PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The car buying experience went through significant changes during the pandemic.
"I think the industry itself probably aged 50 years in a one-month time span. Consumers are so used to being able to research and buy anything they want online. It was only a matter of time before that occurred for cars," Geoff Cudd, founder of FindTheBestCarPrice.com told the KYW Newsradio In Depth podcast.
He said some paperwork is still being done in person. But some people are getting cars without even test driving them or seeing it in person.
"(Carvana doesn't) have big physical lots where you can just browse through and view their inventory and I think reducing inefficiencies in the supply chain, meaning having a bunch of cars sitting out there in lots, that trend will keep continuing and there will be less cars on the lot."
Cudd believes supply chain issues will also affect prices. He said car prices have been starting to rise in the past few months due to the flow of goods during the pandemic.
"There is a trend for cars with worse mileage," he noted. "Even though the consumer generally thinks they want a more efficient car, the trends are showing differently."
Cudd said a lot of car buyers right now are going for cars with more space like sedans, SUVs and pick-up trucks, as well as used cars.
"We also have a lot of new first-time car buyers coming into the market — because on the whole everybody's afraid of using mass transportation, or ride-sharing and being in enclosed places with other people."
