12 Best Email Marketing Tools for Automotive Businesses in 2025

The requirements for email marketing in the automotive industry are unique. Car dealerships, repair shops and automotive service centers face challenges that differ significantly from those in other industries.

These challenges include managing long sales cycles that span months, coordinating service appointment reminders based on mileage and time intervals, and maintaining customer relationships that result in repeat business over decades rather than weeks.

Email marketing tools solve these industry challenges by automating service reminders, segmenting customers by vehicle type and purchase history, scoring leads based on engagement levels, and integrating with dealer management systems to create seamless customer experiences.

This comprehensive guide includes a detailed comparison table of the 12 best email marketing platforms, detailed feature breakdowns for each tool, specific automotive benefits, key features to prioritize, a step-by-step guide to choosing, and actionable FAQs.

Email marketing delivers average performance ROI of $36 for every dollar spent, making platform selection a critical business decision.

HubSpot is used by automotive companies around the world, including multi-location dealer groups, independent repair shops and auto parts retailers, who leverage the platform’s built-in CRM and marketing automation to increase lead conversion rates and service appointment retention.

Table of contents

What is Email Marketing for Automotive Companies?

Email marketing for automotive companies is a digital communication strategy that allows dealers, repair shops and automotive service centers to maintain customer relationships through targeted campaigns.

Automotive companies use email marketing to send service reminders, promote vehicle inventory, announce special offers, and maintain customer loyalty throughout the lifecycle.

CComparison Table: Best Email Marketing Software for Automotive Companies

Email marketing tool	Best for	Key Features	Prices	Average rating
HubSpot	Merchants with multiple locations need CRM integration	Marketing automation, free CRM, landing pages, revenue attribution	Free; Available with Marketing Hub; Starter $9/month per seat	4.4/5
Mailchimp	Small to medium sized independent retailers	Templates, automation, segmentation, journey mapping	Free; Essentials $13/month	4.3/5
ActiveCampaign	Companies that need advanced automation workflows	Marketing automation, lead scoring, SMS integration	Starts at $15/month	4.6/5
Constant contact	Merchants value user-friendliness	Drag and drop builder, event marketing, live support	Starts at $12/month	4.0/5
Brevo	Growing businesses need SMS + email	Email + SMS, transactional emails, automation	Free; Starter $8.08/month	4.5/5
Klaviyo	Auto parts retailer and e-commerce	Advanced segmentation, predictive analytics, revenue attribution	Free; Email: $45/month	4.6/5
GetResponse	Automotive companies host webinars	Webinar hosting, automation, conversion funnels	Email: $15/month	4.2/5
Omnisend	Automotive aftermarket retailer	Omnichannel automation, product recommendations	Free; Standard $11.20/month	4.5/5
Moosend	Budget-conscious automotive companies	Unlimited emails, automation, landing pages	Free; Pro $7/month	4.6/5
Campaign Monitor	Agencies that manage multiple dealers	Customer management, custom templates, white label reporting	Lite €9.90/month	4.1/5
AWeber	Small repair shops and service centers	Email templates, autoresponders, list management	Free; Lite $12.50/month	4.2/5
Kit	Automotive content creators and influencers	Visual automation, subscriber tagging, landing pages	Free; Creator $33/month	4.4/5

Best Email Marketing Software for Automotive Companies

The following platforms represent the best email marketing solutions tailored specifically to the needs of the automotive industry, including service reminder automation, vehicle-based segmentation, CRM integration, and long-term customer relationship management.

1. HubSpot

source

Best suited for: Multi-location dealers and automotive companies that need integrated CRM, marketing automation and sales support on a unified platform

Key HubSpot features:

• Free CRM with unlimited contacts – Track every customer interaction from initial inquiry to vehicle purchase to ongoing service appointments without paying for basic CRM features, eliminating the need for separate database management tools that create data silos in automotive companies
• Visual workflow automation builder – Create sophisticated service reminder sequences, lead nurturing campaigns, and customer engagement workflows using drag-and-drop automation with conditional logic that adjusts based on vehicle ownership, service history, and engagement patterns
• Revenue attribution reporting – Link email campaigns directly to vehicle sales and service appointments with closed-loop reporting that shows which marketing efforts generate actual dealer revenue, enabling data-driven budget allocation decisions

HubSpot Pricing:

• Marketing Hub free: $0 (includes email marketing, forms, landing pages, and CRM)
• Marketing Hub Stater: $9/month per seat
• Marketing Hub Professional: $800/month
• Marketing Hub Enterprise: $3,600/month
• View detailed HubSpot pricing

2. Mailchimp

source

Best suited for: Small to medium-sized independent dealers looking for easy-to-use automation with pre-built automotive templates and intuitive campaign creation

Key Mailchimp features:

• Ready-made automotive templates – Quickly launch professional campaigns with industry-specific email designs optimized for vehicle advertising, service reminders, and dealer announcements without the need for design expertise or custom development
• Customer journey mapping – Visualize and optimize the entire customer experience from initial lead inquiry through vehicle purchase to service appointments and identify communication gaps and engagement opportunities
• Behavior automation triggers – Automatically send targeted emails based on customer actions, including website visits, email clicks, and form submissions, ensuring timely follow-ups that align with the timing of the automotive sales cycle.

Mailchimp Pricing:

3. ActiveCampaign

source

Best suited for: Automotive companies that require sophisticated automation workflows with advanced lead scoring and multi-touch nurturing campaigns that fit complex sales cycles

Key ActiveCampaign features:

• Advanced lead scoring system – Automatically prioritize prospects based on email engagement, website behavior and interaction history, allowing sales teams to focus their efforts on customers most likely to make a purchase or schedule service appointments
• Predictive shipping optimization – Use machine learning to automatically send emails at the optimal time for each customer based on their past opening behavior, and increase open rates by delivering messages when recipients are most likely to interact
• Integrated SMS marketing – Coordinate email and SMS campaigns within unified workflows for appointment confirmations, last-minute maintenance reminders, and time-sensitive vehicle advertising that requires immediate customer intervention

ActiveCampaign Pricing:

4. Constant contact

source

Best suited for: Dealers and repair shops emphasize ease of use and comprehensive customer support, including live chat and phone support for teams with limited marketing experience

Important constant contact functions:

• Drag and drop email builder – Create professional automotive emails without coding knowledge with an intuitive visual builder that simplifies campaign creation for busy dealer staff who need to launch promotions quickly
• Event marketing tools – Promote and manage test drive events, vehicle reveal parties and customer sales with integrated event registration, automatic confirmations and reminder sequences that increase participation rates
• Real-time reporting dashboard – Monitor campaign performance with clear visualizations that show open rates, clicks and conversions, enabling quick performance assessments and campaign optimization decisions

Constant Contact prices:

5. Brevo

source

Best suited for: Growing automotive companies need email and SMS marketing on one platform with pricing based on emails sent, not contact list size

Key Features of Brevo:

• Unified email and SMS platform – Coordinate SMS appointment reminders with email follow-ups through a single interface, reducing tool complexity and ensuring consistent customer communications across all channels without having to manage multiple platforms
• Transactional email features – Automatically send service confirmations, appointment receipts and purchase documents with a reliable delivery infrastructure that ensures important customer communications reach recipients promptly
• Unlimited contacts on paid plans – Build large customer databases without increasing costs as Brevo charges based on emails sent rather than contact count, making it economical for merchants to maintain large customer lists

Brevo prices:

6. Klaviyo

source

Best suited for: Auto parts retailers and aftermarket e-commerce companies that need advanced segmentation and revenue attribution

Key features of Klaviyo:

• Predictive analytics engine – Identify high-value customers and predict future purchasing behavior using machine learning algorithms that analyze past purchasing patterns, enabling targeted campaigns to customers most likely to make repeat purchases
• Product recommendation engine – Automatically suggest relevant auto parts and accessories based on previous purchases and browsing behavior and increase average order value by showing customers items that complement their vehicle needs
• Tracking sales attribution – Track exactly how much revenue each email campaign generates with detailed attribution reports that directly connect marketing efforts to sales and demonstrate email marketing ROI to stakeholders

Klaviyo prices:

7. GetResponse

source

Best suited for: Automotive companies are incorporating webinars into their marketing strategy for virtual vehicle tours, maintenance guides and customer training

Key GetResponse features:

• Integrated webinar hosting – Run live virtual events for up to 1,000 attendees, including vehicle presentations, maintenance workshops and question-and-answer sessions without the need for separate webinar software, streamlining event marketing from promotion to execution
• Conversion funnel builder – Create fully automated sales funnels that combine landing pages, email sequences and webinar registrations that take prospects from initial interest to vehicle purchase or service booking
• Autofunnel templates – Launch marketing campaigns faster with pre-built funnel templates designed for lead generation and sales conversion, reducing automotive promotion setup time from hours to minutes

GetResponse Pricing:

8. Omnisend

source

Best suited for: Automotive aftermarket retailers requiring omnichannel marketing automation that combines email, SMS and push notifications

Key Omnisend features:

• Omnichannel workflow automation – Create unified customer journeys that seamlessly combine email, SMS, and push notifications based on customer behavior, ensuring consistent messaging across all channels while maximizing engagement through customers’ preferred communication methods
• Product selection for personalization – Create targeted campaigns with specific automotive parts and accessories using visual product selectors that simplify campaign creation and ensure advertising accuracy without manual HTML coding
• Campaign booster feature – Automatically send campaigns with different subject lines to non-openers, giving every message a second chance to reach customers and increasing overall campaign reach by 10-15%.

Omnisend prices:

9. Moosend

source

Best suited for: Budget-conscious automotive companies are looking for powerful automation features at competitive prices with unlimited emailing

Key features of Moosend:

• Unlimited email delivery – Send as many emails as you need without incurring per-message fees on all paid plans. This makes it economical for automotive companies to run frequent service reminder campaigns and promotional communications to large customer databases
• AI-powered subject line optimization – Improve email open rates using artificial intelligence that analyzes subject line performance and suggests improvements based on patterns from millions of campaigns across multiple industries
• Landing page builder included – Create dedicated campaign landing pages for vehicle advertising and service specials without purchasing additional tools, consolidating marketing technology and reducing monthly software costs

Moosend prices:

• Free: $0 (up to 1,000 subscribers)
• Pro: $9/month (unlimited emails)
• Moosend+: Individual prices
• Company: Individual prices
• View detailed prices for Moosend

10. Campaign Monitor

source

Best suited for: Marketing agencies manage email campaigns for multiple car dealer clients and need white label reports and customer portals

Important features of the campaign monitor:

• Customer management system – Organize multiple merchant accounts into one master agency dashboard, enabling efficient campaign management for all clients while maintaining separate brands, templates and contact databases for each location
• White label reporting – Create brand analytics reports for merchant clients that display campaign performance metrics without Campaign Monitor branding and present professional insights that drive agency value
• Send by time zone – Automatically send campaigns to recipients in their local time zones and optimize engagement with merchant groups with locations in multiple regions by ensuring emails are received during business hours

Campaign Monitor Prices:

11. AWeber

source

Best suited for: Small auto repair shops and independent service centers that need simple, reliable email marketing with extensive training resources

Key AWeber features:

• 700+ email template library – Choose from pre-built automotive templates optimized for service reminders, promotional offers, and customer newsletters, eliminating the need for custom design work and reducing campaign launch times
• Autoresponder automation – Set up automated email sequences that deliver scheduled follow-up messages after service appointments, vehicle purchases or initial inquiries, ensuring consistent customer communication without manual sending
• Tag-based subscriber management – Organize customers using unlimited tags based on vehicle type, service history and preferences and enable targeted campaigns for specific customer segments without creating duplicate contact lists

AWeber prices:

12. Kit

source

Best suited for: Automotive content creators, YouTubers, and influencers are building an audience around car culture and automotive education

Key features of the kit:

• Visual Automation Builder – Design email sequences using an intuitive visual interface that shows subscriber paths through automation workflows, making it easy to create complex nurturing sequences for automotive content subscribers
• Subscriber tagging system – Organize audiences by interests such as specific vehicle brands, performance modifications, or restoration projects, enabling targeted delivery of content that matches subscriber preferences
• Digital product delivery – Automatically sell and deliver digital products such as automotive guides, maintenance checklists and video courses directly through the platform, creating revenue streams beyond traditional advertising

Kit prices:

Benefits of Email Marketing Software for Automotive Companies

Automated delivery of service reminders

Email marketing software eliminates the need for manual reminder calls by automatically sending maintenance notifications based on purchase dates and mileage intervals. Automotive companies that use automated service reminders reduce no-show rates by 25-35% At the same time, employees save 10 to 15 hours a week on outbound calls. Customers receive timely reminders about oil changes, tire rotations and inspections without the intervention of a service advisor.

Improved lead conversion through nurturing

Email platforms enable systematic lead nurturing that retains prospects throughout the extended automotive sales cycle, which averages 90-120 days. Automated follow-up sequences deliver relevant content, vehicle information and promotional offers at optimal intervals, increasing lead-to-sale conversion rates.

Increased customer lifetime value

Email marketing maintains ongoing customer relationships between service visits and vehicle purchases, increasing customer loyalty and repeat business.

Automotive companies that leverage strategic email campaigns see a significant increase in customer lifetime value through improved service appointment adherence, increased accessory sales, and optimized vehicle trade-in timing.

Data-driven marketing decision making

Modern email platforms provide detailed analytics that show which campaigns are generating appointments, sales and revenue, enabling evidence-based budget allocation.

Automotive companies are replacing guesswork with concrete metrics, including open rates, click-through rates, conversion tracking and revenue attribution, that demonstrate marketing ROI for stakeholders.

Scalable customer communication

Email software allows automotive companies to communicate with thousands of customers simultaneously at a fraction of the cost of traditional direct mail. Platforms enable personalized messaging at scale, where each recipient receives content relevant to their vehicle, service history and preferences, while maintaining operational efficiency.

10 Key Features for Automotive Email Marketing Software

1. Automation of service reminders – Trigger maintenance alerts based on purchase dates, mileage intervals and service history without the need for manual scheduling
2. CRM integration – Synchronize customer data between email platforms and merchant management systems to avoid double data entry
3. Vehicle-based segmentation – Target customers by vehicle make, model, year, trim level and ownership status to receive relevant campaign messaging
4. Lead scoring – Automatically prioritize hot prospects based on email engagement, website behavior and dealer visit history.
5. Mobile optimization – Make sure emails display correctly on smartphones 81% of customers prefer to open their emails.
6. A/B testing – Test subject lines, send times, content variations, and calls to action to continually improve campaign performance
7. Workflow automation – Create complex multi-step sequences with conditional logic that adjusts based on customer actions and reactions
8. Landing page builder – Design campaign-specific landing pages for vehicle advertising and service specials without web development resources
9. SMS integration – Coordinate text messaging and email campaigns for time-sensitive communications, e.g. B. the availability of same-day appointments
10. Sales attribution – Track which campaigns generate vehicle sales, service appointments and parts revenue with closed-loop reporting

How to Choose an Email Marketing Tool for Automotive Businesses (Step by Step)

Step 1: Map your customer communication flows.

Document all current customer touchpoints, including initial inquiries, test drive follow-ups, purchase confirmations, service reminders, maintenance notifications, trade-in alerts, and loyalty messages.

Identify which communications are currently handled manually and which could benefit from automation. Understanding your entire communications ecosystem reveals which platform features drive the greatest operational impact and efficiency gains.

Step 2: Identify must-have features depending on your business type.

Determine key features based on your automotive business model. Merchants prioritize CRM integration, lead scoring, and inventory-based segmentation. Repair shops need service reminder automation and appointment booking integration.

Parts retailers need e-commerce capabilities and product recommendation engines. Create a prioritized feature list that distinguishes between absolute requirements and useful features to guide the platform evaluation.

Step 3: Compare the team’s usability and technical readiness.

Assess your team’s marketing technology experience and available training time. Platforms like Constant Contact and AWeber are suitable for teams with limited technical skills because they prefer intuitive interfaces.

ActiveCampaign and HubSpot offer advanced features but require a higher level of expertise. Test platform interfaces during free trials to assess whether team members can create campaigns independently without extensive ongoing support.

Step 4: Review costs at scale over 12-24 months.

Calculate total cost of ownership as your contact list grows. Some platforms charge per contact, while others charge per email sent, meaning cost structures vary significantly at scale.

Project your list size 12-24 months into the future and price based on that volume. Consider the cost of required add-ons such as SMS messaging, additional users, or advanced features that may require tier upgrades.

Step 5: Choose a flexible platform – like HubSpot.

Choose a platform that scales with your business growth without the need for disruptive migrations. HubSpot supports automotive companies from startup to enterprise scale with a unified platform that eliminates the need for multiple separate tools. The platform’s free tier allows businesses to get started with email marketing and CRM immediately, then seamlessly transition to marketing automation, sales enablement, and customer service capabilities as needs change, without the need for data migration.

How to create email marketing campaigns for automotive companies

Choose your campaign goal.

Define the specific goal for each campaign before creating content. Common automotive goals include generating service appointments, promoting vehicle inventory, announcing sales events, nurturing new leads, reactivating inactive customers, or driving referrals. Clear goals guide content creation, selection of calls to action, and success metrics that determine campaign effectiveness.

Segment your target group according to relevant criteria.

Divide your contact list into target groups based on vehicle ownership, purchase history, service needs and engagement levels. Effective segments include customers due for service, recent vehicle buyers, leads interested in specific vehicle types, customers with vehicles over 100,000 miles, and highly engaged email subscribers. Segmented campaigns generate 58% higher open rates than generic broadcasts.

Design mobile-friendly email templates.

Create email templates that display properly on smartphones as 61% of automotive emails are opened on mobile devices. Use single-column layouts, large, tappable buttons, concise subject lines under 40 characters, and clear calls to action above the fold. Before sending, test emails on multiple devices and email clients to ensure consistent playback.

Write compelling subject lines and preview the text.

Create subject lines that immediately convey value and relevance to recipients. Effective automotive subject lines include specific benefits, create urgency, personalize your application with vehicle information, or ask questions that pique curiosity. The preview text should complement the subject line by providing additional context that encourages opening.

Add clear calls to action.

Alert recipients to a single key action via email, such as: B. arranging a service appointment, viewing vehicle inventory, taking advantage of a promotional offer or reading educational content.

Place primary calls to action prominently by using contrasting button colors and action-oriented text such as “Schedule Service,” “View Inventory,” or “Request a Quote.”

Set up automated follow-up sequences.

Configure triggered follow-up emails based on recipient behavior. After 2-3 days, send reminder emails with different subject lines to non-openers. Track email clicks with additional information about the content clicked. Create canceled booking sequences when customers start scheduling but don’t complete, recovering 15-25% of incomplete bookings.

Monitor and optimize performance.

Track key metrics like open rates, click-through rates, conversion rates, unsubscribe rates, and revenue generated.

Compare campaign performance to automotive industry benchmarks of 22% open rate and 2.5% click-through rate. Identify the top-performing subject lines, content types and send times, then replicate successful elements in future campaigns and test continuous improvements.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best email marketing tool for automotive companies?

HubSpot is the ideal email marketing tool for automotive companies because it combines email marketing, CRM, marketing automation, and sales enablement into a single, integrated platform.

HubSpot enables automotive companies to manage entire customer lifecycles from initial inquiry through vehicle purchase to ongoing service appointments without having to switch between separate systems.

The platform’s free tier includes unlimited contacts, email marketing, forms, landing pages, and CRM features, making it accessible to businesses of all sizes. Multi-location dealer groups benefit from HubSpot’s attribution reporting, which directly links marketing campaigns to vehicle sales and service revenue to demonstrate ROI.

What features should I look for in email marketing tools for automotive companies?

Automotive companies should prioritize automating service reminders, CRM integration, vehicle-based segmentation, lead scoring, mobile optimization, workflow automation, landing page builders, A/B testing, SMS integration, and revenue attribution in email marketing tools.

Service reminder automation ensures customers receive timely maintenance notifications based on purchase dates and mileage intervals without the need for manual intervention. CRM integration synchronizes customer data between email platforms and merchant management systems, eliminating duplicate data entry and ensuring information accuracy.

Vehicle-based segmentation enables targeted campaigns by make, model, year and maintenance history for relevant messaging. Lead scoring automatically prioritizes prospects based on interaction patterns, helping sales teams focus their efforts efficiently. Mobile optimization is essential as 61% of automotive emails are opened on smartphones.

Is HubSpot good for automotive companies?

HubSpot is great for automotive companies because it offers a unified platform that manages marketing, sales, and customer service in one system and is specifically designed to manage long customer lifecycles.

Automotive companies benefit from HubSpot’s free CRM, which tracks every customer interaction from the first website visit to the vehicle purchase to ongoing service appointments. The platform’s marketing automation enables sophisticated workflows for service reminders, lead nurturing and customer loyalty campaigns, eliminating the need for technical expertise.

HubSpot’s closed-loop reporting shows which marketing campaigns are generating actual vehicle sales and service appointments, enabling data-driven budget allocation. Service departments reduced no-shows by using HubSpot’s automated reminder campaigns.

Single-location merchants start with HubSpot’s perpetual free tier, while multi-location groups enjoy enterprise features that scale as business grows.

How much does email marketing software for automotive companies cost?

Email marketing software for automotive companies costs anywhere from $0 to more than $3,600 per month, depending on contact list size, required features, and company size. Most platforms offer free tiers that support 250-1,000 contacts, with basic email and automation features sufficient for small repair shops and single-location dealers.

Paid entry-level plans cost $12 to $29 per month for businesses with fewer than 1,000 contacts that require templates and basic automation. Mid-sized automotive companies with 2,500 to 5,000 contacts and marketing automation needs typically spend between $50 and $200 per month.

Enterprise dealer groups with 10,000+ contacts and advanced needs including lead scoring, revenue attribution, and API integrations invest $500-$3,600 monthly. Pricing structures vary significantly: some platforms charge per contact, others per email sent, so a cost comparison is essential before choosing.

How can automotive companies improve email deliverability?

Automotive companies improve email deliverability by using double opt-in confirmations, maintaining list hygiene by regularly removing inactive subscribers, authenticating email domains with SPF and DKIM records, avoiding spam trigger words in subject lines, sending consistent email volumes, segmenting lists by relevance and monitoring bounce rates.

Email platforms with robust deliverability infrastructure maintain strong relationships with major inbox providers and proactively monitor sender reputation.

Automotive companies should aim for an inbox placement rate above 95% and keep spam complaint rates below 0.1% by only sending emails to customers who have specifically opted in and providing clear value in every communication.

Meet HubSpot, the best email marketing choice for automotive companies

HubSpot offers the most comprehensive email marketing solution for automotive companies by combining marketing automation, CRM, sales enablement, and customer service in one integrated platform. Over 184,000 companies in 120 countries trust HubSpot to manage their entire customer lifecycle without the need for multiple disparate tools that lead to data silos and operational inefficiencies.

Key HubSpot features for automotive companies:

• Unified CRM and marketing platform – Manage every customer interaction from initial website visit to vehicle purchase to ongoing service appointments in a system that automatically syncs data, eliminates double entry, and ensures every team member has access to up-to-date customer information
• Visual marketing automation builder – Create sophisticated email workflows for service reminders, lead nurturing, and customer loyalty campaigns using drag-and-drop automation with conditional logic that adjusts based on vehicle ownership, service history, and engagement patterns, without the need for technical expertise
• Closed-loop revenue attribution – Track which email campaigns are generating vehicle sales, service appointments and parts revenue with detailed reports that link marketing activities directly to dealer revenue, demonstrating ROI and enabling data-driven budget allocation decisions

HubSpot’s Proven Impact on Automotive Companies:

Automotive dealer groups increased lead conversion rates by implementing HubSpot’s integrated marketing and sales platform, which eliminated gaps between lead generation and sales follow-up.

Multi-location automotive companies reduced marketing technology costs by 38% by consolidating five separate tools into HubSpot’s unified platform while improving campaign performance. Service departments using HubSpot reduced no-show rates through automated reminder campaigns that coordinate email, SMS, and CRM notifications.

Independent dealers increased customer lifetime value by leveraging HubSpot’s customer engagement workflows, which maintain the connection between service visits and vehicle purchases.

HubSpot’s Permanent Free Tier provides full access to CRM and key email marketing features, eliminating the credit card requirement and allowing automotive companies to get started immediately without financial risk.

Paid tiers range from $20 per month for entry-level features to enterprise solutions that support complex, multi-site operations with advanced analytics, custom reports, and dedicated support.

Ready to transform your automotive email marketing and drive measurable business growth? Get started with HubSpot’s free email marketing and CRM platform or Schedule a personalized demo to see how HubSpot delivers results for automotive companies like yours.