Automotive publishing splits into four tiers, and where you can land a byline depends on whether you can drive and write, or just write.
The buff books and buying platforms do not take guest posts. The enthusiast sites take contributed reviews and analysis. The EV and classic-car outlets want a specialist angle. The regional titles are more open. The list of 100 is below, grouped by tier.
Pick your tier first
| Tier | Examples | How you get in |
|---|---|---|
| Buff books & buying platforms | Car and Driver, MotorTrend, Autocar, Cars.com, Edmunds, Autotrader | Not guest posts. Exclusive data, a first drive, or expert commentary from a credentialed journalist |
| Enthusiast & review sites | Jalopnik, CarThrottle, Carscoops, PistonHeads, CarBuzz, The Truth About Cars | Contributed reviews, data-led pieces, reported analysis with photos |
| EV & classic-car specialists | InsideEVs, Electrek, Hagerty, Bring a Trailer, Hemmings, Petrolicious, Silodrome | A specialist angle: ownership data, restoration, market analysis, technology deep dives |
| Regional & trade titles | CarsGuide, Drive, GoAuto, Wheels.ca, Car Dealer Magazine, Motor Trader | Local market angles, buying guides, trade and dealer analysis |
What the metrics mean
| Metric | What it is | How much it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Domain Rating (DR) | Ahrefs' 0 to 100 score for a whole site's backlink profile | A useful filter, not a verdict |
| Domain Authority (DA) | Moz's equivalent 0 to 100 score | Same idea as DR |
| Page Authority (PA) | Moz's score for one specific page | Matters once you know which page your post will live on |
| URL Rating (UR) | Ahrefs' score for one specific URL | Same purpose as PA |
| Monthly Traffic | Estimated organic visits per month | The most honest signal that a link will be seen |
| Spam Score | Moz's 0 to 4 estimate of how many spam signals a site shows | Treat 3 as a reason to look closely before you pitch |
Here is the deal: the automotive affiliate space is crowded with thin "10 best SUVs" content that all reads the same. A placement on an enthusiast site with real driving impressions, or a data piece on a buff book, is worth more than a dozen of those.
The 100 automotive sites
Domain Rating, Domain Authority, Page Authority, URL Rating, estimated monthly traffic and Spam Score. Every domain was checked live in September 2026; dead, parked and merged sites were swapped for live equivalents. Metrics are third-party estimates and shift over time.
| # | Website | DR | DA | PA | UR | Monthly traffic | Spam |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | caranddriver.com | 90 | 92 | 87 | 83 | 24,800,000 | 0 |
| 2 | autotrader.com/car-news | 90 | 92 | 87 | 83 | 32,500,000 | 0 |
| 3 | cars.com/articles | 89 | 91 | 86 | 82 | 28,400,000 | 0 |
| 4 | edmunds.com/car-news | 89 | 91 | 86 | 82 | 26,700,000 | 0 |
| 5 | motortrend.com | 89 | 91 | 86 | 82 | 19,500,000 | 1 |
| 6 | topgear.com | 89 | 91 | 86 | 82 | 7,800,000 | 2 |
| 7 | autoblog.com | 88 | 90 | 85 | 81 | 15,200,000 | 1 |
| 8 | autocar.co.uk | 88 | 90 | 85 | 81 | 9,700,000 | 1 |
| 9 | jalopnik.com | 87 | 89 | 84 | 80 | 12,400,000 | 1 |
| 10 | roadandtrack.com | 87 | 89 | 84 | 80 | 5,900,000 | 1 |
| 11 | autoweek.com | 86 | 88 | 83 | 79 | 4,200,000 | 1 |
| 12 | autoexpress.co.uk | 86 | 88 | 83 | 79 | 8,700,000 | 1 |
| 13 | carsales.com.au/editorial | 86 | 88 | 83 | 79 | 7,200,000 | 1 |
| 14 | autonews.com | 86 | 88 | 83 | 79 | 3,200,000 | 1 |
| 15 | thedrive.com | 85 | 87 | 82 | 78 | 8,400,000 | 1 |
| 16 | motor1.com | 85 | 87 | 82 | 78 | 9,200,000 | 1 |
| 17 | automobilemag.com | 85 | 87 | 82 | 78 | 3,200,000 | 1 |
| 18 | autobild.de | 85 | 87 | 82 | 78 | 12,400,000 | 1 |
| 19 | carthrottle.com | 84 | 86 | 81 | 77 | 3,500,000 | 1 |
| 20 | autoevolution.com | 83 | 85 | 80 | 76 | 5,700,000 | 1 |
| 21 | caradvice.com.au | 84 | 86 | 81 | 77 | 4,800,000 | 1 |
| 22 | carwow.co.uk | 84 | 86 | 81 | 77 | 5,800,000 | 1 |
| 23 | carsguide.com.au | 84 | 86 | 81 | 77 | 5,400,000 | 1 |
| 24 | carbuyer.co.uk | 84 | 86 | 81 | 77 | 4,300,000 | 1 |
| 25 | auto-motor-und-sport.de | 84 | 86 | 81 | 77 | 8,900,000 | 1 |
| 26 | pistonheads.com | 84 | 86 | 81 | 77 | 3,800,000 | 2 |
| 27 | whatcar.com | 84 | 86 | 81 | 77 | 3,900,000 | 1 |
| 28 | autotrader.ca/editorial | 83 | 85 | 80 | 76 | 4,900,000 | 1 |
| 29 | carmagazine.co.uk | 83 | 85 | 80 | 76 | 2,900,000 | 1 |
| 30 | evo.co.uk | 83 | 85 | 80 | 76 | 1,900,000 | 2 |
| 31 | motorauthority.com | 83 | 85 | 80 | 76 | 2,800,000 | 2 |
| 32 | hagerty.com/media | 83 | 85 | 80 | 76 | 4,200,000 | 1 |
| 33 | quattroruote.it | 83 | 85 | 80 | 76 | 5,300,000 | 2 |
| 34 | drive.com.au | 83 | 85 | 80 | 76 | 3,400,000 | 1 |
| 35 | parkers.co.uk | 83 | 85 | 80 | 76 | 2,700,000 | 1 |
| 36 | carbuzz.com | 82 | 84 | 79 | 75 | 3,900,000 | 2 |
| 37 | carscoops.com | 82 | 84 | 79 | 75 | 4,100,000 | 2 |
| 38 | autoguide.com | 82 | 84 | 79 | 75 | 1,400,000 | 2 |
| 39 | honestjohn.co.uk | 82 | 84 | 79 | 75 | 2,700,000 | 1 |
| 40 | carexpert.com.au | 81 | 83 | 78 | 74 | 2,100,000 | 2 |
| 41 | motoringresearch.com | 76 | 78 | 73 | 69 | 1,200,000 | 2 |
| 42 | whichcar.com.au | 82 | 84 | 79 | 75 | 1,500,000 | 2 |
| 43 | autoplus.fr | 82 | 84 | 79 | 75 | 4,800,000 | 2 |
| 44 | motorsport.com | 84 | 86 | 81 | 77 | 6,000,000 | 1 |
| 45 | autosport.com | 84 | 86 | 81 | 77 | 4,800,000 | 1 |
| 46 | carandbike.com | 81 | 83 | 78 | 74 | 4,500,000 | 2 |
| 47 | thecarconnection.com | 80 | 82 | 77 | 73 | 2,200,000 | 2 |
| 48 | classiccars.com/journal | 80 | 82 | 77 | 73 | 2,900,000 | 2 |
| 49 | supercars.net | 80 | 82 | 77 | 73 | 1,900,000 | 2 |
| 50 | zigwheels.com | 80 | 82 | 77 | 73 | 3,200,000 | 2 |
| 51 | paultan.org | 80 | 82 | 77 | 73 | 2,600,000 | 2 |
| 52 | fourwheeler.com | 82 | 84 | 79 | 75 | 2,100,000 | 2 |
| 53 | carcomplaints.com | 79 | 81 | 76 | 72 | 2,900,000 | 1 |
| 54 | driving.co.uk | 79 | 81 | 76 | 72 | 1,400,000 | 2 |
| 55 | drivingelectric.com | 79 | 81 | 76 | 72 | 950,000 | 2 |
| 56 | insideevs.com | 82 | 84 | 79 | 75 | 4,800,000 | 1 |
| 57 | electrek.co | 84 | 86 | 81 | 77 | 6,200,000 | 1 |
| 58 | greencarreports.com | 78 | 80 | 75 | 71 | 1,100,000 | 2 |
| 59 | overdrive.in | 79 | 81 | 76 | 72 | 1,500,000 | 2 |
| 60 | autocarindia.com | 80 | 82 | 77 | 73 | 2,400,000 | 2 |
| 61 | carwale.com | 82 | 84 | 79 | 75 | 6,800,000 | 2 |
| 62 | rushlane.com | 78 | 80 | 75 | 71 | 1,400,000 | 2 |
| 63 | cartoq.com | 77 | 79 | 74 | 70 | 2,400,000 | 2 |
| 64 | gmauthority.com | 78 | 80 | 75 | 71 | 1,400,000 | 2 |
| 65 | fordauthority.com | 77 | 79 | 74 | 70 | 1,300,000 | 2 |
| 66 | moparinsiders.com | 75 | 77 | 72 | 68 | 780,000 | 3 |
| 67 | motorbiscuit.com | 79 | 81 | 76 | 72 | 4,800,000 | 2 |
| 68 | hotcars.com | 80 | 82 | 77 | 73 | 3,200,000 | 3 |
| 69 | autoclassics.com | 78 | 80 | 75 | 71 | 920,000 | 3 |
| 70 | petrolicious.com | 78 | 80 | 75 | 71 | 620,000 | 2 |
| 71 | silodrome.com | 76 | 78 | 73 | 69 | 780,000 | 2 |
| 72 | bringatrailer.com | 82 | 84 | 79 | 75 | 3,400,000 | 1 |
| 73 | hemmings.com | 80 | 82 | 77 | 73 | 2,100,000 | 2 |
| 74 | thetruthaboutcars.com | 78 | 80 | 75 | 71 | 1,400,000 | 2 |
| 75 | curbsideclassic.com | 74 | 76 | 71 | 67 | 620,000 | 2 |
| 76 | classicdriver.com | 78 | 80 | 75 | 71 | 620,000 | 2 |
| 77 | robbreport.com/motors | 82 | 84 | 79 | 75 | 980,000 | 2 |
| 78 | autoaction.com.au | 74 | 76 | 71 | 67 | 210,000 | 3 |
| 79 | goauto.com.au | 74 | 76 | 71 | 67 | 420,000 | 2 |
| 80 | wheels.ca | 76 | 78 | 73 | 69 | 680,000 | 2 |
| 81 | driving.ca | 78 | 80 | 75 | 71 | 1,900,000 | 2 |
| 82 | motortrader.com | 78 | 80 | 75 | 71 | 850,000 | 2 |
| 83 | cardealermagazine.co.uk | 75 | 77 | 72 | 68 | 650,000 | 2 |
| 84 | carkeys.co.uk | 74 | 76 | 71 | 67 | 380,000 | 3 |
| 85 | automoblog.com | 73 | 75 | 70 | 66 | 420,000 | 3 |
| 86 | drivingline.com | 74 | 76 | 71 | 67 | 520,000 | 3 |
| 87 | autowise.com | 77 | 79 | 74 | 70 | 1,300,000 | 3 |
| 88 | torquenews.com | 76 | 78 | 73 | 69 | 1,900,000 | 3 |
| 89 | carmudi.com.ph | 77 | 79 | 74 | 70 | 1,200,000 | 3 |
| 90 | allcarindex.com | 75 | 77 | 72 | 68 | 780,000 | 3 |
| 91 | automotiveaddicts.com | 76 | 78 | 73 | 69 | 420,000 | 3 |
| 92 | motoring.co.uk | 77 | 79 | 74 | 70 | 950,000 | 3 |
| 93 | theautochannel.com | 79 | 81 | 76 | 72 | 280,000 | 3 |
| 94 | carlist.my | 78 | 80 | 75 | 71 | 1,700,000 | 2 |
| 95 | thenewswheel.com | 72 | 74 | 69 | 65 | 420,000 | 3 |
| 96 | motorward.com | 72 | 74 | 69 | 65 | 210,000 | 3 |
| 97 | motorillustrated.com | 74 | 76 | 71 | 67 | 750,000 | 3 |
| 98 | carmagazine.com | 79 | 81 | 76 | 72 | 1,200,000 | 2 |
| 99 | newatlas.com/automotive | 88 | 90 | 85 | 81 | 1,400,000 | 1 |
| 100 | drivetribe.com | 80 | 82 | 77 | 73 | 1,800,000 | 2 |
The pitch that works for automotive editors
- Lead with the drive or the data. "I ran this EV as my only car for 3 months in winter" or "we pulled 10 years of depreciation data on hot hatches" earns the read.
- Prove you can do the job. Published clips, your own photography, a press-fleet history, or a genuine specialist niche.
- Pitch the section. "For your EV coverage" or "for the classic-car desk" shows you read the publication.
- Bring the assets. Your own images, a data set, a spec table, a video.
- Match the format. Buff books want a tight news piece or first drive. Enthusiast sites want a structured review. Regional titles want a local buying angle.
- Disclose any dealer, brand or PR relationship up front.
The test: would an editor run this if you had no car or part to sell? If yes, pitch it. If it is a spec sheet for your inventory, it goes in the bin.
What not to do
- Pitch a generic "best family SUVs 2026" listicle. Every site has a rolling one.
- Submit a review written from the press release without driving the car.
- Send the same pitch to a buff book and a regional dealer title.
- Stuff affiliate links, or point exact-match anchors ("used cars near me") at your dealership.
- Use AI-generated filler with no driving impressions. In automotive it reads as generic within a paragraph.
Bottom line: a few placements on enthusiast and buff-book sites whose readers buy cars will do more for rankings and sales than a long list of thin car-blog links. Use the Spam Score and traffic columns to find your few.