How Virtual Reality (VR) Is Changing the Car Buying Process

Virtual reality is a game changer for car shoppers and car dealerships. Without the restraints of physical space, car dealers can offer their customers a wider range of vehicles, including models they don’t physically have at their dealership. How do you want to shop for your next vehicle? Do you want to do it in person, or are you ready to go virtual?

Exploring Models and Features in Virtual Reality

There are a lot of different models to look at when shopping for a new vehicle. Some manufacturers have 50 or more models, and each of these comes in several configurations. There is no way a dealership can have each of these sitting on their lot, and if you’ve ever been in sales, you know it’s hard to sell something to a customer if they can’t see it in person.

Car buyers can go to the car dealership and use VR to get an up-close look at vehicles that they are interested in, even when it’s not sitting on the lot. VR allows them to see all the details as if they were walking around the car and sitting in it.

Customize and Re-Customize the Details

VR is changing not only the way car dealerships show their customers vehicles but also how customers order a new one. Car shoppers can configure a new car according to what they want and make changes in mere seconds if they want. Buyers can check out add-and-remove features and see the color options without having to make numerous calls to the dealership.

Virtual Test Drives

What about the all-important test drive? Imagine getting behind the wheel of a potential new ride without actually getting inside the car. VR is taking test driving to new levels, offering customers the ability to see how a vehicle performs in a variety of conditions and over different terrains to give them a feel for how the car will perform in real situations.

Getting Started from Home Using Virtual Reality

Car buyers are already in the habit of starting their research at home. Car dealerships have information about their vehicles on their websites, so their customers can read about the features and equipment. Virtual reality can take this to a new level. Without leaving their living room, customers can take a seat in a car, check out how the infotainment system works, and get a feeling for how it drives.

If they decide they want to buy it, they don’t have to go to the dealership. Some will do the transaction remotely and then deliver the vehicle right to their driveway.

The Sales Pitch Is Out

One of the things that many car buyers dread about car shopping is the biased sales pitch. Virtual reality car shopping can eliminate this piece of the shopping experience and, instead, allow the customer to focus on getting real information about how it drives and how the features work so they can make an informed decision.