Google Ads Policies: Why Your Ad Might Be Disapproved (and How to Fix It)

If your Google Ad is disapproved, it means it doesn't comply with Google's advertising policies. We’ll go over some of the most common reasons for disapproval. Your car dealership may be contacted regarding advertisement disapproval.

1. Destination Not Working

 

Problem: Your ad leads to a landing page (like a Vehicle Details Page or VDP) that's no longer available, usually because the vehicle was sold. This violates Google's policy because you're advertising something you no longer have.

Solution: Orbee automatically removes these ads once we know the vehicle is sold. We also update ads with any price changes from your website.

 

2. Trademark Issues

 

Problem: Your ad uses trademarked names without permission.

Solution: You'll need authorization from the trademark owner. If you're not the owner, you can:

• Request authorization from Google (they may have contact information for the trademark owner).
• Become a reseller of the trademarked product or service. This means your landing page must be dedicated to selling that specific item or compatible products/services.

 

For more details on trademarks, check out these Google resources:

Reseller and informational site policy

Trademark help for advertisers

 

3. Personalized Advertising Restrictions

Problem: Your ad targets customers based on sensitive categories like personal hardships (including financial difficulties), identity, beliefs, or sexual interests.

Solution: Make sure your ad copy doesn't mention anything related to financial distress or other sensitive categories.

 

4. Personalized Advertising and Credit Offers

 

Problem: While you can advertise vehicle leasing and financing, you can't use certain targeting options like zip codes, demographics, or life events.

Solution: Ensure your targeting settings comply with Google's policies.

 

5. Abusing the Ad Network

 

Problem: This includes serious violations like running the same ads for the same business across multiple Google Ads accounts, malicious software, or trying to trick Google's systems.

Solution: Use one Google Ads account for the same type of ads and familiarize yourself with Google's ad network policies.

 

For more information on ad network abuse, see this Google resource:

Abusing the ad network

 

6. Data Collection and Use

 

Problem: This involves issues with website security or how personal information is handled.

Solution:

• Website Security: Your dealership site must be SSL protected to run ads on Google.
• Information Sharing: You can't share personally identifiable information (PII) through remarketing tags or conversion tracking tags (with some exceptions for specific Google Ads services).

 

7. Editorial and Technical Requirements

 

Problem: This covers a wide range of issues with how your ads are presented, including:

• Inaccurate business names
• Poor image quality
• Misuse of ad features (like putting your phone number in the ad text)
• Spelling errors
• Technical issues with your website or video ads

Solution: Carefully review Google's guidelines and make sure your ads meet all the requirements.

 

For more details on editorial and technical issues, check out these Google resources:

Editorial and professional requirements

Technical Requirements

 

8. Billing and Payment Suspensions

 

Problem: Issues with your Google Ads account payments can lead to suspension. This includes unpaid balances, suspicious payment activity, or promotional code abuse.

Solution: Keep your payment information updated, use a secure payment method, and avoid any practices that might raise red flags.

 

For more details on billing and payment suspensions, see this Google resource:

Billing and payment suspensions