How much did COVID-19 impact transit and car-shopping in Canada?

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Between working from home and drive-in film festivals , the recent COVID-19 pandemic certainly changed a few things, but a new report is showing just how mobility, transportation, and car shopping changed in Canada.

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For example, 50 per cent of ride-share users are planning to return to their reliance on the services in the next year; and just three per cent more are planning to use the services beyond that. Public transportation also weathers a similar hit, with 52 per cent of respondents planning on using services like buses or trains in the new year; only 54 per cent think they’ll use it in the long-term.

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However, the report from CarGurus surveyed just 503 Canadian car buyers as part of this survey, so it makes sense that these car owners (or hopefuls) are keen on personal transportation. The report adds that 38 per cent of those surveyed are planning on using their vehicle more in the future, while 49 per cent are expecting to go on more road trips. We’ve certainly experienced an increased interest in local road trips over the year , and while borders open up, can see the draw of the open road over the hustle and bustle of air travel.

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The report goes beyond just transportation habits to also cover car shopping expectations. Sixty-three per cent of recent car buyers surveyed expressed that they’d prefer to do more of their car-buying process at home , including negotiating prices, financing, evaluating their trade-in, and even arranging a test drive. It seems no one has the time to hone their in-person negotiation skill, or maybe they’re hoping an app or AI can cover it for them.

Finally, when it comes to services, buyers are expecting more contactless experiences. These include scheduling a dealership appointment, going on a solo test drive, or having a car delivered to their home for a test drive, or having it delivered outright. Of course, anyone who has spent time trying to arrange a test-drive of a hot new car can know that dealerships can be skeptical of those walking in to try something out.

The report even touched on why shoppers are so interested in buying a car in 2021. It turns out that decreased spending due to the full and partial lockdowns of the past year led to increased savings, which could have been used on a new ride.

In all, the report paints a somewhat positive outlook on car buying habits for the near future. It seems like personal transportation is more appealing than public transportation or ride-sharing. It also seems like everyone loves their taste of digital car shopping and won’t want to go back.