FI showroom red and grey logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

eBay: Car Buyers Will Buy Online

Will consumers buy cars online? Results of a new two-part consumer survey conducted by eBay Advertising shows they will.

by Staff
February 16, 2017
2 min to read


BRISBANE, Calif. — Will consumers buy cars online? Results of a new two-part consumer survey conducted by eBay Advertising shows they will..

Six-three percent of consumers polled indicated they are “likely” or “extremely likely” to purchase a car online in the future. Additionally, twice as many men as women have purchased cars online, citing reasons such as convenience, low prices, variety and access to more options. The survey results also showed that, when it comes to features, both men and women care the most about price, reliability and safety.

Ad Loading...

“Technology continues to evolve the automotive shopping journey,” said Josh Wetzel, senior director of sales and marketing at eBay Advertising. “Consumers are already executing prepurchase activities related to online research with increased interest in online automotive experiences. As more consumers continue to embrace automotive ecommerce for vehicles; enhanced experiences and technologies like virtual reality and artificial intelligence will continue to drive a larger shift to online purchasing.”

Eighty-seven percent of respondents said they are using the internet to research a vehicle prior to purchase, including reviewing price comparisons, ratings and current reviews. Among those who prefer to purchase vehicles in person, female survey respondents say it’s because they want to be able to take a test drive, while male survey respondents want to be able to check out the condition of the car.

Additional findings include:

  • eBay Motors buyers rely more on customer and professional reviews than informational dealership visits.

  • The average length of the buying process is two months.

  • Women are more likely than men to plan to keep their vehicle until it dies.

  • 7% of respondents said they prefer to share the news of a new vehicle purchase with their friends and family in person, rather than via the phone, text or social media.

  • Sedans, crossovers and SUVs were the most popular vehicles.

  • Men are more likely than women to purchase a convertible or a collectible car.

The survey included more than 1,000 U.S. consumer between the ages of 18 and 65 who had purchased a vehicle in the last six months. The company also analyzed eBay Motors data based on approximately 1,000 consumers who had either made purchases from the “Cars and Trucks” category on eBay Motors or who browsed the site in 2016. 

More Showroom

Two women in car, one driver and one passenger. View of windshield and road ahead.
Showroom•by Lauren Lawrence•November 4, 2026

Making the Safe Choice

Kelley Blue Book has turned households with teen drivers onto safe and affordable options for their vehicles of choice

Read More →
The front of a red Audi SUV parked between two black cars.
Showroom•by Lauren Lawrence•November 2, 2026

Inventory Holds Steady

September new-vehicle inventory rose slightly month-over-month, but dealer lots are laden with MY2026 vehicles as the typical model year changeover trudges along.

Read More →
Two Mercedes key fobs on a key chain
Showroom•by Hannah Mitchell•October 26, 2026

October Auto Sales Fall With the Leaves

A forecast anticipates retail deliveries are down this month as consumers continue to face cost challenges, though more are tapping long loans in order to buy.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Green road sign that says California Ave
Showroom•by Lauren Lawrence•October 21, 2026

California Sees Quarterly Gains

California’s new-vehicle market saw a boost in hybrids in the third quarter and its first overall quarterly market gain of the year.

Read More →
Silver Subaru STI parked in lot.
Showroom•by Lauren Lawrence•October 14, 2026

New-Vehicle Prices Stay Put

Affordability pressures and model availability shaped new-vehicle sales in September, according to an analysis by Kelley Blue Book.

Read More →
White electric vehicle parked at charging station.
Showroom•by Lauren Lawrence•October 12, 2026

EV Buyer Consideration Shifts

What drives American consumers to purchase an electric vehicle is shifting as the question moves away from Should I?' to 'Which features and experience do I want to have?'

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Door handle in interior of new-looking vehicle
Showroom•by Hannah Mitchell•October 1, 2026

Year-to-Date Auto Sales Holding Their Own

A forecast through August shows that automakers have shifted strategies to keep deliveries and revenues up despite tariffs and other economic challenges.

Read More →
Interior of BMW ix3 electric SUV with hilly landscape seen through windshield
Showroom•by Hannah Mitchell•September 28, 2026

Slow to Robo

Ten years of polling consumers shows autonomous vehicles’ profiles have risen considerably, but even more people now want at least some level of control if they go that route.

Read More →
Photo of red SUV parked outside a car dealership after dark
Showroom•by Hannah Mitchell•September 9, 2026

Dealers a Little Down

A third-quarter Cox Automotive survey finds them in a mixed mood, bummed by fallen customer traffic but encouraged by better profits, costs and EV interest.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Silver car driving down road with graphic that says “Europe Plugs In”
Showroom•by Lauren Lawrence•September 9, 2026

European EV Sales Skyrocket

The EV market on the continent held strong in July with almost 25% of new-car sales being fully electric units, a stark contrast to the U.S., where EV sales declined about 42%.

Read More →