Unpacking The Pandemic-Inspired Explosion of Online Car Buying in 2022

As we’re sure you’re well aware, the nature of car-buying has changed dramatically in the face of a global pandemic, which in a number of ways, has democratised how the car-buying public gets access to their prospective purchase. As a result, it’s never been easier to buy a car online, with car showrooms opening digital venues for buyers to get up close and personal with their potential new car. 

In previous years, debuts of new models were hotly-anticipated events that saw journalists flown around the world to attend the launch of a brand new vehicle, or an international auto show. In 2022, though, that’s changed completely. Manufacturers are now launching cars online, with high-production digital unveilings that give everyone at home a chance to take in new designs and engineering improvements from the comfort of home. 

The result of these digital debuts and new investments from manufacturers in digital platforms means that car buying online has never been easier, and more informative for the buyer, which eliminates the stresses of being put on the spot by a pushy car dealer, and gives you all the information you need to make an informed purchase of a new car online. 

Power to the People With Online Reviews 

The process of car buying online has been made as easy as possible as the amount of independent reviews on new cars continue to be published on a number of platforms. Take our review section, for example. OnlineAuto’s Review Platform gives an unbiased opinion on how any given car stacks up against a manufacturer’s claims, as well as against its key rivals. It’s easy to be swamped with information when looking at car buying online, so getting expert advice from automotive journalists is one of the best ways to find out what the best option is for your next car. 

This information is designed to be easily-digestible, and help you make the most informed decision possible as you create a short-list for your next car. More importantly, it gives you a list of pros and cons for any given car, helping you navigate the online car buying process with confidence. 

New-Found Investments in Car Buying Online

As we’ve just discovered, manufacturers around the globe are investing millions into ensuring lockdowns won’t stop them from selling as many vehicles as possible. The result of this has been new-found investments into car buying online, with the launch of digital platforms, online walk-throughs and online events that showcase new releases directly to the public. More specifically to car buying online, huge advancements have been made when it comes to streamlining the purchasing process of a new vehicle digitally. A number of major manufacturers have now designed their own smartphone apps which allow you to organise a test-drive and even finalise the purchase of a new vehicle, all from the comfort of home. So long as you’ve combed-through all the relevant information and expert reviews, there’s never been a more accessible time to make an online car purchase from your living room, essentially eliminating the middle-man and a heap of stress from the process. 

Virtual Walkthroughs and Digital Tours 

As technology becomes more advanced, it allows vehicle manufacturers to showcase more of their cars digitally, allowing the public, regardless of where they live, to take in all the details with a mix of augmented and virtual reality, presented in high-definition. With the launch of a new vehicle, the manufacturer prepares a huge list of information for journalists and car-buyers alike to look through, but one of the best ways to determine if a car is right for you is, of course, to take a close-up look. Digital showcases now allow an online car buyer to take in every angle of the vehicle with a 360-degree view, and compare exterior and interior colours to see what looks best. 

Test Drives Made Easy

If you’re at the stage where you have a shortlist of vehicles you’d like to test-drive, you’ll be glad to know that there are services that can arrange a vehicle for you to test. Getting behind the wheel of your prospective vehicle is one of the most important parts of the car-buying process, thankfully, OnlineAuto prides itself on two things: a team of passionate car-buying experts that will help find your perfect car, and the ability to organise test-drives on your behalf.

Then, once you’ve test driven your favourite vehicle and chosen the car most suitable for you, OnlineAuto can help facilitate the delivery of a brand-new vehicle for you to drive as one of the most convenient services currently available in Australia. 

How to Buy a New Car Online? 

The process of buying a new car online is no small task, but it is more convenient than ever before thanks to investments from manufactures and platforms like OnlineAuto that can offer expert advice and guidance, and help to streamline the process as much as possible. A number of major manufacturers offer the opportunity to make a purchase online, but the process can be a bit more complicated when it comes to more affordable manufacturers who prefer to get buyers to visit their dealerships. Thankfully, services like OnlineAuto make the purchase of your next car as simple and informative as possible. If you’re unsure as to what exactly you’re looking for, we can even help make some suggestions and provide you with all the necessary information for an informed purchase.  

Better still, OnlineAuto takes a lot of the stress and legwork out of the process, while helping you potentially save thousands. We can organise a trade-in for your existing car, help you obtain vehicle finance and give you an opportunity to try before you buy, all without you needing to leave the couch.  

Are Digital Showrooms the Future? 

While the pandemic was perhaps the primary reason manufactures made significant investments into digital showrooms, they’re here to stay well after the virus is contained. That is because digital showrooms offer casual browsers and prospective buyers a simple and remarkably effective means of inspecting a new car inside and out. Physical showrooms will always exist, but the prevalence of digital showrooms and online-only unveilings will continue to bring the automotive industry into the 21st century. 

Is Buying a New Car Online a Good Idea?

So long as you’ve prepared yourself with all the information available on that particular vehicle, there is no evidence to suggest that buying a new car online is anything but a convenient and remarkably simple means of purchasing a new vehicle. We’d encourage anyone looking at making their purchase to ensure they’ve done their research, read reviews and taken a close look at the safety and entertainment features, as well as engine power and economy figures, and more importantly, ownership programs on offer from that particular manufacturer ahead of any online purchase. 

Once you’ve armed yourself with all the necessary information, though, buying a new car online is one of the best ideas in the current automotive landscape. If you’re looking for even more savings, don’t forget to get in touch with one of OnlineAuto’s car-buying experts to secure the best possible deal online with our bulk-buying power, and convenient test-drive and delivery program straight to your front door or workplace.