The daily life and habits of Canadians have changed drastically with the realities of COVID-19, and a new survey shows that interest in car ownership has increased as social distancing has become more important.
As government and health officials at all levels have urged physical distancing to help slow the spread of COVID-19, 65 per cent of Canadians surveyed who use ride-sharing services are using it less, while 81 per cent of the respondents who use public transit have limited their use, making car ownership much more appealing. Survey respondents also indicated that even when physical distancing is no longer required, 70 per cent would not revert to using ride sharing, and 40 per cent would not go back to taking public transit.
As a result, of the respondents who don’t own a car, 14 per cent are planning on purchasing a car because of the pandemic. There are four times more consumers who think owning a car is more desirable than those who plan to use ride share and 62 per cent of the people surveyed said it’s more desirable than using public transit.
The leading reasons as to why consumers indicated car ownership is more desirable include increased flexibility to travel and commute, the increased personal space, and control over cleanliness and hygiene.
The study, conducted by autoTRADER via Google Surveys, surveyed 1,000 Canadians from all across the country from ages 25 to 74 from March 26 to March 31, 2020. The survey only took responses from Canadians who were aware of COVID-19.
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The health and safety of our community is our top priority. autoTRADER.ca encourages all Canadians to practice social distancing in accordance with recommendations by Health Canada and avoid non-essential travel. It's up to all of us to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. If the purchase of a vehicle is essential to your situation, please contact your local dealership to discuss options relative to your region and ensure accordance with Health Canada guidelines. For more information on how COVID-19 might impact Canadian car owners, see our resource page here.
