Technology influences car buying habits

Motorists aged between 25-34 would be the most likely to buy a car via an app according to the results of a survey hpi.

Only 19% in this age range said they wouldn’t consider buying a new car in this way and a quarter (26%) wouldn’t consider an app purchase of a used vehicle.

Of those motorists aged 65 or more, almost three-quarters (71%) would never consider buying a new car online while for used cars the figure is even higher at 76%.

Wanting to kick the tyres is the most common reason for not buying a used car online, while fears of getting ripped off comes in at number two. Almost one in five of those questioned said they’d never buy anything online at all, with one in six saying they’re not comfortable with how their data might be used. More than a third of those who wouldn’t buy a second-hand car over the internet admitted that it was because of a lack of consumer protection in the event of problems occurring.

The research found that men would also be more likely to purchase a car via mobile app than women according to the survey findings.

13% of those questioned have already bought a new or used car online without viewing it first. Furthermore, while almost two-thirds of those who bought online had no worries about doing so, more than one third did have reservations yet still went ahead with the ‘blind’ purchase.

The survey revealed that for men vs womens’ buying habits, the results varied considerably.

The survey found a quarter (23%) of men had no worries about buying a new car without viewing it prior to buying, even paying for the vehicle before they’d got their hands on the keys. The figure was lower for men buying used cars unseen (14%). Over one in ten (14%) of women had no qualms about buying a new car unseen and parting with the cash compared with 9% for used cars.

When it comes to making the same purchase via a mobile app, 35% of men said they would buy a new car in this way without viewing it before payment and 18% for a used car. For women, just over a fifth (22%) would buy a new car through an app without viewing it first and 12% for a used car in this way.