The ease of buying a vehicle in the U.S. remained below historical levels in August, despite few signs of deterioration across the individual steps of the purchase process, according to CDK Global’s latest Ease of Purchase Scorecard.
For the second consecutive month, 81 per cent of buyers said their vehicle was easy to purchase. That was below the average of the past three years and down sharply from 89 per cent in August 2025.
CDK said the disconnect is difficult to explain because many of the other measures it tracks were either close to historical averages or improved from July.
Vehicle availability shifted somewhat during the month. Fifty-four per cent of buyers found the vehicle they wanted in stock, down from 58 per cent in July but above the 50 per cent average recorded in 2025. Another 23 per cent purchased a vehicle that was in transit, while 16 per cent ordered from the factory.
Most individual stages of the purchase process either improved or remained flat from July, CDK said, with test drives and paperwork among the exceptions. Compared with August 2025, completing the finance or lease process was the only area to post a significant decline.
Time spent completing a transaction also showed mixed results. Thirty-three per cent of buyers said the process took longer than expected, up from 30 per cent in July and 28 per cent a year earlier. However, 18 per cent said it took less time than expected, compared with 16 per cent in July.
Customer comments offered another potential clue. CDK reported more negative feedback about vehicle prices and the amount buyers believed dealerships were willing to negotiate, while financing and paperwork were also cited as frustrations.
While the results are U.S.-specific, they highlight a useful distinction for Canadian dealers: improving individual transaction steps may not necessarily translate into a stronger overall perception of the purchase experience as price, financing and expectations around negotiation can influence how customers judge the entire transaction.
