Websites and apps for buying cars are increasingly becoming part of consumers’ repertoire.
Many drivers are now comfortable buying cars online or through apps and no longer feel the need to see them 'in the flesh' before agreeing to purchase.
This is the discovery of new research by hpi, which found that motorists aged 25 to 34 are most likely to buy a car via their smartphone. Only 19 per cent reported that they wouldn't feel happy purchasing a car in this way.
Interestingly, men were more likely than women to be willing to buy a car via a mobile app.
Perhaps demonstrating a generational gap when it comes to being comfortable buying online, 71 per cent of the over-65s reported that they would not feel comfortable purchasing a new car via the internet.
When asked why, the majority said they wanted to be able to see the vehicle in person before committing, while fear of being ripped off was the second most common reason.
In contrast, almost two-thirds of those who had already made an automobile purchase online said they had no worries about doing so.
Consumer expert at hpi Fernando Garcia said: "This latest research into how consumers buy cars shows that we are changing the way we buy."
He added that buying from an app would seem like a natural evolution given that so many people are now willing to purchase vehicles from websites.
A check via hpi helps to protect buyers by showing whether a car has been reported as stolen, has outstanding finance against it or has previously been written off.
The organisation operates from an international hub based in the UK.