> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.goautofire.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Distribution Feeds

> Syndicate inventory to Google, Meta, Cars.com, AutoTrader, and CarGurus (Pro)

# Distribution Feeds

AutoFire Pro's **Distribution** experience generates private feed endpoints from your live inventory so third-party channels pull the same cars, prices, and photos as your website—without maintaining parallel spreadsheets.

## In this guide

* Enable platforms and copy private feed URLs
* Per-partner setup summaries (Google, Meta, marketplaces)
* Refresh, link rotation, and troubleshooting

<Note>
  Distribution feeds are included on **AutoFire Pro** (\$99.99/month). You pay each marketplace or ad platform directly for their listing or media services—AutoFire keeps your feed current.
</Note>

## How it works

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="One inventory source" icon="database">
    Feeds are built from the same vehicles you manage in Dashboard → Inventory.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Private URLs" icon="link">
    Each platform gets a tokenized HTTPS link—treat it like a password.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Automatic refresh" icon="clock">
    Feeds refresh every 30 minutes. You can also trigger a manual refresh from the dashboard.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Aligned with VDPs" icon="car">
    Feed rows reference your vehicle detail pages where partners expect canonical links.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

<Warning>
  Anyone with your private feed link can access that feed. Share links only with the partner platform or agency you trust.
</Warning>

## Open Distribution

<Steps>
  <Step title="Go to Distribution">
    From your dashboard sidebar, open **Distribution**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enable a platform">
    Toggle on the channel you want (Google, Facebook, Cars.com, AutoTrader, or CarGurus). AutoFire generates a private feed URL for that platform.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Copy the private link">
    Copy the HTTPS feed URL and paste it where the partner's onboarding asks for inventory data.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Complete partner setup">
    Each marketplace or ad platform has its own account requirements. AutoFire supplies the feed—you finish onboarding with their rep or self-serve tools.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Monitor status">
    Check generation timestamps and error badges in Distribution. If something fails, fix inventory data or contact support before shoppers see stale listings downstream.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Supported platforms

| Platform                | Feed format | Typical use                                                    |
| ----------------------- | ----------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Google Vehicle Listings | XML         | Search inventory programs and vehicle listings workflows       |
| Facebook Automotive     | CSV         | Meta Commerce Manager catalog / automotive inventory ads       |
| Cars.com                | CSV         | Dealer inventory syndication via your Cars.com rep             |
| AutoTrader              | CSV         | Dealer inventory syndication via your AutoTrader rep           |
| CarGurus                | CSV         | Dealer inventory syndication via your CarGurus account manager |

<Tip>
  Google exports XML; all other platforms export CSV. Formats are set automatically when you enable each integration.
</Tip>

## Platform setup guides

Expand each platform in Distribution to see in-app setup notes. Summary below:

### Google Vehicle Listings

Google Vehicle Listings uses the Vehicle Listings Partner Portal (not standard Merchant Center catalog feeds). Dealers typically submit full-inventory files through the portal or SFTP. Use this feed data with your Google onboarding workflow and keep your VDP structured data aligned.

<Note>
  This is a starter feed—final mapping should match Google diagnostics and spec requirements for the program you are assigned.
</Note>

### Facebook Automotive

Go to **Meta Commerce Manager → Catalogs → Data Sources → Add Data Feed**. Use a scheduled feed and paste the private feed link from Distribution. Meta supports hourly or slower scheduled pulls.

Confirm your dealership profile includes city, state, postal code, country, latitude, and longitude before validating the catalog in Meta.

### Cars.com

Cars.com onboarding is usually configured by your Cars.com rep. Share the private feed link and ask for the exact required template and field mapping for your account.

### AutoTrader

AutoTrader feed onboarding is account-specific. Share the private feed link with your AutoTrader rep and confirm their exact field template before going live.

### CarGurus

CarGurus feed setup is typically handled with your account manager. Share the private feed link and request the current required import template for your dealer account.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Enable CarGurus in Distribution">
    Toggle **CarGurus** on and copy the private CSV feed URL.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Contact your CarGurus rep">
    Provide the HTTPS URL to your onboarding contact or feed intake process—not in public channels.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Validate the file">
    Your rep may require account-specific columns beyond the starter export. Confirm the file passes their validation before going live.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Keep inventory current">
    When you add, sell, or reprice a vehicle in AutoFire, the feed reflects it on the next refresh cycle.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Refresh and link management

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Refresh Inventory Now">
    Triggers an immediate feed regeneration instead of waiting for the next scheduled refresh. Use after bulk imports or large pricing changes.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Reset private link">
    Creates a new token and **immediately invalidates** the old URL. You must update the saved URL at every partner that was pulling the previous link.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Disable a platform">
    Turning off an integration stops partners from downloading your feed until you re-enable it.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Technical reference

Feed URLs follow this pattern:

```
GET https://goautofire.com/api/feeds/{platform}/{token}
```

Valid platforms: `google`, `facebook`, `carscom`, `autotrader`, `cargurus`.

* Google responses redirect to cached XML in storage; other platforms serve CSV.
* Responses are rate-limited per token (30 requests per minute).
* Invalid, disabled, or not-yet-generated feeds return appropriate HTTP error codes.

<Note>
  AutoFire does not run Google Ads, Meta ads, or marketplace billing for you. Feeds supply data; media spend and marketplace contracts remain between you and each platform.
</Note>

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Feed shows Pending">
    Enable the platform and wait for the first generation cycle, or click **Refresh Inventory Now**. Ensure you have eligible inventory published.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Feed shows Error">
    Open Distribution for error details. Common causes include missing required vehicle fields or storage failures during generation.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Partner says the link stopped working">
    Check whether the private link was reset. After a reset, update the URL in every partner system that stored the old link.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Prices or sold cars are wrong downstream">
    Update inventory in AutoFire first—feeds pull from your authoritative dashboard data. Trigger a manual refresh if the partner does not pull on schedule.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Next steps

<Steps>
  <Step title="Capture on-site interest">
    [Leads & test drives](/dealer-guide/leads-and-test-drives) — forms on vehicle pages complement marketplace traffic.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Invite your team">
    [Team management](/dealer-guide/team-management) — shared access to inventory and leads.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Inventory" icon="car" href="/dealer-guide/inventory">
    Keep listings accurate before syndicating
  </Card>

  <Card title="Website" icon="globe" href="/dealer-guide/website">
    On-page SEO complements outbound feeds
  </Card>

  <Card title="Leads & test drives" icon="inbox" href="/dealer-guide/leads-and-test-drives">
    Work inbound interest from your site (Pro)
  </Card>

  <Card title="Features" icon="star" href="/features">
    Syndication in the Growth category
  </Card>
</CardGroup>