AutoTrader photo requirements (US)

Specs change. Marketplaces update photo requirements without much notice. Treat the table below as a reference, not a live source of truth — always verify current requirements with AutoTrader directly before you build a pipeline or QA process around them.

AutoTrader photo specs at a glance

Rules to follow

• No watermarks
• Real photos only — no stock photos or synthetic backgrounds
• Numbered filenames control display order

Good to know

PNG uploads are automatically converted; images under ~100KB compress most cleanly.

Sources

Figures above are cited below and marked official (the marketplace's own docs/help center) or reported (a third-party guide describing the marketplace's specs). Where a figure is only reported, treat it as a well-sourced estimate rather than a guarantee.

• ReportedImage Systems — automotive marketplace guide
• ReportedImage Systems — AutoTrader vs CarGurus vs Cars.com photo specs compared
• ReportedCarPixAI — AutoTrader listing photo guide
• ReportedCar Photo Checklist — AutoTrader photo guide

What AutoStudio can do for AutoTrader listings

AutoTrader requires real photos of your actual vehicle — that's a hard rule, and AutoStudio won't suggest a synthetic background as a way around it. Where it does help: consistent lighting, color, and exposure across your whole gallery, plus automatic license-plate and face blur applied to your real photos — which supports privacy compliance, not the background rule. See the API, check pricing, or read the full car listing photo requirements guide covering every major marketplace.