Currently reading: Online car buying services: which brands have one?

Find out which manufacturers are now taking orders through the web

Car dealerships are often viewed as one of the biggest obstacles to purchasing a new car. Buyers can be intimidated into spending thousands more than necessary, or forced to haggle to obtain the car they really want. 

The automotive industry is beginning to eradicate these factors, and many manufacturers have now made it easier for their customers to carry out their purchases online. Listed below are the car makers who have established an internet marketplace. 

Which car brands have online sales?

Dacia

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Dacia is the latest manufacturer to unveil an online car-buying website, which has been designed to incorporate all aspects of the process of purchasing a vehicle. Customers can part-exchange their current car, choose from an array of payment options, and add warranty and service packages. The car maker claims it will deliver new cars within two weeks of the online purchase being completed, simultaneously collecting any vehicle offered in part-exchange.

Mitsubishi

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Mitsubishi’s entire line-up is available to be bought through its website. All sales styles, including PCP, hire purchase, cash and business contract hire are available. Purchased cars are then collected at a local dealer or can be home delivered.

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Peugeot

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Peugeot launched its online sales service, Order Online, in January 2017. The brand’s online sales service distanced itself from others’ online efforts, allowing customers to configure and order a car to their requirements, rather than being restricted to buy dealer stock. Buyers can track the progress of their order from order placement to delivery.

Smart

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Smart’s online buying scheme focuses on speed and convenience - the brand claims that customers can have their car within 12 days, although some may take more time. A £250 deposit reserves a car, although the cars offered are a preset configuration. Buyers can, however, choose between a standard offer, lower monthly payments or a lower PCP deposit. 

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Hyundai

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Hyundai launched its Click To Buy scheme not long before Smart launched its service, and offers discounts on its range of models sold online. Cash buyers can complete the entire transaction online, but those looking for a finance deal will need to visit a dealer to complete the paperwork. The cars offered on Click To Buy can be delivered within as little as a week from the order being placed. 

Jaguar Land Rover

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The sister brands, like many others on this list, worked with digital retail specialist Rockar to launch its online sales service. The website is accompanied by a shopping centre-based retail space, with product experts on hand to explain features to customers, who can then purchase online at their leisure later on.

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BMW

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BMW chose the UK to be the first market in which to launch online sales, with its entire line-up available to buy online. The brand claimed that it was the first in the UK to offer full ordering and finance processes online. BMW is yet to roll out the service to sister brand Mini, though. 

Autocar sister brand What Car? also runs its own online car buying service, with discounts available from dealers up and down the country. 

Read more

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Undercover car shoppers: the buyers who check up on dealerships​

Hyundai launches online buying service for new cars

Felix Page

Felix Page
Title: Deputy editor

Felix is Autocar's deputy editor, responsible for leading the brand's agenda-shaping coverage across all facets of the global automotive industry - both in print and online.

He has interviewed the most powerful and widely respected people in motoring, covered the reveals and launches of today's most important cars, and broken some of the biggest automotive stories of the last few years. 

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scotty5 7 November 2018

Fake news

Would be interesting to know the percentage of cars bought via manufacturer websites. Would also be interested to know how many folk don't like visiting a dealership. For the majority of people, a brand new car is an exciting time, getting the best deal is all part of the game.

There may be the odd few but I don't believe most people are put off by dealerships. (given the number of them, and with record car sales in the past years, they don't seem to be doing too badly).

Vertigo 7 November 2018

Omission

Er. Why is there no mention in the entire article of the brand that actually started this whole thing, a decade ago?
poon 7 November 2017

Never.

You can't haggle online. You can't look the moronic salesman in the eyes and be prepared to walk if you can't get the deal you want online. Never!.