4 Reasons Mobile Apps are Driving the Car Buying Game

Buying a car can be a time-consuming and overwhelming process: countless trips to dealerships, printing out stacks of car reports, and spending practically every free weekend trying to find the best option. So it’s no wonder car buyers are turning to mobile apps to kick the process into high gear.

Data from Cox Automotive shows that 60% of car buyers go online to research and buy cars, with a growing number of shoppers using mobile apps to navigate the process. According to J.D. Power, 53% of car shoppers use a mobile device to find information, and drivers who start their search on a mobile app are 73% more likely to make a purchase.

That said, buying a car is a major decision and mobile purchases don’t just happen magically. As more consumers turn to the small screen and car buying mobile app competition heats up, brands who focus on four key features will ultimately win the race for attention. Below, discover four reasons why leaders like CarMax, Carvana, TrueCar, Instamotor, and Autotrader are driving mobile car purchases and speeding ahead of the competition.

Convenience

Car buyers sick of the hassle are turning towards mobile for a more convenient experience.

The CarMax app, for example, essentially brings CarMax to you, with direct access to over 50,000 vehicles for sale on their lots. Through the app, customers can easily compare up to 10 cars on their phone at one time, rather than driving to multiple dealerships. Similarly, Autotrader allows shoppers to search for vehicles, storing any favorites in the app’s “My AutoTrader” feature so they can easily compare against other search results. Instamotor, a used car buying app currently available in California, Dallas and Houston, helps customers organize their search through “Discover,” “Recommended” and “Recently Viewed” tabs.

The Carvana app centralizes the entire car buying process, from research to payment. Once a shopper has found their dream car, they can review and sign paperwork in the app, submit down payment information, and select a delivery or pick up time. Delivery is free within Carvana’s local markets.

Efficiency

Car buying apps also help buyers zoom through what has long been a time-consuming process. Many popular apps on the market offer features that simplify the financing and payment process. For example, Autotrader allows buyers to get instant loan pre-approval via text, and both Instamotor and Carvana allow customers to get pre-qualified for a loan with no hit to their credit score. Several car buying apps even streamline the payment process; sellers on Autotrader can list their vehicle and get an instant cash offer, buyers using Instamotor can make an offer directly from the app, Carvana customers can complete their paperwork and submit their down payment in the app, and buyers using CarMax can even make payments via mobile.

Several popular vehicle buying apps also leverage alerts to make the process more efficient. To simplify car searches, the Instamotor app sends shoppers an alert when car listings match their query. And rather than constantly having to check for price changes, the CarMax app sends price alerts when the price of a customer’s saved vehicle decreases.

Transparency

According to the 2016 Beepi Consumer Automotive Index, 87% of Americans dislike some aspect of car shopping at dealerships and 61% feel they’re taken advantage of while there. Sound familiar?

Mobile brands are alleviating that frustration by bringing greater transparency to the vehicle buying process. Both CarMax and Autotrader allow shoppers to easily check a car’s recall status, and several apps provide access to a free vehicle history report. Autotrader, for example, allows users to scan a free vehicle history on any car they like, also including a “reviews” feature that offers input from other drivers who have experience with that make and model. Similarly, Instamotor offers a free vehicle history report, in addition to vetting all of the cars on their platform for title and lemon history, odometer inconsistency, and any issues like weather damage.

For shoppers wanting an even closer look at the car (literally), the CarMax and Carvana apps offer 360-degree view interior photography so customers can check for weird coffee stains or broken mirrors. And those frustrated by complex pricing and negotiations will appreciate the TrueCar app, which focuses on showing the “TruePrice,” or the actual price they’d pay at the dealership with fees included. The app highlights particularly good deals as “Exceptional Price” and gives shoppers a “true price” breakdown with a certificate they can print and show to the dealer.

User-friendly features

Ever been to a dealership and found the “perfect car,” only to discover the one on the lot didn’t actually have all the features you want? Car buying mobile apps have solved that conundrum by offering filters, so the cars that show in your search have exactly what you’re looking for. Carvana’s app, for example, has dynamic filters that let shoppers search according to their lifestyle, whether you’re a commuter, a techie in search of all the bells and whistles, or a family in need of a kid-friendly ride.

The CarMax app also helps shoppers search based on their budget, so they don’t have to worry about falling in love with a vehicle they can’t afford. The app also includes a tool to calculate estimated monthly payments before finalizing a purchase. Similarly, TrueCar’s app gives car buyers more in-depth pricing information than they might find at a traditional car lot. The app analyzes what people have already paid for the same make/model and uses a unique algorithm to determine the actual price a dealer is willing to offer, including all fees and desired feature upgrades. Once a shopper has found the perfect set of wheels, both the Carvana and CarMax mobile apps offer a 7-day money-back guarantee, enabling car buyers to hit the road with more peace of mind.

From researching prices and comparing different models to getting vehicle history information, car buying apps help shoppers make more confident decisions without the hassle of traditional car searches. Mobile car buying brands who focus on convenience, efficiency, transparency, and offering user-friendly features will continue to speed ahead of the pack, and those who implement strategic app delivery and advertising strategies will achieve long-term success in the race for attention.