Car buyers are willing to travel an average of 48 miles to view and potentially purchase a vehicle, according to research by MOTORS & Cazoo.
The latest Consumer Insight Panel polled the views of 2,001 car buyers to identify the furthest distances they were prepared to travel for the right car.
Only 10% expect to restrict themselves to a 10 mile radius. Most will travel further afield, including: 11-20 miles (15%), 21-30 miles (17%), 31-40 miles (11%), 41-50 miles (18%) and 51-100 miles (17%).
The average distances that car buyers are willing to travel varies by gender, age and location.
Men say they will travel 51 miles, compared to women at 43 miles. The furthest journeys are likely to be undertaken by buyers aged 25-34 (49 miles) and people living in the south-west of England (55 miles).
Lucy Tugby, Marketing Director of MOTORS & Cazoo, said: “Our Consumer Insight Panel reveals car buyers are prepared to travel to find the right car from the right seller, highlighting the importance for dealers to attract customers from outside their catchment areas.
“The days of mostly selling cars to local customers in a small radius are over. These findings highlight the need for all online advertising to be detailed, accurate and up to date to attract buyers no matter where they live.
“Furthermore, 11% of the buyers surveyed said they would travel over 100 miles for the right car, that’s more than those prepared to travel up to 10 miles.
“This reinforces the importance of dealer staff ensuring all customers are made to feel welcome because some will have made a considerable effort to visit the showroom.”