2 Min ReadNovember 4, 2024

Shoppers Have Harder Time Finding the Right Car in October

Shoppers Have Harder Time Finding the Right Car in October

Disruptions in inventory, whether it was due to stop sales, model year turnovers or even natural disasters, seem to have put a dent in the most recent Ease of Purchase score compiled by CDK.

October experienced a drop to 87% of car buyers who said buying a car was easy. That’s down from 89% in September and the record of 93% set in August. While still higher than the 85% recorded in October 2023, the decline is a clear signal that inventory is never a settled issue for the nation’s franchised car dealers.

Ease of Purchase Oct 2024

The number of people who were able to buy the vehicle they wanted in stock fell sharply to 49% from 54% in September. It’s even off from the 52% recorded last October. This could’ve also possibly led to the fact that fewer people said it was easy to take a test drive, falling to 78%, a response that rarely dips under 80%.

Ease of Purchase Oct 24

Even though slightly more people had to buy their vehicle in transit, 25% up from 24% in September, or order it from the factory, 19% up from 15% in September, most considered whichever route they went easy, 76%, the same as last month.

Nearly every other step in the purchase process saw little change whether it was the slight drop in price and trade-in negotiations or the minimal gains in applying for credit.

Ease of Purchase Oct 2024

It also took shoppers much longer than they expected to buy cars in October. That number increased from 25% in September to 32% in October. Although this is still an improvement from last October’s 35%. Conversely, the number of shoppers who said it took less time had a precipitous fall to 15% in October from 25% in September.

Ease of Purchase Oct 2024

One respondent complained that there were “too many things to choose from” when it came to finalizing the deal and another stressed that there was more paperwork than they expected. The number of buyers who said completing necessary forms was easy fell slightly to 70% in October from 72% in September.

The fourth quarter isn’t off to a great start when it comes to Ease of Purchase. Unless inventory issues smooth out, the end of the year might see declines continue just when the industry needs a strong finish.

Share This

David Thomas
By David Thomas
Director, Content

David Thomas is director of content marketing and automotive industry analyst at CDK Global. He champions thought leadership across all platforms, connecting CDK’s vast expertise to the broader market and trends driving our industry forward. David has spent nearly 20 years in the automotive world as a product evaluator, journalist and marketer for brands like Autoblog, Cars.com, Nissan and Harley-Davidson.

Recent Insights

Community College Recruitment Strategies for Your Dealership.

Community College Recruitment Strategies for Your Dealership

Recruiting people to staff entry-level positions at your dealership can be a challenge. Rather than posting a “help wanted” ad...
3 Min ReadDec 6CDK Global
Dealers Deliver on Customer Experience in November

Dealers Deliver on Customer Experience in November

Inventories hit some of their highest levels in years last month and the ability to find the car they wanted...
3 Min ReadDec 2David Thomas
Energize E V Sales This Winter.

Energize EV Sales This Winter

Winter is a unique time to sell cars, especially in cold climates. This year promises to be an even more...
5 Min ReadNov 22CDK Global
The Need for Speed. How A I Is Transforming Auto Dealerships.

The Need for Speed: How AI Is Transforming Auto Dealerships

In today’s fast-paced world, time is one of the most precious commodities, and nowhere is that more evident than in...
3 Min ReadNov 20Jessie Hammonds
Dealership Recruiting and Retention in the Age of Social Media.

Dealership Recruiting and Retention in the Age of Social Media

With the U.S. unemployment rate hovering just over 4%, auto dealership recruiting and retention are daunting challenges facing dealers of...
4 Min ReadNov 19CDK Global
New Research Highlights Impact of AI in Automotive

New Research Highlights Impact of AI in Automotive

AI in the automotive industry is no longer a trend. Dealerships are experiencing gains across their operations thanks to technologies...
2 Min ReadNov 13CDK Global
Why the Design of License Plate Frames Matters.

Why the Design of License Plate Frames Matters

There’s nothing wrong if a dealership wants a little promotion after they’ve made a sale. However, car owners often have...
3 Min ReadNov 1CDK Global
Yes Your Service Department Waiting Room Really Matters .

Yes, Your Service Department Waiting Room Really Matters

Whether it’s at the dentist’s office, the airport or a car dealership’s Service department, nobody enjoys being sequestered in a...
3 Min ReadOct 21CDK Global
Service Shopper 4

Service Shopper 4.0: Dealerships Gain Ground

Fixed Operations continues to be a major profit center for car dealerships. And the competition from independent repair facilities and...
3 Min ReadOct 17CDK Global
The Road Ahead for A I in Automotive Retail.

The Road Ahead for AI in Automotive Retail

Artificial intelligence is no longer restricted to sci-fi movies or futuristic dreams. It’s now firmly embedded in the mainstream (ChatGPT,...
4 Min ReadOct 16Leigh Ann Conver