Do Consumers Now Prefer Online Vehicle Shopping Versus Going to a Dealership?

You likely already research the car you want to buy online, but what about purchasing it online too? Instead of going to a dealership, you can research the vehicle you want, then buy it via your laptop smartphone at the same time? That may be the way of the future, according to one study.

Motus, a workforce solutions company, has released its latest report titled A Shift in Service Delivery: On-Demand Services Shape 2021, which examines how “digital retail channels” are gaining traction in the automotive industry following COVID-19. According to the report, 80 percent of consumers now prefer hybrid or online shopping when either purchasing, maintaining, or insuring their vehicles. Furthermore, the Motus report notes that consumers believe they save both time and money with online shopping compared to in-person experiences.  

Shifting Mindsets Towards Retail

According to the report, as consumers shift their shopping mindset from brick and mortar to digital options, the market will continue to see waves in how on-demand services are delivered. In its report, Motus cites how online purchases grew 24 percent globally in 2020, while in-store sales dropped by seven percent. The Motus report also concludes that online shopping will still be a preferred method for many, despite mask mandates having mostly lifted nationwide. According to the report, an estimated 17 percent of goods will be bought online in 2021, nearly doubling from 2016.

“On-demand goods and service delivery has evolved beyond necessity and convenience to help us navigate the world mid-pandemic and beyond,” explained Ken Robinson, Market Research Manager for Motus. “As consumers increasingly are favoring digital channels, brands need to adapt to offering online and hybrid digital experiences.”

Online Car Buying

The Motus report shows that in 2020, nearly 30 percent of all new car sales in the United States happened online, a 20 percent increase compared to pre-pandemic percentages. Brands and retailers hesitant to adopt an online-only business model may want to try a hybrid approach instead. Motus found that hybrid buying models, supported by both a digital and in-person experience, can shorten transaction times by as much as 75 percent. “The pandemic continues to affect the way we learn, live, and work,” Robinson said. “People are discovering ways to foster a better work/life balance and make the most of their time off-line.”

Either way, consumers that utilized a hybrid or online-only method to car buying saved nearly three hours researching and shopping for vehicles during the pandemic. For these reasons, Automoblog offers an extensive array of vehicle and dealership search tools designed to save readers time and money. One tool helps consumers find the best deals on new cars, while the second tool takes the edge off looking for a used vehicle. 

“While Automoblog and its partners do have the potential to earn a commission at a later date from these search tools and services, they will always be free for our readers to use as they need,” said Carl Anthony, Managing Editor of Automoblog. “Readers can use these tools from the comfort of their own home to see which dealers in their area are offering the best price on the vehicle of their choice.” 

During the pandemic, Automoblog and Detroit Trading launched a series of free and helpful search tools. With these tools, readers can easily research vehicles they are interested in and see which dealers in their area are offering the best price.

On-Demand Vehicle Maintenance

Consumers are also interested in scheduling service and maintenance work online. The Motus report finds that mobile technician services, like YourMechanic and RepairSmith, can save customers up to 30 percent since such services do not have the overhead of a physical shop. Time is a consideration as well.

“People are busier than ever, and car repairs are something that can eat up an entire day,” explained RepairSmith CEO Joel Milne. When a service is requested, a certified technician arrives in a company van with the tools and parts for the given repair. These technicians perform nearly all repairs on the customer’s territory, most often at their homes or places of business. “We can fix 80 percent of the typical maintenance issues in the driveway,” Milne added.

Online Insurance Shopping & Claims

Like virtual car buying and on-demand vehicle maintenance, consumers gravitated more towards digital auto insurance tools during quarantine. The Motus report notes that pay-as-you-go or pay-per-mile insurance options help policyholders control costs based on how much they drive. This is especially true for people driving less than 500 miles per month.

“Available through most carriers, usage-based plans can offer somewhat real-time relief to those driving less or driving safer,” said Robert Lajdziak, Senior Consultant for insurance intelligence at J.D. Power. “Interest in such programs has increased as a result of COVID-19, given consumers still expect to be driving less in the future, whether to remain working at home or simply because they want to spend less time in public.”

In 2020, the auto insurance industry returned $18 billion in premiums to policyholders. State Farm was among the many who sent partial refunds to policyholders who were driving less. In early April 2020, State Farm announced they would issue dividends for premiums paid between March 20th and May 31st. “On average, customers will receive a credit of about 25 percent of the premium paid for that time frame,” said Tammi Estes, Public Affairs Senior Specialist for State Farm at the time.

Allstate, Geico, Farmers, Progressive, USAA, and numerous other providers sent premium refunds between 15 and 20 percent to their customers in 2020. “With respect to COVID-19, rates didn’t go down, but consumers received refunds and dividends from the insurer,” Lajdziak added.

Further Reading

A Shift in Service Delivery: On-Demand Services Shape 2021 is available from Motus on its official website. Despite pre-pandemic apprehension, 74 percent of new car shoppers and 71 percent of used car shoppers say they are satisfied with their online buying experience. That’s up 62 percent and 60 percent, respectively, when compared to 2019.

“Car buying has long been a stressor for consumers, but I believe many are finding the online and hybrid approaches mentioned here are both easier and more transparent,” Anthony said. “These types of retail experiences in the car business help keep the ball in the customer’s court, which will inevitably increase their satisfaction with the final purchase.”

Original article: Do Consumers Now Prefer Online Vehicle Shopping Versus Going to a Dealership?

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The 5 Best-Selling Radar Detectors on Amazon & Where Else to Buy Them in This Video

The five best-selling radar detectors on Amazon are also among the best on the market in general. Amazon is great for researching important purchases like radar detectors, but where will you actually get the best price? Is it better to buy from Amazon or straight from the manufacturer? What about other retailers like Best Buy or Crutchfield? In this video, we talk about where you can get the best deal on your next radar detector. The links to each unit mentioned in this video are listed below.

Cobra RAD 480i

• Amazon
• Cobra Official Site
• Best Buy
• iRadar App

Uniden R3

• Amazon
• Best Buy

Uniden R7

• Amazon
• Best Buy

Uniden DFR1

• Amazon
• Home Depot
• eBay

Cobra RAD 380

• Amazon
• Cobra Official Site
• Crutchfield

Best radar detectors under $200 listed here.

Original article: The 5 Best-Selling Radar Detectors on Amazon & Where Else to Buy Them in This Video

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Speed Read, 27 June 2021

It’s a bumper selection for Royal Enfield fans today, with a new parts kit from Bad Winners of Paris and a chunky custom from a English startup. We’ve also got an SR500 built by an aircraft technician from Canada, and details of a radical new land speed record contender.

Bad Winners Motokit for Royal Enfield twins Bad Winners is one of the biggest success stories in the European custom scene. Shop founder Walid Ben Lamine has built many, many fantastic customs over the past decade, from one-offs to limited production ‘series’ bikes.

He now includes kits in his repetoire, and the latest is this new ‘Motokit’ for the hugely popular Royal Enfield 650 twins.

Working with RE headquarters, Walid has taken a modular approach—so 650 owners can either take the whole shebang, or upgrade a bike in stages.

We’d start with the suspension first, which includes new fork internals from YSS and a choice of three different shocks. And maybe add the 17-inch wheels with Dunlop’s new Mutant rubber.

You can supplement that with a ‘Front’ kit of Renthal bars, matched to a custom set of push buttons, a control box to interface with the stock wiring loom, a new throttle, and Oberon mirrors.

We’d add the Motogadget Tiny speedo as well, attached via supplied brackets, and a Koso Thunderbolt headlight in a custom bucket.

On the performance front, Bad Winners have assembled a package of goodies including a custom mapped Power Commander, a free-flow S&S air filter, and a choice of exhaust systems from S&S or Spark. It’ll give the parallel twin a useful boost in power beyond the stock 47 horses.

For owners into the modern ‘flat seat’ look, there’s also a seat kit—but this requires getting the grinder out. If you’re confident doing that, you’ll get a new rear loop, a seat unit, a bobbed fender and license plate holder, and revised lighting to fit the new setup.

The 650s have been a well-deserved success for Royal Enfield, and we reckon this kit will be a hit for Bad Winners too. Keep an eye on their website to see when it goes on sale—some of BW’s other kits are so popular they’re on backorder.

Stu Lloyd’s Yamaha SR500E Ex-pat Brit Stu Lloyd has lived an action-packed life, jetting around the world as part of his job as an aircraft tech. He now calls Calgary, Canada his home, and spends his time spinning spanners on bikes rather than jets.

This 1978 SR500 is Stu’s latest project, and as you’d expect from someone of his background, it’s beautifully built.

Stu’s hobby is riding and racing superbikes, but this SR500 is an altogether more practical and safer machine—because it’s destined for his 12-year-old daughter when she’s old enough to ride. And Stu has built it using the same skills and tricks employed by bike builders from the 70s and 80s.

He’s given the Yamaha a Mikuni VM36-4 carb, an Omega Racer exhaust system, and treated the head to a mild porting. He’s removed weight by installing a fiberglass Benelli tank, a li-ion battery, and a fiberglass tail unit on a shortened loop.

After removing unnecessary tabs and steel from the frame, Stu strengthened the swingarm and fitted upgraded shocks and revised fork internals.

Visually, the bike is inspired by the Paul Smart Ducatis, and also the work of Pepo Rosell. An Imola replica fairing and twin 4.5-inch headlights create an endurance racer look.

There are far too many other details to list here, but we reckon Stu’s daughter is in for a treat when she’s old enough to pilot this machine. Get the full build story here. [Images by Adam Gregory]

Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 by Soldoutmotorcycles Shaun Walker is one of the biggest names in the British custom scene: he co-founded the Down & Out workshop, famous for its fat-tired Triumphs, and recently branched out into very cool motorized BMX builds.

After seven years of running D&O, Shaun has started a new company, and plans to spend more time getting his hands dirty.

“I needed a change, so sold the business and have gone back to my roots—and back to my original unit in my local town,” he tells us.

“Running the business left me no time to build one-off bikes. So this is about building bikes like I used to, back in the day, and the Royal Enfield Interceptor is a great platform.”

This Interceptor has got Shaun’s signature style written all over it. The key modification is the wide fork kit, with new triples and spacers allowing 3.5-inch wide Excel rims to be fitted, at 16 inches both front and back. The tires are 500-16 blackwall Coker Becks, shielded by custom fenders.

Shaun’s installed LSL bars on custom risers, with internal wiring. The bar-end indicators (and keyless igntion system) are from Motogadget, with discreet Kellerman LED units handling both indicator and stoplight duties at the back.

The gauge is a Cognito Moto GPS unit, which doesn’t require a transmission sensor to operate. It sits right above Shaun’s proprietary headlight unit, mounted on custom brackets.

Fabrication includes 2-into-2 exhaust pipework, and a plush new seat with classy diamond stitching. It sits atop a new rear frame loop, which includes mounting points for YSS piggyback shocks.

Finished off with classy olive-and-silver paint from Pro Kustom, this Interceptor is a brilliant calling card for Shaun’s new workshop. Hit him up if you’d like to give your own Royal Enfield an extra dose of custom style.

Soldoutmotorcycles Instagram | Images by Simon Krajnyak

White Motorcycle Concepts goes for the world record Last year, veteran racer Max Biaggi broke eleven world records for the fastest speed set on a electric bike. On a Voxan bike, he set a best of 408 km/h (254 mph) during one particular run at a French airfield.

A British motorsport engineer called Robert White is now gunning for that record, relying on aerodynamics as well as outright power. He reckons his two-wheel drive WMC250EV streamliner has everything it needs to wipe out Biaggi’s record, aided by a drag coefficient of just 0.11.

The key is an air channel that runs the length of the bike—a patented concept he’s called ‘V-Air.’ It reduces drag by around 70% over conventional bodywork, removing the need for massive amounts of power: the four electric motors in this machine have a combined output of around 100kW or 134hp.

According to White, “For the land speed application, the three major factors are aerodynamic drag, grip between the tire and the salt to drive forward, and power, which is third in line.”

Development of the WMC250EV is well advanced now, and the team is aiming to break the British record before 2021 is out—and then the world record next year. Given the amount of tech crammed into this unusual-looking machine, we reckon they might just do it. [Via]

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Select Auto Protect: Reviews, Cost, and Our Take (2021)

Affiliate disclosure: Automoblog and its partners may be compensated when you purchase the products below.

Select Auto Protect Review

In Our Opinion:

Select Auto Protect is still trying to prove itself as a new warranty company in the industry, so it’s enticing customers with cheap pricing and top-notch service. The plan is working, as shown by the company’s rock-solid customer reviews.

Industry Standing:

Coverage:

Affordability:

Customer Service:

Pros:

Nationwide coverage

Three tiers of auto warranty plans

Unlimited number of claims can be filed

Highly rated by customers

Cons:

Must call in to receive a quote

$100 deductible applies to each claim

Company is less than a year old

4

Select Auto Protect is a startup extended car warranty provider with superb satisfaction scores. With nationwide coverage, unlimited service calls, and a 4.9-star average customer review on Trustpilot, Select Auto Protect provides customers with an array of hard-to-find benefits.

In this article, we’ll check out the various coverage plans, unique offerings, and costs of working with Select Auto Protect. Though nearly all Select Auto Protect reviews are positive, it’s always worth considering multiple providers and comparing quotes before making a decision. Start getting free quotes with no obligations from the best extended car warranty providers by clicking below.

Featured Extended Warranty Companies

We reviewed the industry’s top extended auto warranty providers, and here are our featured picks. 

Best Overall	Best for Used Cars	Low-Cost Plans
Endurance	CARCHEX	Select Auto Protect
Get Quote	Get Quote	Get Quote
(866) 990-3410	(866) 950-7122	(860) 294-4933

Select Auto Protect Extended Warranty: What You Need To Know

Founded only in late 2020, Select Auto Protect is busy building its reputation as a nationwide provider of high-quality extended car warranty plans. The Wilmington, Delaware-based company stands out due to its unlimited number of claims covered and strong customer reviews.

Select Auto Protect Extended Warranty Plans

Select Auto Protect offers three extended auto warranty plans: Select Platinum, Select Gold, and Select Silver. While the company covers mechanical breakdowns due to defective parts or faulty workmanship, you’ll be on your own for auto repair costs caused by negligence or wear and tear.

Extended warranty plans from Select Auto Protect last for either three years or 35,000 miles, or five years or 70,000 miles. These lengths are standard across all three plans.

Here’s an overview of what’s covered in each of Select Auto Protect’s plans:

	Select Platinum	Select Gold	Select Silver
Engine and Transmission	✓	✓	✓
Cooling System	✓	✓	✓
Brake System	✓	✓	✓
Electrical System	✓	✓	✓
Drive Axle	✓	✓	✓
Roadside Assistance and Towing	✓	✓	✓
Trip Interruption	✓	✓	✓
Gas Refill	✓	✓	✓
Rental Car Reimbursement	✓	✓	✓
Lockout Assistance	✓	✓
Steering System	✓	✓
ABS Brakes	✓
Air Conditioning and Heating Systems	✓
Fuel System	✓
Turbo/Supercharger	✓
High-Tech Components	✓
Suspension	✓

 

Select Silver is the most basic extended warranty plan offered by Select Auto Protect, covering your car’s engine, transmission, and other essential parts along with extra perks such as roadside assistance and rental car coverage. The Select Gold plan extends the auto warranty to the steering system and adds lockout assistance. The Select Platinum plan covers nearly every component between the vehicle’s front and rear bumpers.

It’s worth noting that your $100 deductible applies to each individual claim with a Select Auto Protect plan, so you’ll have to pay the deductible every time your car runs into issues, except with roadside assistance calls. Though the cost is usually minimal, the deductible adds up if your car seems to always be in the shop.

How Much Does Select Auto Protect Cost?

Like most extended car warranty providers, Select Auto Protect does not list price estimates on its website. Customers are instead asked to call a company representative to receive a personalized quote for the extended car warranty cost.

Our team called Select Auto Protect for price estimates for a 2018 Toyota Camry with 28,000 miles on it. Here are the plans that were offered to our secret shopper:

	Warranty Term	Price*
Select Platinum	5 years/70,000 miles	$1,950 upfront
	3 years/35,000 miles	$1,550 upfront
Select Gold	5 years/70,000 miles	$1,800 upfront
	3 years/35,000 miles	$1,400 upfront
Select Silver	5 years/70,000 miles	$1,750 upfront
	3 years/35,000 miles	$1,350 upfront

*Rate estimates exclude discounts offered during the call.

The rate estimates offered by Select Auto Protect compare favorably to others in the industry. However, all of the quotes we received required the full amount of the plan to be paid upfront. Other extended warranty companies will offer financing and a monthly rate.

Discounts offered to veterans, senior citizens, and health care workers can lower prices by an additional $150. Extra savings, such as reductions in the $100 deductible and reduced deposits, may come with same-day sign-ups.

Select Auto Protect has a price-match guarantee, so those who come with competing rates can expect further discounts. Plans can be canceled at any time with prorated discounts.

Select Auto Protect Reviews

Though Select Auto Protect is not currently listed with the Better Business Bureau, it receives stellar reviews from customers elsewhere. As mentioned earlier, Select Auto Protect has a 4.9-star average rating on Trustpilot and an even better 5.0-star average on Google Reviews. Though Select Auto Protect has only about 200 customer reviews in total, that’s still an impressive average score.

Select Auto Protect Positive Reviews

Select Auto Protect reviewers praise the provider’s affordability, the friendliness of the team, and the scope of auto protection under its extended car warranty.

“Select Auto Protect is good coverage. From what I see so far, it’s very affordable. The team that I talked to was very informative and they do a great job.”

– Sameuel S. via Trustpilot

“The representative gave us options we could choose from and wasn’t really pushy about it. Select gives some peace of mind knowing that if something does happen, we’re covered. I was impressed with them.”

– Kesslero P. via Trustpilot

Select Auto Protect Negative Reviews

We looked for negative reviews of Select Auto Protect in our research, but the lowest score we could find out of the current reviews on Trustpilot and Google Reviews was a 4.0-star rating. This is likely related to how new the company is, but so far it seems to be on the right track in terms of customer satisfaction.

How Do Select Auto Protect Warranties Work?

Once you’ve considered the pros and cons of extended car warranties and settled on Select Auto Protect, you can begin to benefit from the peace of mind that comes with knowing your car is covered. It is important to note that Select Auto Protect implements a waiting period during the first 30 days or 1,000 miles in which it will not cover claims, which is standard in the industry.

A Select Auto Protect extended car warranty covers an unlimited number of claims. Expect to pay a small deductible each time your car heads to the shop, though. Select Auto Protect lets customers take their vehicles to any auto mechanic certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE^®). The company pays each auto repair facility itself, so there’s no need to personally pay and get reimbursed.

If you choose to sell your car, you can transfer the auto warranty to the new car owner for free. All you need to do is call and notify Select Auto Protect of the change.

Final Thoughts: Select Auto Protect Extended Warranty

We give Select Auto Protect a 4.0-star rating for its excellent customer service ratings, added perks, and overall low-priced vehicle service contracts. While it would be nice to see monthly payment options and a few more choices for warranty plans, customers are highly satisfied with the services provided by the new warranty provider.

Overall Rating	4.0
Industry Standing	4.0
Coverage	3.5
Affordability	4.0
Customer Service	5.0

Our Top Picks for Extended Warranty Coverage

Though Select Auto Protect offers a quality warranty product, it’s always a good move to compare costs and services from more than one extended car warranty provider. We recommend also checking out Protect My Car and CARCHEX, two other top choices for extended car warranties.

Protect My Car: Best Maintenance Benefits

Over the last 15 years, Protect My Car has built up a reputation for comprehensive coverage options, cheap prices, and superb customer service. Along with its three standard warranties, Protect My Car has Ambassador Maintenance Plans that also include free oil changes and tire rotations. We highlight Protect My Car as the extended auto warranty company with the Best Maintenance Benefits and award it 4.5 out of 5.0 stars.
Find out more in our comprehensive Protect My Car review, or get a free quote with no obligations from Protect My Car below.

Best Maintenance Benefits

Get Quote (888) 430-0227 Its Ambassador Maintenance Plan guarantees 25-50% off repairs plus covered oil changes

CARCHEX: Best for Used Cars

When it comes to industry reputation, perhaps no extended car warranty company can beat CARCHEX. The company has won endorsements from various industry leaders, and our team rated it as the provider that’s Best for Used Cars. Between its affordable prices and excellent customer reviews, we’d recommend that customers check out CARCHEX.

Learn more by reading our in-depth CARCHEX review, or get a free, personalized quote from CARCHEX below.

Best for Used Cars

Get Quote (866) 950-7122 Top-rated provider with unmatched customer service and affordable coverage

Original article: Select Auto Protect: Reviews, Cost, and Our Take (2021)

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