Why Car Dealers No Longer Need Physical Turntables

In today’s fast-moving automotive retail industry, the first impression is everything. Customers often decide whether to visit a dealership or even contact you based solely on the visuals they see online. With online car shopping becoming the new norm, having high-quality, 360-degree images of your vehicles is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity.

But that brings up a common question many car dealerships ask:

Do we really need a physical turntable to capture 360-degree car images?

The short answer is NO—not anymore. Thanks to our Virtual Turntable Showroom, car dealers can now showcase stunning, interactive vehicle spins without the need for any physical equipment.

In this blog post, we’ll walk you through:

• The challenges of physical turntable setups
• What a virtual turntable is and how it works
• Why car dealers are switching to virtual turntables
• A real-world case study
• How you can get started with zero investment

Let’s dive in.

The Problem With Physical Turntables

Image source: Australian Turntables

1. They’re Expensive to Buy and Maintain

A high-quality physical turntable for vehicles doesn’t come cheap. Depending on the size and automation level, the cost can range between $5,000 to $50,000—and that doesn’t include installation, labor, lighting, and background setup. Add ongoing maintenance costs and it becomes a significant investment.

2. They Require Showroom Space You Might Not Have

Dealerships in crowded urban areas already face space limitations. Installing a permanent turntable setup means sacrificing valuable floor space, which could otherwise be used to display vehicles or host customers.

3. They Still Require Manual Work

Even with a turntable in place, your staff still needs to manage the photography process:

• Position the car correctly
• Adjust lighting
• Manually take photos
• Edit the images later

In short, a physical turntable doesn’t eliminate the manual process—it just adds one more step to it.

4. It Slows Down Your Sales Pipeline

Traditional methods cause delays. By the time the photos are taken, edited, and uploaded, that hot lead you had might have already bought from your competitor.

What Is a Virtual Turntable Showroom?

Clipping Path Creative Ltd has developed a Virtual Turntable Showroom—a cloud-based solution that turns static car images into fully interactive 360-degree spins, without needing a physical turntable or on-site setup.

How Does It Work?

1. You provide standard photos of the car—multiple angles (usually 12–36 images per vehicle).
2. Our professional editors remove backgrounds, enhance lighting, and prepare the photos.
3. We use virtual rendering software to create an immersive, 360-degree rotating view.
4. The finished product is a fully interactive viewer you can embed on your website, marketplace listings, or social media.

All of this is done offsite. You send us the raw images—we handle the rest.

Comparison: Virtual Turntable vs. Physical Turntable

Let’s compare these two side by side:

Case Study from AutoMax Motors

AutoMax Motors, a mid-size car dealership in the UK with both in-person and online sales channels.

The Challenge:

They were using a physical turntable setup that required:

• A 15×15 ft space in their main showroom
• A full-time staff member to manage photography
• Manual editing by a freelance designer
• 3–5 days of turnaround time per vehicle

Despite the effort, their website engagement remained flat and they struggled to update inventory visuals quickly.

The Solution:

They switched to Clipping Path Creative Ltd’s Virtual Turntable Showroom. In less than two weeks:

• Cost savings: Reduced photography expenses by 60%
• Time savings: Vehicle image turnaround went from 3–5 days to 24 hours
• Increased leads: Website interactions increased by 3X
• Sales bump: Inquiries rose 25% in 30 days

The team now spends more time closing deals and less time handling media.

The Hidden Cost of Doing Nothing

Still not convinced? Consider the hidden costs of sticking with the old system:

• Lost opportunities: Every day without updated 360° visuals is a potential lost sale.
• Labor drain: Your staff is spending time on photography instead of sales.
• Brand image: Outdated or low-quality photos hurt your dealership’s credibility online.

Customers today expect interactivity and clarity before they ever step foot on your lot. If you’re not meeting that expectation, someone else is.

Why Choose Clipping Path Creative Ltd?

Clipping Path Creative Ltd is trusted by hundreds of car dealerships, e-commerce businesses, and manufacturers for:

✅ Professional Editing – Clean background removal, shadow creation, color correction
✅ Fast Turnaround – 24–48 hour delivery guaranteed
✅ Mobile-Optimized Viewers – Designed to load quickly on mobile and desktop
✅ SEO-Friendly Embeds – Improve dwell time and engagement
✅ Affordable Pricing – Pay only for what you need, no long-term contract required

Try It FREE

Still wondering how it would look with your inventory?

Get a FREE Trial Today!

We’ll take one of your vehicle photo sets and turn it into a virtual 360° experience—no strings attached.

Let us help you sell faster, look better, and work smarter.

Final Thoughts

The automotive industry is evolving rapidly. Customers are no longer just visiting showrooms—they’re shopping online, comparing images, and making decisions before ever speaking to a salesperson.

A high-quality, interactive 360° experience is no longer optional—it’s essential.

But investing in bulky hardware isn’t the only way to get there.

With Clipping Path Creative Ltd’s Virtual Turntable Showroom, you can:

• Eliminate the need for physical equipment
• Save time and money
• Impress your customers with professional, interactive visuals

So if you’re a dealership looking to modernize your workflow, increase online engagement, and ultimately close more deals—we’re ready when you are.