How to Sell Car Parts Online with WordPress (Step-by-Step)

By Naveed Ahmed | Reviewed by Syed Balkhi | August 2, 2024 | Reader Disclosure

Selling car parts online can be a great way to expand your business in the automotive industry. But setting up an online store can seem daunting, especially if you’re new to e-commerce. I’ve been working with WordPress and e-commerce for 15 years now, and I’ve helped a lot of businesses get started selling online. I can confidently tell you that creating an online store is actually easier than you think.

Even if it seems complicated at first, with the right guidance, it’s a process you can manage even if you’re not tech-savvy. This guide will walk you through the entire process of setting up an online car parts store. We’ll cover everything from the initial setup to adding products, and optimizing your store to increase sales.

What is the Best Website Builder to Sell Car Parts Online?

There are many website builders you can use to sell car parts online, but I recommend using WordPress. According to our blogging research statistics, WordPress is the most popular website platform in the world. It powers almost 43% of all websites, including many of the biggest e-commerce sites.

WordPress is also open-source and free, so you’ll have more profit margins. To learn more about that, check out our article on why WordPress is free. However, it’s good to remember that there are two types of WordPress software. First, there’s WordPress.com, which is a blog hosting platform. Then there’s WordPress.org, also known as self-hosted WordPress.

For a detailed comparison, check out our guide on the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org. For an e-commerce site, I recommend using WordPress.org because it gives you complete ownership of your website and online store. You can also install third-party plugins, including the popular WooCommerce e-commerce plugin.

According to our WordPress market share report, WooCommerce is used by 8.8% of all websites, making it more popular than Shopify for online stores and e-commerce sites. To learn more about why I recommend WordPress to all my readers, check out our complete WordPress review.

Now, I’ll show you how to sell car parts online with WordPress. You can use the quick links below to skip to different parts of the article:

• Step 1: Set Up Your Auto Parts Website
• Step 2: Create a New WordPress Website
• Step 3: Choose a WordPress Theme
• Step 4: Create a Custom Homepage
• Step 5: Set Up an eCommerce Plugin
• Step 6: Set Up Shipping for Your Car Parts
• Step 7: Set Up Payments for Your Car Parts Business
• Step 8: Create Product Attributes and Attribute Terms
• Step 9: Add Your Car Part Products
• Step 10: Add a Contact Us Form
• Step 11: Add a Navigation Menu
• Step 12: Create a Smart WooCommerce Product Search
• Step 13: Display Customer Reviews

Step 1: Set Up Your Auto Parts Website

To start selling car parts online, you’ll need a domain name and web hosting. The domain name is your store’s address on the internet. It’s what customers will type into their browsers to reach your website, such as www.carparts.com or www.buyautoparts.com.

Web hosting is where your site lives online. To help you find the right hosting for your business, I’ve created a comprehensive list of the best WordPress hosting you can buy. While WordPress software is free, hosting and domain names are where costs can really start adding up.

A domain name typically costs $14.99 per year, and hosting costs start at $7.99 per month. This can make it difficult for those who are just starting out or have a limited budget. Luckily, Bluehost offers our readers a discount of up to 60% on web hosting, plus a free domain name. Bluehost is one of the biggest hosting companies in the world and an official recommended hosting partner by WordPress.

If you’re going to sell car parts online, an SSL certificate is essential to keep your customers’ credit and debit card data secure. You can click the button below to get started for only $1.99 per month.

→ Click here to claim this exclusive Bluehost offer.

Once you’re on the Bluehost website, click the green “Get Started Now” button.

This will take you to the Bluehost pricing page, where you can choose a hosting plan for your car parts business. I recommend choosing a Basic or Choice Plus plan because they are the most popular web hosting plans among our readers.

After selecting a plan, click “Continue.” On the next screen, you’ll need to choose a domain name.

Ideally, your domain name should be easy to pronounce, spell, remember, and connect to your business. Your car parts business name is a great starting point, but sometimes that domain can already be taken by another business website. In that case, you can try extending your domain name by adding your location, what makes your car parts business unique, or some additional keywords. If you need some inspiration, check out our guide on how to choose the best domain name.

After choosing a name, click the “Next” button to continue. Next, you’ll need to provide your account details, such as your name and business email address. After that, you’ll also see optional extras that you can buy.

I typically don’t recommend buying these extras right away because you can always add them later if your business needs them.

After that, you can enter your payment details to complete your purchase. Within a few moments, you’ll receive an email with instructions on how to log in to your web hosting control panel. This is the dashboard for your hosting account, where you can manage your car parts website, including setting up email notifications and requesting WordPress support. It’s also where you’ll install the WordPress software.

Step 2: Create a New WordPress Website

If you sign up for Bluehost using our link, Bluehost will automatically install WordPress on your domain name. However, if that didn’t happen or if you want to create a new WordPress website on your own, you can click the “Websites” tab in the Bluehost dashboard.

Next, you’ll need to click the “Add site” button. The Bluehost wizard will now guide you through the setup process. On the first screen, you’ll need to select “Install WordPress.” When you’re ready, click the “Continue” button.

On the next screen, enter the title of your new WordPress site. This can be anything you want, and you can always change it later. Once you’ve done that, click “Continue.” Next, Bluehost will ask you to choose a domain name for your website.

Alternatively, you can use a temporary Bluehost subdomain until you’re ready to add a domain to the website. Then, click “Continue” to proceed. After choosing a domain name, you’ll be taken back to the Websites tab and will have to wait for the installation to complete.

Once that’s done, you’ll see the newly created website in the Websites tab. You can now click the “Edit Site” button, which will take you to the site’s administration dashboard.

You can also access the WordPress dashboard by going to yoursite.com/wp-admin/ in your web browser. The installer will also install some essential WordPress plugins, including WPForms. Many of these plugins will help you grow your business and get more sales, so I recommend using them. If you’re using a different WordPress web host, such as SiteGround, Hostinger, HostGator, or WP Engine, you can check out our complete guide on how to install WordPress for all the major hosting providers.

Now that you’ve successfully set up WordPress, you’re ready to start building your car parts website.

Step 3: Choose a WordPress Theme

WordPress themes are professionally designed templates that change the look and feel of your car parts website. By default, every WordPress site comes with a basic theme. If you visit your site now, you’ll see something similar to the image below.

If you want to make a great first impression on customers and get more sales, it’s a good idea to replace the default WordPress theme. There are many free and premium WordPress business themes to choose from. They can generally be categorized as niche themes or multipurpose WordPress themes.

A typical car parts website needs special features, such as the ability to display ads, support for the most popular eCommerce plugins, and a VIN decoder tool. Therefore, it makes sense to look for a theme designed for the automotive industry. To help you, I’ve compiled the best WordPress themes for car dealerships and the best themes for auto repair shops. You can also use a website and landing page builder plugin like SeedProd.

SeedProd is the best drag-and-drop WordPress page builder, and it comes with built-in templates that you can use to create a professional-looking car parts website. It also has a template designed specifically for the automotive industry.

Once you’ve chosen a theme, check out our step-by-step guide on how to install a WordPress theme. After installing the theme, you can customize it by going to Appearance » Customize in the WordPress dashboard. This will open the Theme Customizer, where you can tweak your theme settings and see your changes instantly thanks to the live preview.

If you’re using one of the newer Site Editor themes, you can customize the theme by going to Appearance » Editor. This will launch the full Site Editor, which uses blocks similar to the block editor.

Step 4: Create a Custom Homepage

WordPress has two default content types called posts and pages.

Posts are typically used to create articles and blogs. By default, the homepage displays posts in reverse chronological order, so the newest content appears at the top of the homepage. Blogging can help you build a stronger relationship with your customers, improve your WordPress SEO, and drive more traffic to your car parts website. For example, you could share tips on how to diagnose common car problems or blog about the latest industry trends.

However, even if you plan to blog, you usually don’t want to display posts on the homepage of your car parts website. Instead, I recommend creating a custom homepage that introduces your car parts business to potential new customers. For step-by-step instructions on how to create a car parts homepage that gets attention, check out our guide on how to create a custom homepage in WordPress.

Once you’re happy with how the page looks, it’s time to set it as your homepage. To do that, go to Settings » Reading in the WordPress dashboard.

On this screen, you’ll need to scroll down to “Homepage Settings” and select “A static page.” Then, simply open the “Homepage” dropdown menu and choose the page you want to use.

After that, scroll to the bottom of the screen and click “Save Changes.” Now, if you visit your car parts website, you’ll see the new homepage in action. If you plan to blog, you’ll also need to make sure you create a separate blog page to display your posts.

Step 5: Set Up an eCommerce Plugin

WordPress doesn’t have any built-in eCommerce features, so you’ll need a plugin to sell car parts online. The easiest way to sell physical products is using WooCommerce.

WooCommerce is the most popular e-commerce plugin in the world, and it has everything you need to sell car parts online. First, you’ll need to install and activate the WooCommerce plugin. If you need help, check out our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Start the setup wizard by clicking the “Set up my store” button. Then, choose a description that best describes you. You can choose to say that you’ve just started your business, that you’re already selling, or that you’re setting up a store for a client. Once you’ve done that, click “Continue.”

Next, type in your business information, from your store name to your industry, store location, and email address. After filling out everything, click “Continue” again. WooCommerce will now show you some additional extensions that you can install to optimize your online store. Feel free to select all the boxed or leave them blank and click “Continue.”

Now you can continue setting up your online store. WooCommerce will also set up some essential pages for your online store, such as the Add to Cart page and the Checkout page.

Step 6: Set Up Shipping for Your Car Parts

Next, you can add shipping options by going to WooCommerce » Settings. Here, you’ll need to click the “Shipping” tab. Then, select “Add Shipping Zone.”

On the next screen, type a name for the zone and select one or more regions from the dropdown menu. Once you’ve done that, simply click the “Add shipping method” button.

You’ll now see various shipping methods in the dropdown menu. You can choose between a flat rate, free shipping, or even local pickup. Select your preferred shipping method and click “Add shipping method.”

WooCommerce will now add the chosen shipping method to the shipping zone. To configure the shipping method, just hover over it and click the “Edit” button. A popup will appear with other settings to use. The settings will vary depending on which shipping method you chose. For example, if you select “Flat Rate,” you can change the method title, add a tax status, and enter the total shipping cost.

After entering this information, click “Save changes.” You can create as many shipping zones as you need by repeating these steps. Also, consider enabling shipping tracking to allow your customers to track their shipped orders.

Step 7: Set Up Payments for Your Car Parts Business

Next, you’ll need to add payment options so your customers can buy car parts online. To get started, go to WooCommerce » Settings and select the “Payments” tab. This will open a screen with all the different payment methods and WooCommerce payment gateways that you can use. Simply locate the method you want to enable and click the “Complete Setup” button.

You can now set up this payment method by following the on-screen instructions. Once you’re done, don’t forget to click the “Save changes” button. To make the payment method active on your site, click the “Payments” tab. Then, simply click the method’s toggle so it switches from gray (inactive) to purple (active). To increase your online store sales, you may want to offer more payment methods. For example, you could accept credit card payments and cash on delivery on your WordPress site. To add more payment methods, simply follow the same procedure described above.

Step 8: Create Product Attributes and Attribute Terms

By default, WooCommerce creates each product as a “Simple Product.” However, you’ll likely want to offer the same car part for multiple models or makes. The easiest way to do this is to create a variable product. This way, customers can visit a single product and then choose the right variant for their car, as you can see in the image below.

To create variable products, you first need to set up attributes and attribute terms. For example, if you’re selling tires, you could create an attribute called “Season” and then add “Winter” and “Summer” as attribute terms. This will allow customers to choose between winter tires and summer tires. You could also create a “Model” attribute and then add each car model as an attribute term.

By adding attributes and attribute terms to your online store beforehand, it will be easier to create variable products later. With that said, go to Products » Attributes. You can now type a title for the attribute in the ‘Title’ field. This will appear on your product pages, so make sure you use something descriptive.

To learn more about this, check out our guide on how to add product attributes in WooCommerce. When you’re happy with the information you’ve entered, click “Add attribute.” The attribute will now appear on the right side of the screen. Then, click the “Configure terms” link. This will open a screen that looks similar to the main attributes screen, where you can start adding attribute terms. To get started, type the term’s title in the “Name” field. When you’re happy with the information you’ve typed, simply click the “Add new…” button. You can repeat the previous steps to create more attribute terms. You can also create as many product attributes as you like and then add unique terms to those attributes.

Step 9: Add Your Car Part Products

After creating some product attributes and terms, you’re ready to start adding car parts to your online store. You can add each product manually or import WooCommerce products from a template, CSV file, or another service. In this guide, I’ll show you how to manually add car parts to your store, so start by going to Products » Add New. On this screen, start typing the product name. This will appear at the top of the product page, so your visitors can see it.

Next, type a description and add a product image. If you want to display multiple images, you can click “Add Product Gallery Images.” You can also add interactive 360-degree images in WordPress.

Next, it’s a good idea to add categories and tags to the product. These help customers find the right products on your car parts site, like categories and tags for WordPress pages. Simply click the “Add new category” link and create a new category for the car part you’re adding.

Next, you can type each tag in the “Product tags” box and click “Add.” To add more product categories and tags, simply repeat the same steps described above.

Next, scroll down to the “Product Data” box. To create a variable product, simply click the dropdown menu, which by default shows “Simple product.” Then, select “Variable product.”

You can now select the product type, add prices, shipping costs, grouped products, and other information. After entering all this information, you’re ready to create variations by selecting the “Attributes” tab. This will open the “Add Existing” dropdown menu. You can now select the product attribute you want to use. In the “Value(s)” field, type each term you want to use. When the correct term appears, click to add it to the product. At this point, click the “Save attributes” button. To add more product attributes and terms, simply repeat the previous steps. Now, click the “Variations” tab. On this screen, click “Generate variations.”

WooCommerce will now create variations using all the attributes you added to the product. To set up each variation, click the corresponding “Edit” link. You can now add the variation price, upload an image, set shipping options, and more using the settings in this section. Simply repeat this procedure to configure each product variation.

There are many other settings you can use to fine-tune the variable product. However, this is all you need to add a car part to your online store. When you’re ready to make the product active, click the “Publish” button. If you visit your online store, you’ll see the variable product live. To add more car parts to your online store, simply repeat these steps.

Step 10: Add a Contact Us Form

Sometimes customers need to talk to you directly. For example, they may want to know when a particular part is back in stock or get advice on a mechanical problem. While visitors can call your business phone number, it’s still a good idea to add a contact form to your website.

Most of the best contact form plugins come with built-in spam protection to prevent contact form spam. A form also gathers consistent information so that you have all the necessary data to write a helpful response. The easiest way to create a contact form is using the free WPForms plugin. This plugin has a built-in Simply contact form template that you can quickly customize using the drag-and-drop editor.

After that, simply add the form to any page, post, or widget-ready area using the ready-made WPForms block. For detailed instructions, check out our guide on how to create a contact form in WordPress.

Step 11: Add a Navigation Menu

After adding some content to your car parts website, you’ll want to help visitors navigate between your pages and posts by adding a navigation menu.

No matter which theme you’re using, it’s easy to add menus and submenus to your car parts website. For a complete guide, see our posts on how to add a navigation menu and how to create a navigation menu.

Step 12: Create a Smart WooCommerce Product Search

WooCommerce has a built-in search feature, but it’s not very good at finding products. It doesn’t search for matches in product attributes, reviews, custom fields, or product descriptions. By replacing the default search with a smarter and faster search, you can help customers find the car parts they need. This will improve the customer experience and help you get more sales.

The easiest way to create a smart WooCommerce product search is using SearchWP. SearchWP is the best WordPress search plugin on the market, and it lets you have full control over your WordPress search algorithm. By default, SearchWP looks at the product title, content (description), slug, and excerpt (short description) to find matches. You can also customize SearchWP settings to search for matches in custom fields, taxonomies, customer reviews, product tags, and more.

For more information, check out our guide on how to do a smart product search in WooCommerce.

Step 13: Display Customer Reviews

Reviews are one of the best ways to gain customer trust and convince visitors to buy car parts from your website. After all, we’re more likely to buy things that we see other people buying, using, or recommending. If you already have reviews on platforms like Facebook, Yelp, and Google, it’s easy to display them on your WordPress site using Smash Balloon Reviews Feed Pro.

Reviews Feed Pro is one of the best customer review plugins you can use. It will automatically collect reviews and organize them in a beautiful layout on your car parts website. You can also fully customize the reviews feed to match your site perfectly.

For more details, check out our guide on how to display Google, Facebook, and Yelp reviews.

Don’t Have Time to DIY? Check Out WPBeginner Pro Services

Building a website to sell car parts online can be challenging and time-consuming. That’s where WPBeginner Pro Services can help. We’ll create a custom website that is SEO-friendly and comes with complete WooCommerce setup. Your site will be mobile-friendly and easy to manage, even if you’re not tech-savvy.

We work efficiently to get your online store up and running quickly. You focus on growing your online business while we handle the technical details. Ready to boost your car parts business online? Book a free consultation with our team today.

Conclusion

I hope this tutorial helped you learn how to sell car parts online with WordPress. You may also want to check out our articles on proven ways to make money online blogging with WordPress and how to make $5000 per month passive income with WordPress.

If you liked this article, subscribe to our YouTube channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

FAQs

How do I choose the right car parts to sell online?

Start by researching popular car parts that are in high demand. You can use online tools like Google Trends to see what people are searching for. Also, consider your target audience: Are you selling parts for classic cars, high-end vehicles, or everyday cars? Finally, make sure you have a reliable source for the parts you choose to sell.

How can I get more traffic to my car parts website?

There are many ways to get more traffic to your car parts website. Here are a few ideas:

• Search engine optimization (SEO): Optimize your website content and product pages for relevant keywords to rank higher in search results. You can use tools like Google Search Console and Ahrefs to track your progress.
• Social media marketing: Create engaging content and share it on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. You can also run paid ads to reach a wider audience.
• Email marketing: Build an email list and send out newsletters and promotional emails to your subscribers. You can use email marketing platforms like Mailchimp or Constant Contact.
• Content marketing: Create valuable content that attracts your target audience, such as blog posts, how-to guides, or videos. This will help you establish yourself as an authority in the car parts industry.

How much does it cost to set up an online car parts store?

The cost of setting up an online car parts store can vary depending on your needs. However, you can get started for a relatively low price with a free WordPress installation and a basic hosting plan. Here are some of the key expenses:

• Web hosting: $7.99 per month or less
• Domain name: $14.99 per year
• Ecommerce plugin (WooCommerce): Free
• WordPress theme: Free or paid (typically $50-$100)
• Payment gateway fees: Varies depending on the gateway you choose
• Shipping costs: Varies depending on your shipping options and carrier

Do I need to be an expert in car parts to sell them online?

It’s helpful to have some knowledge about car parts, but it’s not essential. You can always partner with a mechanic or another expert who can answer customer questions and provide technical support. You can also leverage online resources like car part forums and websites to learn more about the industry.

What are some tips for taking great product photos for my car parts website?

High-quality product photos are essential for selling car parts online. Here are some tips for taking great photos:

• Use good lighting: Natural light is ideal, but you can also use artificial lighting to avoid shadows.
• Choose a clean background: A simple white or neutral background will help your products stand out.
• Use a tripod: This will help you keep your camera steady and avoid blurry photos.
• Take multiple photos: Show your products from different angles to give customers a complete view.
• Edit your photos: Use a photo editing software to adjust brightness, contrast, and color to make your photos look professional.

How can I make my car parts website more user-friendly?

Here are some tips for making your car parts website more user-friendly:

• Use clear and concise language: Make sure your website content is easy to read and understand. Avoid using technical jargon that your customers may not understand.
• Organize your products: Use categories and subcategories to make it easy for customers to find the products they need.
• Make it easy to contact you: Include a prominent contact form and phone number on your website. You can also add a live chat feature to provide instant support.
• Optimize for mobile: Make sure your website is responsive and looks great on all devices, including smartphones and tablets.

How can I keep my car parts website secure?

Security is crucial for any e-commerce website, especially one that handles sensitive customer data. Here are some tips for keeping your car parts website secure:

• Use strong passwords: Create unique and strong passwords for your website accounts, including your hosting account, WordPress admin area, and WooCommerce plugin.
• Keep your software up to date: Regularly update WordPress, WooCommerce, and all your plugins to patch security vulnerabilities.
• Use a security plugin: Install a security plugin like Wordfence or iThemes Security to monitor your website for threats and protect against malware.
• Use an SSL certificate: An SSL certificate encrypts communication between your website and visitors’ browsers, protecting sensitive data like credit card information.

How can I promote my car parts website to local customers?

Here are some tips for promoting your car parts website to local customers:

• List your website on local directories: Include your website URL on local directories like Yelp, Google My Business, and local business listings.
• Partner with local businesses: Collaborate with local auto repair shops, garages, and car dealerships to cross-promote your products and services.
• Run local advertising campaigns: Consider advertising in local newspapers, magazines, and radio stations to reach a wider audience.
• Attend local events: Participate in local car shows, swap meets, and community events to promote your car parts website and connect with potential customers.

How can I manage my inventory and orders efficiently?

WooCommerce provides basic inventory management features, but you may need additional tools for larger businesses. Here are some options:

• WooCommerce Inventory Management: This free plugin offers basic stock tracking and order management capabilities.
• Third-party inventory management software: There are many third-party inventory management software solutions available, such as QuickBooks, Zoho Inventory, and Shopify Inventory. These solutions offer more advanced features like order tracking, automated inventory updates, and warehouse management.
• Integration with other tools: Consider integrating WooCommerce with other business tools like accounting software, CRM systems, and shipping carriers for streamlined order processing and inventory management.

What are some tips for providing excellent customer service?

Excellent customer service is essential for building trust and loyalty. Here are some tips for providing excellent service:

• Respond promptly to inquiries: Answer customer emails, phone calls, and live chat messages promptly. A quick response time shows that you value your customers’ time.
• Be helpful and polite: Go above and beyond to assist customers with their questions and concerns. Use a friendly and professional tone in all your communications.
• Offer a return policy: Having a clear return policy shows that you stand behind your products and are confident in their quality.
• Track customer feedback: Gather feedback from your customers and use it to improve your products, services, and website experience.

If you’re interested in learning more about tech news, feel free to visit my website: www.naveedahmed.me.