1024x223.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAnd that\u2019s it! You have successfully installed dCar theme is specifically developed for creating a car directory website. Here is first look after installing your dCar theme. To know how to customize it aligning with your brand with advanced theme options, follow this section <\/strong><\/a>from our ultimate guide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 3: Create categories & tags for your car directory website<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Categories are really important for visitors to find their desired car listing faster. Without adding a category, it will be much harder for a listing owner to make his ads actually classified. With Directorist, you can not only give a name to a certain category but also assign it to a parent category, give a description, add an image, and assign a category icon & color to it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Creating categories and tags for the listings or the cars will make it easier for the visitors to find their desired items. So, make sure you create several categories:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To do so, navigate to the\u00a0Directorist > Categories > Fill out the fields and make sure to hit the \u201cAdd New Category\u201d button<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/directorist.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/09\/add-catergories-to-dcar-1024x431.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/directorist.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/09\/added-dcar-category-1024x165.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nby this way, you can add your all the required categories like Make, model, year, body type, condition, fuel type, price, mileage or seller type<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Similarly, you can add tags so that the visitors can find their desired item as fast as possible. You can do it from\u00a0Directorist > Tags > Enter Credentials > Add New Tag<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/directorist.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/03\/Add-tag-1024x268.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nStep 4: How to add new locations<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Just like adding categories or tags adding locations helps the users find the desired automotive listing from a car classified ads website. To add locations, you have to go to the\u00a0Directorist> Locations > Enter credentials > Add New Locations<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/directorist.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/03\/add-location-1024x378.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nStep 5: Create a Listing Submission Form <\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Now, it’s time to upload some listings on your car classified ads website. To upload car listings the users will need to navigate to the “Submit Your Cars” button on your website. If you want users, dealers, or private sellers to add listings, you need a clean and easy submission form. This form should collect all the important information without making the process feel overwhelming. You can personalized your “Add Listing Form” using “Form Fields”<\/strong> & “Custom Fields”<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
WP Dashboard > Directorist > Directory Builder > Add Listing Form<\/strong> > Update<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/directorist.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2024\/09\/dCar-add-listing-form-1024x372.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nNext up, the user will find the following form:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Used Car Directory<\/strong>: This directory features pre-owned vehicles. Sellers and dealers can post listings with details like model, year, mileage, condition, and price.<\/li>\n\n\n\n