Car-Buying Gets Easier
Number of consumers who found the process easy rose in December, survey finds.

The amount of time consumers spent at the dealership also improved, with 21% of respondents saying it took less time than they’d expected.
IMAGE: Pexels/Erik McIean
Consumers are having an easier time car shopping, now that inventories have bounced back.
CDK Global’s latest Ease of Purchase survey found that 85% of car shoppers found the process easy in December, up month-over-month from 81%, returning to October’s result.
The percentage of consumers who located the model they wanted in stock rose sharply from 42% to 52%, translating to 73% of survey respondents describing the search for their model as easy, among the strongest positive responses since CDK launched the monthly study in July 2022.
The amount of time consumers spent at the dealership also improved, with 21% of respondents saying it took less time than they’d expected, up from 16% in November, and many said that made the process easy for them overall. One respondent said the purchase took just 45 minutes.
Slightly more survey respondents said they visited just one dealership in their quest to find a new vehicle, up 1% to 36%, CDK said.
While finding a car got easier, financing didn’t, the survey shows. Just 61% of respondents found that part of the process easy, down month-over-month from 63%.
Originally posted on Auto Dealer Today
More Industry

Charger Network Growth Slows
Despite a projected increase in public EV chargers in 2026, charging infrastructure remains a top concern for consumers as the gap between the most and least EV-friendly places remains substantial.
Read More →
Lenders, Consumers Take on More Auto Loan Risk
September records loosened credit access the most in over a decade as buyers took advantage of the conditions to afford trading, though loan applications fell.
Read More →
Next-Gen Hybrids in Sight
Dealerships can expect to see revamped hybrids from Honda next year as the company rolls out a new system and model lineup.
Read More →
Gem State Stores Change Hands
A larger auto group founded in the industry’s early years sold two franchises to a neighbor group that's on a growth spurt.
Read More →
Charging In Motion
Honda has been researching wireless in-motion charging for electric vehicles since 2025, and new technology developments have put it a step closer to a final product.
Read More →
Twin Cities Stores Sell
Minnesota-based Walser Automotive Group made what it called the most significant acquisition in its history with a three-rooftop deal in Minneapolis.
Read More →
U.S. Auto Sales Still Below Prepandemic Levels
Mobility Global industry observers don’t expect the market to return to the higher volumes that became routine before Covid but to stay well below its potential.
Read More →
The Powertrain Shift
Electric-vehicle owners are backpedaling, according to new data, with product availability driving many to shift back to gas-powered engines.
Read More →
Achromatic Autos
The shades that dominate the U.S. car market don’t call attention to themselves, though grayscale may have plateaued after a 30-year upswing, research shows.
Read More →
Used-Vehicle Affordability Worsens
Listing prices in August defied seasonal trends, rising above $27,000 for the second time this year.
Read More →