Indian buyers still prefer physical dealerships over online mediums to purchase cars: Survey

Indian car buyers prefer traditional dealerships over digital platforms, emphasizing trust and personal relationships in the buying process.

Majority of car buyers in India still prefer making their purchase decisions through physical dealerships, with digital platforms increasingly complementing the overall acquisition process, according to a survey.

The findings of a global study conducted by Urban Science involving over 9,000 people across the U.S., Germany, U.K., China, India, and Mexico, revealed that most Indian buyers still predominantly prefer purchasing vehicles through a traditional dealership in person, with trust and relationship-building playing pivotal roles.

According to the survey, nearly nine out of 10 car buyers in India are more inclined to visit a physical dealership, highlighting the critical importance of in-person visits in shaping their overall buying behaviour, it stated.

The survey highlighted that India provides a compelling blueprint for balancing the rising digital demand with a deeply rooted, trust-driven car-buying culture.

For Indian car buyers, tradition is not merely nostalgic— it's a trusted approach to making a major financial decision, it noted.

Purchasing a car often involves family, personal relationships, and a hands-on experience that digital platforms cannot fully replicate, it added.

Dealerships offer a space where trust is cultivated, deals are personalised, relationships are nurtured, and after-sales support all come to life, making them an indispensable part of the car-buying process, as per the survey.