The study found that 86% of car buyers who compared vehicles of similar makes or classes before buying reported feeling satisfied with their purchase, compared to 80% of those who chose not to conduct comparisons. In the past, comparing vehicles could be a strenuous process for the consumer, requiring the collection and organization of data for multiple makes and models. With RepairPal's car comparison feature, consumers only need to plug in the different makes and models to be given organized data for a more streamlined decision-making process.

In researching what vehicle to purchase, respondents said the price was the most important factor at 46%, followed by the reliability at 21%. When considering repairs for their vehicles, new-car buyers are more likely to visit a dealership, with quality of the repair and scheduling convenience as the most important factors. On the other hand, used-car buyers are more likely to visit local, independent repair shops, holding the quality and price of the repair as the most important factors.

Find the full report, summarized findings, and methodology here.