10 Viral Facebook Reel Ideas for 2023 That’ll Put Your Car Dealership in the Fast Lane

Published 10/02/2023 - Updated 02/08/2023

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Written by

Gary Lewis Cheetham

Automotive marketing specialist from Manchester, UK

Table of Contents [Show]

Hey there, it’s Gary here. In this article I’m ready to share my top ten ideas for
Facebook Reels that you can use for free to get your dealership’s
Facebook page revvin’ like a V8 engine. These are Reels that we launch
with dealerships we work with to great success.

Now, I know some of you older car dealers might be thinking, “What’s
this ‘Facebook Reel’ malarkey?” Well, let me tell you, it’s a short-form
video feature on Facebook that allows you to show off your dealership in
all its glory. And with a generation of car buyers now turning to social
media for their automotive needs, it’s crucial that your dealership is
well represented online.

If you need a full guide on setting up, using and tips on creating
Facebook Reels, check our Complete Guide to Facebook Reels for Car
Dealers
.

So, without further ado, let’s dive into these ten ideas and see how we
can make your dealership’s Facebook page the talk of the town. From
customer testimonials to behind-the-scenes glimpses, and even car
customisations, I’ve got something for everyone. So, grab a cuppa, sit
back, and let’s get started!

Who wrote the article “10 Viral Facebook Reel Ideas for 2023 That’ll Put Your Car Dealership in the Fast Lane”?

Allow me to introduce myself! My name is Gary Lewis Cheetham, and I’m an
automotive marketing expert, hailing from northern England. I grew up in
my dad’s car dealership, and I learned the ins and outs of car dealer
marketing on the job. With years of experience under my belt and a
passion for all things automotive, I’m here to share my expertise with
you.

I founded GL Digital Automotive Marketing in 2020 to provide marketing
help to car dealers all over the UK and US.

Let’s get started with our 10 Facebook Reels ideas for car dealers!

Image of a car salesman making videos for ghosts

Making Car Dealer Videos but No-Body's Buying?

Image of a car salesman making videos for ghosts

Making Car Dealer Videos but No-Body's Buying?

Stop getting ghosted by your followers, create videos that can actually drive sales!

  • Do's and Dont's for good video
  • Content Ideas that drive sales
  • Examples of strong videos

1) Showcase a Car Restoration

A smartphone taking a facebook reel of a car restoration in progress

Inspiration for this reel comes from the car restoration shows we all
know and love like Wheeler Dealers, where a team of experts bring an
old, beaten-up barn find back to its former glory.

Breakdown of what could be included in the Reel video

This reel could show the process of the restoration, from the initial
condition of the car to its final, shiny appearance. It could also
include interviews with the technicians involved in the restoration and
a tour of the dealership’s workshop.

Unique Twist

To make this reel unique, you could showcase a time-lapse of the entire
restoration process, adding music and captions to explain what’s
happening. You could also involve customers in the process, asking them
to choose which car they’d like to see restored next.

Involve all members of the dealership showroom:

Encourage all showroom staff to share the reel on their own personal
social media pages, to help spread the word and show their support for
the dealership.

2) Behind the Scenes at the Dealership

A smartphone taking a facebook reel of a the behind the scenes footage at a car dealership

Inspiration for this reel comes from behind-the-scenes TV shows, like
American Chopper, where the audience gets a glimpse into the workings of
a business.

Breakdown of what could be included in the Reel video

This reel could show a day in the life of the dealership, including
interviews with staff members, a tour of the showroom, and a look at the
dealership’s workshops.

Unique Twist

To make this Reel unique, you could focus on the quirkier aspects of the
dealership, such as the staff’s favourite cars, their favourite customer
interactions, or their favourite workshops. You could also add music and
captions to bring a light-hearted feel to the reel.

Involve all members of the dealership showroom

Encourage all staff to share their favourite behind-the-scenes moments
on the dealership’s social media page, and ask customers to share their
favourite memories of visiting the dealership.

3) Test Drive Challenge

A smartphone taking a facebook reel of a test drive in a car dealership

Inspiration for this reel comes from car shows like Top Gear, where they
put a “Star in a Reasonably Priced Car”, and where skilled drivers push
their cars to the limit.

Breakdown of what could be included in the Reel video

This reel could show a dealership staff member taking one of the
dealership’s cars for a test drive and putting it through its paces. Or,
you could grab somebody’s wife or girlfriend and put them in a really
fancy car for a bit. It could include high-speed driving, tight turns,
and even a little bit of off-roading.

Unique Twist

To make this reel unique, you could challenge customers to come to the
dealership and try to beat the dealership staff member’s test drive time
(Make sure they’re insured though). You could also add music and
captions to add a sense of excitement to the reel.

Involve all members of the dealership showroom:

Encourage all staff members to share their own test drive times and
experiences on the dealership’s social media page, and ask customers to
share their own test drive times and experiences.

4) Customer Testimonials

A smartphone taking a facebook reel of customers buying a car in a car dealership

Our inspiration for this reel comes from those classic car dealership
ads, where customers are seen grinning from ear to ear about their
latest purchase.

Breakdown of what could be included in the Reel video:

This reel could feature your happy customers talking about their
experience at the dealership, from the moment they stepped into the
showroom to the moment they drove off the lot in their new car.

Unique Twist

Your customers are already unique, they will have local accents and
represent your dealership’s demographic very well. So put them on
camera!

Involve all members of the dealership showroom

Encourage all staff members to share their favourite customer
testimonials on the dealership’s social media page, and ask customers to
share their own testimonials and rate their experience on the
dealership’s page.

5) The story of a Sale

A smartphone taking a facebook reel of customers buying a car in a car dealership

You might not feel like it day to day, but working at a car dealership
is many people’s dream job. So show them what it’s like!

Breakdown of what could be included in the Reel video:

Talk about what it takes to write up a sale at your dealership,
including finance proposal, valuing the trade in, and handing over the
keys.

Unique Twist

To make this reel unique, you could add music and captions to create a
sense of mystery and excitement. You could also challenge customers to
guess what happens in different parts of the dealership and reward the
closest guesses with discounts or free upgrades.

Involve all members of the dealership showroom

Encourage all staff members to share their favourite behind-the-scenes
sales moments on the dealership’s social media page, and ask customers
to share their own favourite moments from their experiences at the
dealership.

6) Car Customisation:

A smartphone taking a facebook reel of an engine bay open on a car showing car customisation in a car dealership

Inspiration for this reel comes from shows like pimp my ride, where
people transform ordinary cars into stunning masterpieces.

Breakdown of what could be included in the Reel video

This reel could showcase the dealership’s customization options,
including custom paint jobs, wheels, audio systems, and more.

Unique Twist

To make this reel unique, you could add music and captions to create a
sense of creativity and excitement. You could also challenge customers
to come up with their own custom car designs and share them on the
dealership’s social media page, with a prize for the best design.

Involve all members of the dealership showroom:

Encourage all staff members to share their favourite custom car designs
on the dealership’s social media page, and ask customers to share their
own favourite custom car designs and rate the dealership’s customization
options.

7) Showcasing the Dealership’s Inventory

A smartphone taking a facebook reel of lines of cars on a car lot

Inspiration for this reel comes from car sales shows, where dealerships
showcase their latest arrivals and best deals.

Breakdown of what could be included in the Reel video:

This reel could show off the dealership’s latest arrivals, including new
and pre-owned vehicles. It could include a tour of the showroom,
highlighting the features of each car, and short interviews with sales
staff.

Unique Twist

To make this reel unique, we sometimes show our dealers the video of the
infamous Blue Genie from the Chop Show. You don’t need to dress up, but
you could add music and captions to bring a sense of excitement to the
reel. You could also challenge customers to guess the price of each car
and reward the closest guess with a discount or free upgrade.

Involve all members of the dealership showroom

Encourage all staff members to share their favourite cars from the
dealership’s inventory on their personal social media pages, and ask
customers to share their favourite cars and why they love them.

8) Car Maintenance and Repair Tips

A smartphone taking a facebook reel of a car being repaired

Inspiration for this reel comes from DIY car repair shows, where people
learn how to maintain and repair their cars.

Breakdown of what could be included in the Reel video

This reel could show the dealership’s technicians performing routine
maintenance and repairs on a car. It could include an explanation of
what they’re doing and why it’s important, as well as a tour of the
dealership’s workshops.

Unique Twist

To make this reel unique, you could add music and captions to explain
the process in a fun and engaging way. You could also challenge
customers to try to diagnose a car problem, with a prize for the first
customer to get it right.

Involve all members of the dealership showroom

Encourage all staff members to share their favourite car maintenance and
repair tips on the dealership’s social media page, and ask customers to
share their own tips and experiences.

9) Dealership Community Involvement

A smartphone taking a facebook reel of a woman driving a car that she has just bought of a car dealership

Inspiration for this reel comes from shows that showcase businesses
giving back to their communities.

Breakdown of what could be included in the Reel video

This reel could show the dealership’s involvement in the local
community, such as sponsoring local events, supporting local charities,
or donating cars to families in need.

Unique Twist

To make this reel unique, you could add music and captions to bring a
sense of heartwarming to the reel. You could also challenge customers to
share their own stories of giving back to the community, with a prize
for the best story.

Involve all members of the dealership showroom

Encourage all staff members to share their favourite community
involvement moments on the dealership’s social media page, and ask
customers to share their own favourite moments of giving back to the
community.

10) Car Karaoke Challenge

A smartphone taking a facebook reel of a group of women in a car singing car karaoke

Inspiration for this comes from Carpool Karaoke with James Corden

Breakdown of what could be included in the Reel video

Get your sales team and other dealership staff members to choose their
favourite car-themed songs and film themselves lip-syncing and dancing
to them in the showroom. The catch? Each team member must perform in a
different car on the dealership floor.

Unique Twist

Encourage staff members to get creative with their costumes and
choreography, and have a “best performance” competition, with the
winning team receiving a fun prize.

Involve all Members of the Dealership Showroom

Ask staff members from different departments to participate, such as the
service team, finance team, and even the receptionist. This will not
only show off the fun and lighthearted side of your dealership but will
also help build camaraderie among the staff. And who knows, you might
just discover some hidden talents along the way!

Conclusion

Customising cars, showcasing the dealership’s inventory, offering car
maintenance and repair tips, and giving back to the community are all
great ways for a car dealership to connect with its customers.

By leveraging these viral Facebook Reel ideas in 2023, your car
dealership can stand out from the crowd while engaging potential buyers
and existing customers alike.

These reels will help you show off your unique offerings while also
building relationships with people who may not have considered buying
from you before. With a little creativity and some hard work, you’ll be
on your way to putting your car dealership in the fast lane!

Image of a car salesman using a smartphone in a flooded showroom

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Don't just post content, create videos that actually drive sales!

  • Do's and Dont's for good video
  • Content Ideas that drive sales
  • Examples of strong videos

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About the author

A profile picture of Gary Lewis Cheetham, the founder of GL Digital Automotive Marketing, smiling outside a car dealership

Gary Lewis Cheetham is an automotive marketing specialist, born and raised in Oldham, Greater Manchester. Gary Lewis Cheetham is the founder of GL Digital Automotive Marketing. He spent his teenage years working at the family dealership after school, learning the ropes of the car trade from the inside out.

After moving on to working in marketing, Gary Lewis founded GL Digital in 2020 when he noticed a need for direct-to-consumer marketing platforms within the auto industry. He now strives every day to help independent dealers in the UK and US realise their potential. Gary also loves Formula 1 and motorsport.