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Online car buying site expands with test drive service

Online car marketplace HelloCars has launched a $49 test drive service, making it easier than ever for Sydneysiders to buy a car online.

Customers can now have a car sent straight to their home in the Sydney metro area at a time that’s convenient for them to take on a 30-minute test drive.

An experienced customer service specialist from HelloCars will accompany them.

Calling the test drive service an Australian-first, Paul Higgins, director of HelloCars, says it’s an improvement on the way traditional car dealerships work.

“The standard 10-minute test drive you get at a dealership, or through a private sale, is too short and artificial to get much useful information about the car you’re considering buying,” Higgins said.

“We wanted our customers to be able to find out how the car will fit into their lifestyle – is there enough room for the baby seat? Does it fit in the garage? How does it work for the whole family?” he said.

Paul’s brother and fellow HelloCars director Michael Higgins said test driving a car can be a time-consuming and artificial experience – waiting at the dealership then driving around with a sales person on unfamiliar roads.

“Most people don’t realise when they buy a car they’ve had a typical test drive in, they’re subsidising all the other people who go on test drives in the price they pay for the car.

“We wanted people to have a transparent, obligation-free transaction with us and know that there are no hidden costs and that they’re getting real value for money with half an hour’s drive in their neighbourhood,” he said.

Since launching in Sydney in September last year, HelloCars has exceeded expectations for cars bought and sold through its online marketplace.

“Since we launched in September we have had consistent growth and we’re exceeding our sales projections,” Paul told Internet Retailing.

According to research from Roy Morgan, Australians are increasingly wanting to buy cars completely online, citing 2025 as the “tipping point” when most people will be transacting online.

HelloCars is already positioning itself for that shift. It recently announced its expansion and now offers delivery Australia-wide.

 

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