can be a lot of fun, talking it over with a dealer, discussing terms, and negotiating prices just isn't. This may be why there's a growing trend of people buying their cars online, and having them delivered to their homes. A recent study reveals that this trend won't be slowing down anytime sooner, and here's why.

Pre-ordering isn't the norm yet, but it's becoming more common

Pre-ordering a car from an online platform is still fairly new. There is a solid base of people who prefer to test drive a car before actually buying it, after all, and they aren't ready to change just yet.

Even so, there is a growing segment of Americans who think that buying a car online is the way to go for them.

According to an article released by

RoadShow

, a study by Cars.com reveals that 41% of participants say they will pre-order their next vehicle as opposed to shopping around dealerships.

While only 16% responded that they have actually pre-ordered a car, 98% stated that they enjoyed the experience, and would do so again.

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What are the pros and cons of pre-ordering?

Why pre-order a car when you can just head down to the dealership and drive away with one right now? There are actually a lot of great reasons to consider pre-ordering.

The first is the fact that you can get what you want, as opposed to having to take what is available. Many of the colors offered on lots are drab. They blend in quite well with the crowd, but for someone who wants something with a little more zest, you just have to settle with what you can get, or have it repainted at a later date.

When you pre-order online, you have the option to configure the vehicle of your dreams with just a few clicks of a mouse.

Another reason why you should give pre-ordering a shot is you don't have to chat with the dealer. They tend to push inventory on you that they need to get rid of, aren't always truthful about the true condition of the vehicle, and some may even try to upcharge you.

That's not every dealer, of course, but it's enough that dealers have developed a bit of a bad reputation.

Now for the cons. If you pre-order, you're likely looking at a very long wait time. This can extend from weeks to months, and in some cases like the Tesla Cybertruck, even years.

It can be very frustrating to spend weeks telling your friends about the amazing new car you're going to get, only to learn that it'll be a few more weeks before you actually get to drive it.

Another factor to consider is that not all automakers offer pre-ordering. That's slowly changing, as more and more automakers are forced to do so thanks to inventory shortages and the lack of chips.

Dealerships could end up making big changes

MORE:

How to Buy a New Car Online

If pre-ordering continues to grow, as Cars.com seems to think, then there could be some major changes for dealerships.

The first is that they may not have as much inventory on the lot. This could be a good thing, as maintaining their cars can be very costly.

Another factor is that dealers may let you test drive the model you are looking at, and then help you pre-order online. For those who aren't comfortable with online shopping, this could help open the door for them to get the vehicle they really want instead of relying on what is offered.

The end result would be smaller lots, which may or not be a good thing, depending on whom you talk to.

Whether you buy online or do it the old-fashioned way by heading to your local dealership, you're going to need to purchase insurance for your new ride. The super app

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