Online car sales boomed in 2016, according to new figures from retail platform BuyaCar.co.uk , who recorded a 41% increase in sales during the year compared with 2015.

BuyaCar.co.uk suggests that the predicted pressure on new car sales in 2017 will increase the proportion of online sales through third parties. They feel that the consumer has now embraced the concept of online sales, as illustrated by a recent survey of more than 800 car buyers where 31% reported that they were now more likely to consider buying entirely online than they used to be.

With online sales consistently up on 2015 right through to December 2016, the retailer concludes that dealers are being increasingly smart in their use of online-only motor retail partners to help meet ever steeper manufacturer registration targets and to assist in moving on large numbers of part-exchanges. Used cars sold on behalf of dealers accounted for around 90% of BuyaCar.co.uk’s 2016 sales total.

Austin Collins, Managing Director of BuyaCar.co.uk said: “Dealers are expected to feel the pressure this year as car price inflation forces them to work harder for sales.

“The SMMT themselves have confirmed that the new car market could move back by five or six per cent this year but that will probably likely to lead to further growth in online sales as dealers look to win sales from further afield.“So, even if the new car market sees negative growth this year, we expect online sales to continue rising.”