To err is human, and to get an error page is just another part of having a website. We’re all uncomfortably familiar with the 404 error page, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. There are plenty of other ways you can cause an error on your website, and a few things your visitors can do too. If you find yourself at a loss when trying to decipher an error page, start here with our guide to the most common ones, especially if you’re trying to decide if the problem is due to your site or if it is caused by a visitor’s browser.

We’ll start off with the notorious 404. Anyone who’s used the Internet has encountered this one. A 404 error occurs when a visitors tries to access a web page or resource that doesn’t exist. The fault could be with either you as the website owner, like if you moved a page without redirecting (we’ve got some tips on that too ), or it could from a mistyped URL, which would make it the user’s issue.

Another common error, the 400 error page shows up when a request gets lost in translation. Somewhere along the line, a user’s request was corrupted on its way to the server, and the web server just didn’t understand what it was being asked. Lucky for site owners, you’re off the hook, since this is usually a problem on the user end.

If you do happen to encounter 400 error, there are a few things you can do. The first step is always to double check your URL and make sure you didn’t mistype it. You can also trying clearing your browser cookies, since sites may report a 400 error when a cookie is read as corrupt.

Error 403 Forbidden and Error 401 Unauthorized

This two aren’t the same, but they have enough in common we decided to put them together. A 403 error means that the page being accessed is forbidden. Unless you as the website owner accidentally made a public page unavailable, then this error is the fault of the user for trying to access a something that they shouldn’t.

A 401 error is similar and occurs when a user is trying to access a page that they aren’t authorized to access. Usually this happens after a failed login attempt.

Error 500 Internal Server Error

This one, according to Google, is the most popular error of all. This error occurs when something with the site is wrong in general. This could be due to the web server being overloaded, a permissions error, a PHP timeout, or a host of other bugs. Unfortunately, this one is rarely caused by the user end, and will need the site owner’s attention to solve.

You’re going to get error pages on your site, and sometimes it’s going to be your fault. The best way to avoid this is to audit your site periodically and always double check your links after you redirect . Sometimes problems just happen, and it’s always better to be prepared.

• Turn Existing Website Traffic Into More Opportunities Through Personalization
• Why FAQ Content Matters More Than Ever for AI Search
• How to Measure AI Search Traffic
• Press Release: Happy Hao Car Launches OnPrompt
• Press Release: Happy Hao Car Unveils Sidekick
• Spring Cleaning Your VDPs
• Time to Spring Forward: 5 Quick Updates to Boost Engagement on Your SRP
• Start 2026 Strong: Dealer Marketing Lessons from 2025
• AI Search Visitor Behavior
• AIO and GEO Aren’t Replacing SEO

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)
• – Multi-Rooftop Groups We’re designed for groups – large or small. Discover how our products and solutions can help your marketing teams and agencies do more with less.
• Engage Customers & Generate Leads Experience outstanding lead generation with our powerful Cosmos platform. Switch to us for unmatched performance and customer engagement.
• – Generate More Website Traffic Boost sales with responsive websites. Experience qualified leads, top-notch SEO results, and seamless mobile experiences for dealership success.
• Automate & Increase Efficiency See how our Marketing Technology solutions can generate Thousands of dollars in savings for your dealership or dealer group.
• – Analyze Performance & ROI Analyze product and market performance with data you can trust. Powered by GA4.
• Meet Compliance Requirements Compliance solutions to keep your dealership or dealer group ahead of ever-changing privacy and accessibility laws.
• – Don’t See Your OEM? Happy Hao Car provides websites, SEO, and digital advertising to all vehicle OEMs. REACH OUT
• – Product Updates The latest digital marketing innovations driving extraordinary results for your dealership.
• – Happy Hao Car Webinars Get expert advice on how to get the most out of your dealership’s digital marketing efforts.
• – Read the Blog Explore our blog for news, tips, and insights. Discover articles providing valuable information to enhance your marketing strategies.
• – An Award Winning Company We offer an unwavering commitment to top-converting websites, premier automotive SEO, and exceptional digital marketing has earned us industry recognition.
• Leadership The leadership team is composed of digital and automotive experts with extensive experience. They drive our mission to serve the automotive industry with dedication.
• – Why We Are Different Experience the Happy Hao Car difference – increased car sales, exceptional service, and 99% customer satisfaction.
• Join the Team Join our dynamic team providing cutting-edge online marketing solutions to automotive dealerships across the Americas.
• – Testimonials Read about the great success our clients have experienced with Happy Hao Car.
• – Third Party Partners OnMarketplace creates a large ecosystem of vetted partner applications which can be added quickly and easily to a dealer’s website to maximize site impact and effectiveness.
• – Partner Standards Learn about the standards required along with the key business value delivered by Happy Hao Car and each of our trusted third-party partners.