Integrations / Inventory and marketplaces
Cars.com and Lead Friendly
Via feedData moves by a file or feed URL that one side reads or writes. There is no API connection between the two systems. Status checked October 14, 2026.
Cars.com does not take inventory directly. It aggregates through Inventory Command Center (ICC), and Lead Friendly sends ICC one file per rooftop. Vehicles with photos and a VIN go out, and an upload that would wipe your lot is refused. Leads return by ADF email.
What moves
- To Cars.com, through ICC
- One file per rooftop with condition, VIN, price and photos.
- Into Lead Friendly
- Cars.com leads by ADF email to your Lead Friendly address.
How it works
- Your rooftop gets an ICC identifier that Lead Friendly sends in the file; ICC uses it to name your store back to us.
- Lead Friendly builds a separate file for each rooftop, so one store failing does not blank out another.
- Vehicles without photos or a VIN are held out, and a sharp drop in vehicle count blocks the upload until confirmed.
- Point Cars.com lead email at your Lead Friendly ADF address.
What it does not do
- Cars.com and ICC decide what is listed. Lead Friendly delivers the file.
- It is a feed, not an API connection to Cars.com.
What to do today
Nothing to work around. Confirm the ICC identifier with your Cars.com or ICC contact if listings do not appear.
Frequently asked questions
Why ICC and not Cars.com directly?
Cars.com ingests dealer inventory through ICC, so a feed provider delivers to ICC. Lead Friendly follows that route.
Does each store need its own file?
Yes. ICC prefers one file per rooftop, so Lead Friendly uploads one for each store you have enrolled.
Related
Need one that is not listed?
Tell us the system and what you need it to do. We list an integration as in progress only once work has started.