Automated Drive-Through Imaging That Moves as Fast as You Sell

Most dealerships still spend 10–20 minutes manually photographing a single car. That means delays, bottlenecks, and cars sitting offline, all costing you time and money.

Now imagine this: automated drive-through imaging that gets every vehicle shot, inside and out, in under 3 minutes. Fast, scalable, plug-and-play performance. (Plus, if any manual photos are taken, they can be automatically uploaded as well.)  

If you’re looking to increase throughput, reduce labor, and get inventory online instantly, this is the imaging solution built for you.

Why Traditional Photography Slows You Down

Let’s talk about what’s really costing your store. Most dealership imaging setups still rely on:

• Manual shooting with handheld cameras or phones
• Staging and retakes for lighting or missed angles
• One-by-one uploads to your platform
• Multiple people per car, wasting labor hours
  

That’s not a photography system, it’s a time tax on your entire operation. Every hour you’re not imaging is an hour you’re not listing. Every day you delay online visibility is a day longer a car sits unsold. And with staffing challenges across the industry, depending on a human for imaging creates a single point of failure.

Meet the Game-Changer: Automated Drive-Through Imaging

Full Drive-Thru Imaging System (a.k.a. “The Spider”)

This is the flagship solution. Think of it as your high-volume, never-calls-in-sick photo team built into your lot.

• Vehicles simply drive through the fixed photo bay
• Exterior photos are captured from multiple angles with studio-level consistency
• Integrated 360° interior camera captures the full cabin in seconds
• AI-enhanced photos are auto-cropped, cleaned, and uploaded instantly to your website, CRM, and marketplace feeds

Perfect for: Medium-to-high volume dealers who want speed, uniformity, and zero manual effort.
Result: Every image is dialed in for your VDP, auction listings, and third-party platforms

Handheld + 360° Interior Kit

No space for a full drive-thru? No problem. This streamlined setup gives you the same automation perks in a more compact, mobile package.

• Use the handheld device to snap high-res, AI-enhanced exterior shots
• Capture full interior spins with the 360° camera
• Photos are auto-processed and instantly delivered to your online channels

Perfect for: Low-volume rooftops, satellite locations, or dealerships with limited space.
Result: Consistent image quality, faster time-to-market without the footprint of a full install.

No matter which solution fits your lot, the outcome’s the same: Better images. Faster listings. More cars sold.

Real-World Example: Imaging in Under 3 Minutes

How it works video: https://vimeo.com/1067379174?p=0s

Let’s break it down step-by-step:

1. Park Vehicle Under Black Widow Unit
2. Place 360 Unit on the Center Console
3. Scan Vin with Hand Scanner
4. Step Aside & Capture External Images
5. Review Images & Finish
6. Capture Interior 360 Image
7. Capture Any Manual Images
8. Review Manual Images & Finish
9. Images are Automatically Uploaded!

This isn’t a photoshoot. It’s a fully automated process that keeps your lot flowing and your inventory moving.

Less Labor. More Sales.

The biggest win? You don’t need a trained photographer. With automated drive-through imaging:

• Training takes minutes
• Anyone on staff can operate it
• Zero post-processing is required

That means you can reallocate staff to sales, customer experience, or recon. Imagine what your team could do if imaging ran itself.

Speed to Web = Speed to Sale

Great images don’t just look better—they sell better. And when your photos hit the web faster, so do your leads.

Black Widow integrates with:

• HomeNet
• VINQUE
• vAuto (via feed)
• Dealer websites and marketplaces

No file naming. No manual uploads. No delays.

Each photo is already formatted, sequenced, and optimized to go live immediately, so your online showroom is never behind.

Want to see how this compares to traditional methods? Check out our full breakdown in The Complete Vehicle Imaging Solution for Automotive Dealerships

Consistent, Scalable, Built for Dealers

Automated drive-through imaging is the future of vehicle photography for car dealerships. It’s not just about speed—it’s about scalability, brand consistency, and profitability.

If your current imaging setup is costing you time and sales, it’s time to rethink how your dealership shoots cars. Book a live demo today and see how Black Widow can transform your lot, one pass-through at a time.