Bill Smith Auto
Bill Smith Auto is a family-owned used vehicle and auto parts dealership founded in 1929, operating four stores in Illinois and Wisconsin. It sells rebuilt and used cars, used and aftermarket parts, and provides mechanical services to individual consumers and small commercial buyers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1929
- HeadquartersDanville, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Bill Smith Auto does
Bill Smith Auto is a family-owned used vehicle and auto parts dealership founded in 1929 in Danville, Illinois, and currently operated by third-generation owner Bob Smith and his wife Marion. The business operates four physical stores in Urbana and Danville (IL), Bloomington (IL), and Racine (WI), anchored by a 25-acre former coal mine site in Danville that houses 20,000+ parts in constantly rotating inventory. Core products fall into four interconnected lines: used and rebuilt vehicles (rebuilt titles pass two state safety inspections plus a 100-point in-house check, with warranties up to 18 months/18,000 miles and optional 5-year extensions), used/salvage auto parts and new aftermarket parts (the latter hosted on the ShopEarl platform), a self-service 'You Pull Auto' salvage yard where buyers remove their own parts, and an in-house mechanical service menu (A/C, brakes, oil changes, transmission, tune-ups, tire services). Vehicle prices cluster between $18,000 and $26,000 with brands spanning Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Honda, Jeep, Lexus, Nissan, Toyota, and others.
The revenue model is a mix of one-time vehicle sales, one-time parts sales, and one-time service transactions, with financing facilitated through a LoansPQ integration and referral partnerships with local banks. Distribution is multi-channel: physical showrooms in Illinois and Wisconsin, an eBay storefront that extends parts reach to national and international buyers, a YouTube channel for parts videos, and a TikTok account for younger demographic engagement; the website is provided by AutoJini. The customer base is overwhelmingly individual consumers and small commercial buyers across Champaign, Vermilion, and McLean counties in Illinois, with a documented 70% repeat customer rate and 1,000+ Google reviews at 4.9/5.0. Bill Smith Auto is bootstrapped and family-funded with no external investment, no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no public listing.
Bill Smith Auto firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bill Smith Auto
- Legal name
- Bill Smith Auto
- Website
- https://billsmithauto.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1929
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Bill Smith Auto is a family-owned used vehicle and auto parts dealership founded in 1929, operating four stores in Illinois and Wisconsin. It sells rebuilt and used cars, used and aftermarket parts, and provides mechanical services to individual consumers and small commercial buyers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Bill Smith Auto is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Danville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Bill Smith Auto business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Used Vehicle Sales: Sale of rebuilt and used vehicles including cars, trucks, SUVs, and vans. Vehicles include domestic and foreign brands. Prices range from approximately $18,000 to $26,000.
- Auto Parts Sales: Sales of used auto parts, new aftermarket parts, and recycled parts. Operates 'You Pull Auto' self-service parts yard. Over 20,000 parts with daily changing inventory.
- Vehicle Service & Repair: Automotive services including A/C service, oil changes, brake inspection, tire services, transmission service, tune-ups, and diagnostics.
- eBay Online Sales: Online parts sales through eBay storefront.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Used and Rebuilt Vehicles |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Vehicle Service Menu |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Parts Warranty Options |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Bill Smith Auto product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bill Smith Auto operates a used car and rebuilt vehicle dealership combined with a used and new aftermarket auto parts business across two Illinois locations. Its core products are used and rebuilt title vehicles (cars, trucks, SUVs, vans) and salvage-yard auto parts, supplemented by in-house mechanical services and a self-service 'You Pull Auto' parts yard.
Product overview
Bill Smith Auto is a used car and auto parts dealership established in 1929, operating a multi-channel business with two Illinois locations (Urbana and Danville). The company offers four interconnected product lines: (1) Used Auto Parts comprising salvage/recycled parts from their yard plus new aftermarket parts sold via ShopEarl; (2) Rebuilt Vehicles rebuilt from salvage with 100-point inspections and tiered warranties; (3) Used Car Sales of pre-owned vehicles including domestic and import brands; and (4) Value-Added Services including financing through LoansPQ, mechanical services, and a You Pull Auto self-service program. All rebuilt vehicles include warranty coverage from 3 to 18 months, with extended options up to 5 years.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Used Auto Parts Salvage and recycled auto parts sourced from the company's inventory yard, including engines, transmissions, body parts, and mechanical components, with an interchange system to verify parts compatibility. Targeted at individual consumers, DIY mechanics, and repair shops seeking affordable replacement parts.
- New Aftermarket Parts New aftermarket auto parts and accessories sold alongside used parts, with real-time inventory managed through the ShopEarl platform where customers can create accounts to view current stock. Targeted at consumers and shops needing new replacement parts.
- Rebuilt Vehicles Rebuilt title vehicles that have been repaired to pass two state-mandated safety inspections plus a 100-point in-house inspection, available with in-house warranties up to 18 months/18,000 miles and optional extended warranties up to 5 years. Targeted at budget-conscious individual vehicle buyers in central Illinois.
- Used Car Sales Pre-owned vehicles including cars, trucks, SUVs, and vans from domestic and foreign manufacturers (Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Honda, Jeep, Lexus, Nissan, Toyota, and more), with full inventory browsable online. Targeted at individual consumers and small buyers in the central Illinois market.
- Automotive Services In-house mechanical services including A/C service, oil/lube/filter, tire balance and rotation, brake inspection, battery service, coolant service, tune-ups, transmission service, wiper blade replacement, and tire repair, with prices listed on the company service menu. Targeted at vehicle owners in Champaign, Vermilion, and McLean counties.
- You Pull Auto Self-Service Yard Self-service parts removal program where customers enter the salvage yard and pull their own parts, with tools and interchange verification available and a 20% labor charge if assistance is required. Targeted at DIY mechanics and self-service parts customers.
Quantifiable outcome
- 70% of total sales are to repeat customers
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Bill Smith Auto
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Bill Smith Auto technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Bill Smith Auto partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Loanspq.comcoreFinancing partner providing vehicle loan services. Website links directly to Loanspq.com for financing applications.
- Illinois Auto RecyclersminorAssociation member displayed as logo on website, indicating membership in Illinois auto recycling industry association.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Bill Smith Auto competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- U-Pull-It: Self-service salvage and used auto parts retailer with multiple U.S. locations, comparable in business model and customer segment to BSAP's parts/yard operation.
- CarMax: The largest U.S. used-car retailer with broad geographic footprint and integrated financing/warranty; competes with BSAP directly for used-vehicle customers in its Midwest service area.
- Pull-A-Part: Self-service auto salvage yard chain operating across the U.S. with a customer-pulls-parts model that directly mirrors BSAP's 'You Pull Auto' yard, including used parts sales to DIY enthusiasts.
- Pick-n-Pull: Self-service used auto parts yard chain; directly comparable to BSAP's 'You Pull Auto' self-service salvage/parts business model with a similar DIY customer base.
Emerging players
- Carvana: Online-first used-car retailer with home delivery; an emerging competitor reshaping the customer shopping experience BSAP competes against, particularly among younger used-car buyers.
Broad incumbents
- Copart: The largest online salvage vehicle auction company; comparable as the upstream source of salvage inventory BSAP uses for its rebuild program and through industry overlap.
- O'Reilly Auto Parts: Large national auto parts retailer competing with BSAP's new aftermarket parts sales and complementing/competing with its service and DIY parts distribution business.
- LKQ Corporation: Largest North American provider of alternative and recycled auto parts; comparable given BSAP explicitly applies the LKQ parts standard, and operates a similar salvage/used-parts distribution model at much larger scale.
- AutoZone: Largest U.S. auto parts retailer; broad incumbent competing with BSAP on aftermarket parts sales and adjacent to its service operations.
- IAA (Insurance Auto Auctions): Major insurance auto auction company (now part of RB Global); comparable as a salvage vehicle supply source for BSAP's rebuilt vehicles and a broader competitor in used-vehicle channels.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Bill Smith Auto social profiles
Digital presenceBill Smith Auto financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bill Smith Auto leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Bill Smith Auto funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bill Smith Auto M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Bill Smith Auto
What does Bill Smith Auto do?
Bill Smith Auto operates a used car and rebuilt vehicle dealership combined with a used and new aftermarket auto parts business across two Illinois locations. Its core products are used and rebuilt title vehicles (cars, trucks, SUVs, vans) and salvage-yard auto parts, supplemented by in-house mechanical services and a self-service 'You Pull Auto' parts yard.
Is Bill Smith Auto a public or private company?
Bill Smith Auto is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Bill Smith Auto founded?
Bill Smith Auto was founded in 1929. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Bill Smith Auto based?
Bill Smith Auto is headquartered in Danville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Bill Smith Auto make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Used Vehicle Sales are the primary driver. The others are auto Parts Sales, vehicle Service & Repair and eBay Online Sales.
Who are Bill Smith Auto's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are U-Pull-It, CarMax, Pull-A-Part and Pick-n-Pull. Carvana is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Copart, O'Reilly Auto Parts, LKQ Corporation, AutoZone and IAA (Insurance Auto Auctions).
Does Bill Smith Auto have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bill Smith Auto.