Car Buyer Labs

Car Buying Advice, Tips, and Reviews

A red return key on a keyboard is shown thats says buy with a car icon.

What Are the Benefits of Shopping for a Car Online?

It’s no secret that things have changed over the years. You can have food delivered to your residence via an app. You can order groceries online and have them brought out to your car at the store. You can even purchase a car online. When it comes to shopping convenience, there really is no better time to be alive. Online car sales sites have been on the rise recently, and getting a new set of wheels has never been easier. However, it is a big purchase, and some people may still be wary of the process. So, what are the benefits of shopping for a car online? Let’s find out!

#1 – It Saves a Lot of Time.

If you go about car shopping by the conventional route, then you will be spending most of your day at a car dealership. You may even have to go to more than one if you are looking for a very specific vehicle or comparing models. However, when you shop online for a new car, you can do it from the comfort of your home, office, or even a coffee shop. You don’t need to spend your day-off visiting various dealerships. If you are searching for a car at home, then you don’t even need to take the time to change out of your pajamas!

#2 – It Saves Money.

When you are shopping for a car online, all you need is internet access and a device that connects to the internet. This can be a computer, tablet, or smartphone. You don’t need to waste gas driving to a dealership. And if you don’t have any means of transportation right now, then you won’t have to spend money on an Uber or bus.

Plus, many online car sales sites offer incredible deals on their vehicles. Why? Because they can cut down on costs since they are primarily serving the public online instead of in-person. At the end of the day, you will end up saving money on your new vehicle purchase. The money that you save can go towards something else, such as a vehicle service/maintenance fund for later on down the road.

A glass piggy bank is shown with a green car inside.

#3 – It Offers More Vehicle Choices.

Online car sales sites typically have much larger inventories than physical dealerships. While you can usually browse a dealer’s inventory online, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they have a particular model in stock when you show up because it might have recently sold. Oftentimes, dealerships don’t update their inventory daily as things sell, so you never truly know if they still have a particular vehicle. However, online car sales sites do. This is their bread and butter. They tend to keep their inventory updated on a daily basis.

Plus, an online car dealership will often have access to a much larger inventory than they initially show. Many online dealers partner with physical dealerships in their general area, and sometimes even across the nation, where they can search for the vehicle you want for you. This opens up hundreds of options beyond just what the online dealership has in its physical inventory.

#4 – It Allows for Precision Searching.

Do you have your heart set on a specific vehicle? You can easily find exactly what you’re looking for by shopping for a car online. If you want a specific trim or package, you can find it. However, conventional dealerships don’t always have exactly what you’re looking for.

A few years ago, if you went to a Jeep dealership to look for a specific model/trim or special edition, you would be at the mercy of the dealership’s inventory. Maybe they don’t have that special edition version. Perhaps the closest dealership that has what you’re looking for is six hours away. With online car sales sites, this is no longer an issue. Most sites will be able to find exactly what you’re looking for. They have access to a much wider selection of models, and that is a great advantage for you as a shopper.

#5 – It Allows for Model Comparison.

Tying into the last point, you can easily compare different models and vehicles online at your own leisure. If you go to a dealership in person, you will only be able to look at what they have on-site. They could be missing that trim level you really love, or they might not have a similar model to compare with. Using online car sales sites, you can quickly and efficiently compare similar vehicles to see which one is best suited to your needs. For example, if you want to see the difference between the Jeep Wrangler and the Ford Bronco, you can do that without having to go to two different dealerships. It’s so much simpler to shop online.

A close up shows a tow truck driver removing the the tire straps on a blue convertible after being purchased on an online car sales site.

#6 – You Can Get It Delivered.

If you don’t want to leave the comfort of your home, you can shop for a new car online and have it delivered right to your driveway. This is probably one of our favorite benefits of using online car sales sites. You go to the site, look for the vehicle you want, purchase it, and set up a delivery date/time. It doesn’t get much easier than that. You can even have your new vehicle delivered to your workplace. Plus, most online dealers will pick up your trade-in, so you don’t need to worry about dealing with that. And there is usually a trial period where you can test drive the vehicle and return it (via pick up) if you don’t like it. So, you have a lot more flexibility buying online.

#7 – There Is No Pressure.

The final benefit of shopping for a car online is that there is essentially no pressure to buy. There are no pushy car salesmen trying to get you to sign on the dotted line right this second. There is no one standing in front of you haggling a price. You can search for your next set of wheels in peace and buy it whenever you are ready. Are you just browsing to see what your current options are? Awesome! Take your time. There is absolutely zero pressure to buy a car as soon as you show interest in one.

A Few Final Tips

If you are considering purchasing a vehicle online and you want to take it out for a test drive before purchasing, you can still do that. While the option to complete the car-buying process completely online is always there, you can still make arrangements to test drive the vehicle. Some online car sales sites will bring the vehicle to you for a test drive. This usually depends on how far away from them you are. If getting a feel for the vehicle is a must for you before you commit to a purchase, then don’t think that it isn’t an option. You can test drive cars before you buy them.

Lastly, if you are considering a used car, then you will be provided with a vehicle history report before you agree to anything. You can see for yourself that the pre-owned vehicle is in good working condition. So, you don’t have to worry about buying a lemon online or getting taken for a fool. Online car sales sites are usually more transparent than on-person dealerships.

Buy a Car Online

As you can see, there are a lot of benefits to embracing the modern age of online shopping when you are buying a new vehicle. You can take a look at vast inventories filled with vehicles from all across the country. You are not just limited to what’s local around you. Plus, you can get started whenever you want, wherever you want, and dressed however you want. It’s a winning situation all around when you shop for a new car online.