Nearly four out of every five potential car buyers insist on using the internet to book test drives, according to DCML, a dealer fleet management systems operator.
The results come despite perceived problems with the usage of online services.
The operator carried out research, which showed 80 per cent of the 1,089 car buyers who took part in the study being attracted to the convenience of online booking systems, with the ability to check vehicle availability and select a car to try at a suitable time.
Vince Powell, head of DCML said, "An integrated remote booking system panders to the desires and wishes of the buyer, removes the need for dealership personnel to get involved, and removes exposure to 'double-booking ."
However not all of the feedback was positive as 18 per cent of respondents said they had experienced a poor service from both dealer and manufacturer websites .
The majority of these commented on mistakes at the showrooms, saying cars they had booked were not available when they arrived.
Mr Powell said most of the existing booking systems relied on call centre staff to process the bookings, but depended on dealership employees to administer them correctly.
