Why Astra Beats the Traditional Dealer Agency Model
The same work an agency does, for one flat price, with no fee on your ad spend and every account in your name.
$3,000 per rooftop per month
Month to month
the short version
Same work. A different deal.
Many dealer agencies charge a management fee on top of your media, either a percentage of spend (published examples run 10% to 30%) or tiered packages with setup fees and spend minimums. SEO, Google Business Profile, listings, social and website updates are often sold as separate add-ons, and channels like social and YouTube are often held for higher tiers. Astra and the DD1 team run all of it for $3,000 per rooftop per month, month to month, and you pay the ad platforms directly.
Agency pricing drawn from published dealer agency rate cards and OEM program materials as of October 2026.
Dealers spent an average of $739 per vehicle sold on advertising in 2025, with about three quarters of it digital, according to NADA data as reported by Dealership Guy. At that scale, the structure of the fee matters as much as its size.
See what Astra discovers in your dealership
Book 20 minutes and we'll walk through what Astra would run for your store: the ads, the search work, the listings and the website fixes.
an honest comparison
Where each one fits
Agencies
Where agencies are strong
- People and relationships: a named rep who knows your market.
- Traditional media and production, like TV, radio and on-site shoots.
- OEM certified programs, where co-op funds can offset the cost and billing runs through the parts statement.
Astra
Where Astra is different
- No incentive to grow your spend. A percent-of-spend fee rises whether or not the budget works. A flat fee doesn't.
- Nothing held back by tier. Every channel your market needs is in the one price.
- No add-on menu. Every business profile, including Apple Business Connect, Bing and Yelp, is part of the price.
- Your accounts, your data. You can leave with everything we built.
Questions to ask any agency before you sign
- Is your fee a percent of my spend, a flat fee, or both?
- Which channels and targeting options does my package exclude?
- Are SEO, business profiles, listings and website updates included or extra?
- Whose name are the Google Ads, Meta and GA4 accounts in?
- What's the notice period to cancel?
Sources, checked October 2026: Ritner Digital dealership ad costs, Stream Companies Nissan rate card, C-4 Analytics GM program overview, Dealer Teamwork Subaru packages, Stellantis Canada digital FAQ, Dealership Guy on NADA ad spend, Google Ads account ownership.
Common questions
Dealer agencies and Astra: common questions
How do car dealer agencies usually charge?
Many charge a management fee on top of media, as a percent of spend or a tiered monthly package. Setup fees and minimum spend are common.
Do agencies lock dealers into long contracts?
It varies. Many OEM certified programs run month to month, while some SEO and retainer deals run 6 to 12 months. Ask before you sign.
Who should own my Google Ads account?
You. Google's own policy gives the client account ownership of its data, and holding admin rights yourself means you keep your history if you switch.
Your dealership, finally running on true intelligence.
Astra and the DD1 team run your ads, SEO, website, listings and creative for one flat price per rooftop. Month to month, and your data stays yours.
