Online Car Shopping Increases

More car shoppers are doing their pre-purchase homework online, reports CBS News Correspondent John Hartge. Nearly half — 44 percent — of recent car shoppers used the Internet during their shopping experience, up from 26 percent just two years ago.

Industry analysts note that in most cases, the Internet was mainly a research tool.

"It doesn't replace a visit to a dealership," said Denise Patton-Pace, executive director of Automotive Retailing Today, a coalition of auto manufacturers and dealer organizations. "They still want to get there, they still want to try out the seats, check out the headroom, kick the tires."

Still, more car shoppers are doing their pre-purchase homework online "for collecting more information about colors, style and price, and also, it was a convenient way for them to get information," Patton-Pace told CBS Radio News.

CBS

Correspondent John Hartge often covers automotive stories for CBS News.

"The fact that people come (to dealers) and they're well-informed actually speeds up the sales process," she said. "It turns out to be a time-saver for everybody."

Most don't actually buy the cars online, but Patton-Pace said this could be the beginning of a trend.

"It may be that people will request that the car be delivered to them, and they complete the transaction at their own home," she said.

The industry group's surveys were conducted by Gallup and Wirthlin Worldwide.

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