Drivers 'would not buy car online'

20/04/2011

People spend an average 18 hours on the internet researching their next car but are not confident enough to buy the vehicle online, research has found.

Manheim Auctions found that people put hours into scouting out their new vehicle, using the internet to find out the tax bracket, fuel consumption and car insurance costs.

Motorists take time to compare makes and models, and search for the best value deals on a variety of sites, the study found.

But two-thirds of the drivers asked said they would not buy a car online.

Some 25% said they would find a car and even agree a price via the internet, but they would not hand over any money until they had seen the car for themselves.

Marketing director Craig Mailey said: "There is no question that the internet has become the primary research tool for motorists looking for a car. But when it comes to actually buying online, without seeing the vehicle first, consumers are just not ready to take the plunge."