How to leverage the Consumer Satisfaction Awards

How to leverage the Consumer Satisfaction awards

The Cars.com Consumer Satisfaction Award recognizes the top-performing dealerships based on customer reviews submitted on Cars.com, showcasing outstanding customer satisfaction results.  

All dealerships that meet the criteria and are top-performers based on their PowerScore™ for the previous calendar year will receive the Consumer Satisfaction award. 

Award criteria and eligibility 

To qualify for a Consumer Satisfaction Award, your dealership must meet the following criteria for the previous calendar year:

  • Minimum of 25 reviews on Cars.com
  • At least 1 review per quarter (to show consistency year-round)
  • An average rating of 4.0 stars or higher (out of 5)
  • Must not be blacklisted — i.e., your dealership must not have violated Cars.com’s review policies

How Are Winners Determined?

If your dealership meets the criteria above, it will be evaluated using a proprietary PowerScore™. This score is calculated based on:

  • Average star rating
  • Number of reviews
  • Review response rate

We use a Bayesian algorithm to compare your performance to the site-wide averages. A select percentage of top-performing dealerships receive the award based on these metrics.

When are winners announced?

  • Timing: Awards are announced during Q1 of the following year.
  • Notification: If your dealership wins, you’ll be notified via email.
  • Recognition: Your Cars.com profile page will be updated with a Consumer Satisfaction Award badge.

What do award winners receive? 

As a Consumer Satisfaction Award winner, your dealership will receive the following:

  • A Consumer Satisfaction Award banner on your Cars.com profile
  • High-resolution graphics for digital and social use
  • A press-release template to help you announce your win
    You can access all graphics and templates directly from your Cars.com Dealer Panel:
  1. Log in to your Dealer Panel.
  2. From the navigation, click on Tools, then select My Website Tools.
  1. Click the Awards tab.
  2. Use the orange download buttons to select the image type and file format you need (e.g., high-res JPGs, PNGs).
  • Customizable social media templates
  • Window clings, mailed directly to your dealership for in-store display

How to Access Award Assets in Dealer Panel

These files can be used on:

  • Your Cars.com listings
  • Your website
  • Social media and email campaigns
  • In-store marketing materials

Need Help?

If you’re unable to locate your award assets or have questions about eligibility, contact your Cars.com Account Executive.

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