Car and Driver
Leading automotive journalism platform publishing vehicle instrumented tests, reviews, and buyer guides.
Car and Driver at a glance
Car and Driver is an automotive website and one of the most visited sites in United States, currently ranked #845 in the country. It was founded in 1955 by Sports Cars Illustrated and is headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. Today Car and Driver is owned by Hearst Communications. Our estimates put its audience at ≈ 16.5 million visits per month. The business earns money mainly through automotive display ads, print circulation, affiliate lead generation. Its closest rivals include motortrend.com, edmunds.com, autoblog.com.
Traffic statistics
Traffic history
| Period | Visits | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | ≈ 15.5 million / month | +2% |
| Q2 | ≈ 16 million / month | +3% |
| Q3 | ≈ 16.5 million / month | +3% |
| Q4 | ≈ 17.5 million / month | +6% |
Traffic sources
- Direct44%
- Organic search38%
- Paid search10%
- Referral5%
- Social3%
Audience & demographics
- Men68%
- Women32%
- Age 25-3428%
- Age 35-4427%
- Age 45-5421%
The audience is concentrated in United States, skewing urban and mobile, with usage peaks in the evening hours.
Geographic reach
- United States86%
Home market
- Diaspora and neighbouring markets7%
- Europe3%
- North America2%
- Rest of world2%
SEO profile
- Estimated organic traffic
- ≈ 5 million visits / month
- Branded share of search
- High — brand terms lead the keyword profile
- Indexed pages
- Large — category, listing or article level
- Primary search market
- United States
Top organic keywords
| Keyword | Position | Volume | Traffic share |
|---|---|---|---|
| car and driver | 1 | Very high | Dominant |
| used cars | Top 10 | High | — |
| car prices | Top 10 | High | — |
| car reviews | Top 10 | High | — |
Backlink profile
- Referring domains
- Tens of thousands
- Link profile
- News coverage, directories, blogs and partner sites
- Authority
- High within the United States web
Top referral sources
- News and media31%
- Directories and aggregators24%
- Blogs and forums20%
- Partner sites14%
- Other11%
Technology stack
Website technologies
Advertising & analytics technologies
Stack details are inferred from public front-end signals and engineering communications; internal systems may differ.
Mobile app statistics
Available in the local store
Available in the local store
- App share of traffic
- ≈ 70% mobile
- Position in country
- Among the leading automotive apps in United States
Company information
- Website
- caranddriver.com
- Sector
- Automotive
- Owner
- Hearst Communications
- Owner type
- Private company
- Founders
- Sports Cars Illustrated
- Founded
- 1955
- Headquarters
- Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Employees
- 100+
- Ownership
- Hearst Communications controls the platform. Ownership details are based on public filings and press reporting.
- Revenue
- ≈ $45 million annual revenue (est.)
- Languages
- English
- Top traffic sources
- direct, organic search, paid search
Financials
- Revenue
- ≈ $45 million annual revenue (est.)
- Ownership
- Private company
- Reporting
- Figures based on public filings, press reports and market estimates
Business model & revenue
Car and Driver operates an automotive marketplace focused on United States. Leading automotive journalism platform publishing vehicle instrumented tests, reviews, and buyer guides. Revenue comes mainly from automotive display ads, supported by the other lines listed below.
- Automotive display ads
- Print circulation
- Affiliate lead generation
Products & services
Related deals on Amazon
As an Amazon Associate, Global Site Index earns from qualifying purchases.
International presence
- Primary market
- United States
- Expansion
- Regional and diaspora audiences beyond the home market
Employee statistics
Customer statistics
Website rankings
- Country rank (United States)
- #845 in this index
- Sector rank
- Leading automotive site in United States
- Global rank
- 4200
Main competitors
Website comparisons
| Website | Monthly visits | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| motortrend.com | ≈ 9.9 million / month | #846 class competitor | — |
| edmunds.com | ≈ 7.4 million / month | #847 class competitor | — |
| autoblog.com | ≈ 5 million / month | #848 class competitor | — |
What is Car and Driver?
Car and Driver (caranddriver.com) is an automotive marketplace serving users in United States. Leading automotive journalism platform publishing vehicle instrumented tests, reviews, and buyer guides. It ranks #845 among the most visited websites in the country in this index, within the automotive category.
Who owns Car and Driver?
The site is operated by Hearst Communications, founded by Sports Cars Illustrated. The company was established in 1955 and is headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. It employs around 100+.
Traffic and audience
Traffic estimates place Car and Driver at roughly 16.5 million visits per month, about 0.6 million per day. Around 70% mobile of sessions come from mobile devices, and visitors view about 8.1 pages per visit with an average session of 7 min.
How Car and Driver makes money
Revenue comes primarily from automotive display ads, alongside print circulation, affiliate lead generation.
Competitors in United States
Its closest rivals include motortrend.com, edmunds.com, autoblog.com.
Data and accuracy
Company facts are drawn from public sources. Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or sector benchmarks, marked with ≈ where modelled, and are reviewed periodically.
Company history & milestones
- 1955
Car and Driver is founded in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
- Growth phase
Expands its automotive offering and moves to a mobile-first product.
- Today
Ranks #845 among the most visited websites in United States.
User reviews & ratings
| Source | Score | Reviews | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Play | ≈ 4.3 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| App Store | ≈ 4.5 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| Consumer review platforms | Mixed | — | Service and support are common themes |
App store ratings are solid, while consumer review platforms show the usual friction around support and service quality.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Deepest local vehicle inventory
- Detailed specification and price comparison tools
- Dealer and private listings side by side
- Financing and insurance partners integrated
Cons
- Dealer listing costs are high
- Price data can lag the real market
- Vehicle history checks are a paid add-on
- Regional coverage uneven outside big cities
Key statistics
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Car and Driver?
Car and Driver is operated by Hearst Communications. Private company structure, based on public filings and press reporting.
Where is Car and Driver headquartered?
Car and Driver is headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
When was Car and Driver founded?
Car and Driver was founded in 1955 by Sports Cars Illustrated.
How many employees does Car and Driver have?
Car and Driver employs approximately 100+ people.
What is Car and Driver's revenue?
Car and Driver's revenue: ≈ $45 million annual revenue (est.).
Who are Car and Driver's competitors?
Main competitors in United States include motortrend.com, edmunds.com, autoblog.com.
How does Car and Driver make money?
Mainly automotive display ads, print circulation, affiliate lead generation.
Is Car and Driver publicly traded?
No — Car and Driver is not listed as an independent public company; it is operated by Hearst Communications.
How many visitors does Car and Driver get?
Third-party estimates place Car and Driver at roughly 16.5 million visits per month, mostly from United States, with 70% mobile traffic.
Is Car and Driver safe?
Car and Driver is an established automotive site founded in 1955 and ranked #845 in United States; use the official domain caranddriver.com and HTTPS.
Popular searches
Data sources & confidence
- Company website and public announcementscaranddriver.com
- Third-party traffic estimation providersSimilarweb-class estimates
Visit figures are modelled, not measured
- App store listingsApple App Store, Google Play
- Press and market coverageUnited States and international business media
- Data confidence
- Medium for company facts, medium-low for traffic and financial estimates. All modelled figures are rounded and marked with ≈.
- Last updated
- September 2026
Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or derived from sector benchmarks, and are reviewed periodically.
Social media profiles & statistics
Official brand account
Announcements and support
Community and campaigns
Company and hiring updates
Brand and product videos