UK drivers turn away from blind purchases

Three quarters of UK drivers would not buy a car they have not seen in person.

This is according to new research by AA Cars. Its Populus poll of more than 17,100 drivers found a fifth (21%) of British drivers have bought a car unseen — a fall from last year’s figures of 24%.

Of those who have bought unseen, 62% purchased a brand new car from a dealer, while 38% bought a used car unseen, either from a dealer, a private seller or an online auction site. Meanwhile, three-quarters (75%) of drivers said they had never bought a car unseen, and never would in the future, rising from 69% in 2019.

Younger drivers are the most reluctant to buy a car unseen, with 84% of 18-to-24-year-olds and 80% of 25-to-34-year-olds saying they would never purchase one without seeing it in person. This falls to 75% among people aged 35-54. Meanwhile, women are less willing to buy a car without seeing it first, with 80% saying they would never do so, compared to 73% of men.

James Fairclough, CEO of AA Cars, said: “It has been widely assumed that more drivers would choose to buy a car unseen if they are unable to visit a forecourt in person. Yet our data from the lockdown period suggests only a minority of drivers would want to buy a car without viewing it first, and shows people still value the reassurance of seeing a vehicle in person before parting with their money.

“Buyers know they can carry out extensive research online to compare prices and check a car’s history before they choose to buy — but nothing compares to seeing a vehicle up close and getting a feel for it during a test drive.”