Car shopping has never been easy, but a growing number of buyers are turning to an unexpected ally: artificial intelligence.
While most people think of AI tools like ChatGPT for writing emails or answering questions, savvy car shoppers are discovering these same tools can help them secure better deals at the dealership.
According to a first-of-its-kind survey by CarEdge, 1 in 4 car buyers in 2025 is already using AI tools during the car shopping process.
And among those AI-savvy shoppers, 44% use these tools to help them negotiate. That means 11%, or about 1 in 10, of all car shoppers are now bringing AI to the bargaining table.
This could level the playing field of car buying, which has traditionally favored dealerships with their insider knowledge of pricing, incentives and negotiation tactics.
Consumers who use AI in the process could access research capabilities and negotiation strategies they’ve never had before.
The survey, which questioned 500 car shoppers through CarEdge’s email newsletter and social media channels, reveals that 88% of buyers who used AI found it helpful. These aren’t just casual users either, with 60% of AI adopters reporting that they used the tools “a lot” throughout their car-buying journey.
Here’s how AI-savvy buyers leveraged AI tools along with the percentage of those who put them to use:
- Researching vehicles for models, trims, features and reliability: 88%
- Comparing prices and market values: 64%
- Learning negotiation tactics to prepare for interactions with salespeople: 44%
- Exploring financing and leasing options: 11%
The survey results point to a powerful trend in buying and leasing cars. Shoppers who use AI report feeling like they have more confidence and guidance at the dealership. It could give buyers the upper hand on the car lot.
That empowerment should come with some prudence, especially for such a big financial commitment, as Ray Shefska, co-founder of CarEdge, warns in a summary of the findings:
“While tools like ChatGPT can be powerful, they’re only as good as the data behind them. AI should complement your research, not replace your own critical thinking.”
But this trend could spell the end of the advantage that dealerships have long enjoyed.
Smart car shoppers are no longer walking onto lots unprepared. They’re arriving armed with insight, market knowledge and negotiation strategies that were once available only to industry insiders.
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