Process of purchasing a vehicle to go ‘completely online’

future of buying a car, where you buy a car with an e-commerce app or online, was not something consumers would even consider, but this attitude is changing fast as people get more used to buying online.

Consumers became used to buying computers, takeaways, air tickets and everything else online during the pandemic, but until now, many hesitated to make larger and more complex purchases such as cars.

“We have already seen the internet radically change the car purchase journey. In the past, you would visit several dealers to see what was available and get advice. Today you can do your research online to narrow down your preferred make and model, as well as find the best deals. Then you can view and test drive the car before deciding,” says Ernest North, cofounder of digital insurance platform, Naked.

He says in future we can expect this process to go completely online. “More and more people will not only do their research on the Internet, but also buy the car with a single click. It is a global trend, with Allied Market Research forecasting that the global online car buying market will grow from $238 billion (about R4.1 trillion) in 2020 to $723 billion by 2030.”

One of the benefits of buying a car online is that it empowers you to search for your ideal car from an endless range of online car dealership sites, marketplaces and private sellers.

You can easily gather information on a few cars, compare prices and specifications and pay online. You can even have it delivered.

North says this opens up a world of possibilities. “If you live in Cape Town, for instance, you can buy a car from a dealer in Gauteng – if it will save you money or if there is no stock at a local dealer...”