I asked the same question before signing on with one last year. A legit top automotive SEO agency USA will usually have case studies, client reviews, and knowledge of the industry’s specific terms (like inventory optimization, dealership pages, etc.). If they’re using the same pitch they give to a coffee shop or dentist, that’s a red flag. I called a few clients they listed and got solid feedback before moving forward. It’s worth doing the homework there’s a lot of fluff out there.