Many car buyers use online tools, but that is not the same as buying a car entirely online. Browsing listings, arranging finance and completing every required purchase step are different measures. A percentage is useful only when the study makes clear which activity and which group of buyers it counts.
Correction: earlier versions included unsourced national percentages and market-growth projections. Those figures have been removed rather than presented as verified Australian buying behaviour.
What a named survey actually found
Cox Automotive’s 2025 Car Buyer Journey findings report that 7% of surveyed buyers completed the purchase entirely online and 53% completed all required steps in person. The remaining 40% used a mix. The same release reports third-party website use by 75% of buyers. These measures describe different parts of the journey and should not be added together.
| Measure in the Cox study | Reported result | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Entirely online purchase | 7% | Completion channel, not all online research |
| All required steps in person | 53% | Does not establish that the buyer never researched online |
| Mixed purchase process | 40% | Required steps split between channels |
| Third-party website use | 75% | A research/use measure, not an all-online sales rate |
These findings are not an Australian national purchase rate and are not a count of worldwide online buyers. Keep the study year, geography, sample and question beside any figure you reuse. An intention to buy online also needs to remain separate from observed buying behaviour.
Why the wording changes the answer
A buyer might discover a car through a marketplace, compare it on a manufacturer’s site, inspect it at a dealership and sign paperwork there. That person used online platforms extensively but did not necessarily complete an entirely digital transaction.
Conversely, paying a deposit online does not establish that the remaining process—inspection, finance, identity checks, contract and delivery—was all online. When comparing reports, look for a consistent definition of “purchase”. A combined category can hide quite different experiences.
What Australian buyers should check
A polished listing is a starting point for due diligence. Confirm the seller’s identity, the actual vehicle identification number and the vehicle’s condition. Arrange an independent inspection where appropriate, and compare the car with its description before committing money. Our used-car inspection checklist sets out the identity, history and condition checks in more detail.
The Australian Personal Property Securities Register recommends a used-car search on the day of purchase or the day before. Use the correct VIN and keep the certificate. A PPSR search addresses particular registration information; it is not a mechanical inspection or a guarantee that the seller and every claim in an advertisement are legitimate.
Read the transaction terms before a deposit
Check the full price, delivery arrangements, what happens if the car differs from the listing, and the conditions attached to any deposit. Confirm payment details independently if they change unexpectedly. The checks you need depend on the seller, jurisdiction and transaction, not just whether a website looks professional.
The statistic worth using
Use the 7% figure only with its named study and definition attached. For a claim about Australian online car purchasing, seek an Australian study that actually measures completed purchases. Online research, online deposits and entirely digital buying should remain separate columns, not one inflated headline.
Zachary Skinner is the editor of TechDrivePlay.com, where tech, cars and adventure share the fast lane.
A former snowboarding pro and programmer, he brings both creative flair and technical know-how to his reviews. From high-performance cars to clever gadgets, he explores how innovation shapes the way we move, connect and live.
