Core Insights - The 2025 Capital One Car Buying Outlook indicates a significant increase in trust towards car dealers, with nearly 70% of car buyers viewing them as trustworthy, up from 44% in 2023 [1][6] - The combination of online research and in-person experiences is essential for enhancing buyer confidence and satisfaction, as it allows for a balance between convenience and personal connection [3][4] Trust and Digital Tools - Car buyers familiar with digital tools exhibit a higher trust in dealers (71%), and those who trust dealers are almost twice as likely to return for their next purchase (46% vs. 24%) [2][6] - A notable 86% of dealers recognize digital tools as a competitive advantage, marking an increase of over 25 percentage points since 2021 [2][6] In-Person Experience - In-person shoppers report a greater sense of transparency (40% vs. 18% for online shoppers), excitement (67% vs. 56%), and delight (52% vs. 44%) compared to their online counterparts [6] - Buyers who engaged in in-person shopping felt a greater sense of control (43%) compared to those who primarily shopped online (23%) [6] Generational Insights - Gen Z car buyers rely more on external sources for dealership engagement (53%) and are more likely to feel overwhelmed or stressed during the buying process compared to other generations [6] - Despite their challenges, Gen Z ranks car dealerships among their top five most trusted resources, with test drives being the most frequently asked topic (42%) [6] Survey Methodology - The buyer survey included 2,042 U.S. car buyers, with a margin of error of +/-2.2%, while the dealer survey involved over 489 U.S. car dealers, with a margin of error of +/-4.4% [8][9]