In this article, we deconstruct the elements of successful auto coupons and explain which discounts work the best.

Are too many cars driving past your automotive shop without getting an oil change? The time could be right to consider offering a coupon discount.

If you’ve never offered a coupon before, the idea can be stressful. Will the coupon work? Will I lose money? How much of a discount can I actually afford? These are a few questions that may be swirling around in your head.

In this article, we’ll answer those questions by looking at what has helped our automotive partners succeed. We’ll go over the basics of coupon design and provide examples of coupon discounts in each category that have the highest rates of return.

What are the elements of a great auto coupon?

• Business name
• Logo
• Contact info
• Offer
• Terms and Conditions

First, every coupon should have the name of your auto shop.

Like any advertisement, your coupon should provide contact information. It should clearly state your address, phone number, and possibly an email address.

Finally, the coupon should have a great offer.

Most coupons have dotted lines surrounding the actual offer. This not only serves as a suggested perforation if people don’t want to keep the entire coupon, but they also highlight the offer. People automatically associate such perforation marks with discounts.

Your auto shop can also  place terms and conditions in small print beneath the coupon. Expiration dates and “cannot be combined with any other offer” stipulations protect businesses from being taken advantage of by overzealous couponers.

After checking off the essential elements (Business name, title, contact info, offer, and conditions), your auto shop can now consider design.

Components of Great Coupon Design

Companies like Register Tape Network use a team of designers to ensure that coupons are attractive, focused, and use art consistent with a company’s personality.

A few elements of coupon design to keep in mind:

Bold Beats Subtle – This is the trifecta of any successful advertisement. Attention grabbing words, bolded buzzwords like “Free” and “Value,” perform well on coupons. They are an opportunity to directly sell to clients, so the flashier the better for coupon ads!

Colorful Branding – The best coupons use coordinating colors that match a company’s colors and brand personality. Psychologists have studied the implied meanings of different colors, which you can discover here. Although not an exact science, businesses should stick to certain color schemes for overall consistency. Eventually, customers associate these colors with your shop, also known as brand recognition.

Logo – Coupons not only provide an incentive for new customers to visit your auto shop, they also build stronger branding. Adding your logo can strengthen brand recognition before they’re redeemed.

Now that you’ve designed a great coupon, it’s time to tackle the hardest part—the offer.

How to Create a Coupon Offer for Your Auto Shop

Creating the offer is perhaps the most important part of the coupon creation process. As is the case with all advertising, people are interested in how much money this small piece of paper will save them.

The heart of the coupon —the offer — is what makes your coupon worth cutting, saving, and using. “$10 off” instantly transforms your coupon ad into a ten-dollar bill.

How do I create an automotive offer that works?

Offers that discount a primary service (like an oil change) are generally the most successful for auto and quick lube service places.

Simple and Affordable Offers – The most effective coupons will advertise an oil change at a discounted price—typically under $20.

Commonly, auto places will want to avoid percentage discounts. Dollar amounts have greater perceived value. Stick with dollar amounts, whether it’s money off a service or an exact quote, and more people will redeem your coupons.

Free sells – This may seem contradictory, but it’s true! Auto and Quick Lube shops can offer free assessments and alignments with very little additional expense. These freebies are also a great opportunity for your mechanic to upsell.

Upsell – Bringing in the customer through discounted services then allows your shop to sell premium services and products as clients may need them, such as synthetic oil or air conditioning filters.

Ready to Begin Coupon Advertising? 

Register Tape Network partners with thousands of retailers in 33 states and has helped several auto shops diversify their marketing to gain a stronger presence in their communities. Here are just a few notes from our many satisfied customers.

If you’re considering using register tape advertising to reach more customers and would like to talk to our representatives for a free consultation, click on the link below to get started.

Click here to get a customized proposal based on your individual needs and geography.