More than 92 per cent of car buyers in the UAE did not know what brand they want to buy at the beginning of the search process and looked to the web to make a decision, according to a new survey.

The survey, conducted by Google, revealed that 70 per cent of those who did not know what brand they want end up changing their minds after searching online, said the Emirates 24/7 report.

"Purchasing habits of car buyers are fast changing. The internet plays a key role in strengthening their knowledge about the product and in shaping their purchase decisions," Marie de Ducla, head of the Automotive industry at Google in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region was quoted as saying.

"They are turning to the web to know more and visit car dealerships when they are better informed. Auto companies are missing out on a great opportunity by not being present throughout the online search process, a time when users need them the most."

About 97 per cent of all auto buyers gather information online, with 30 per cent buying brands they discover during the search, said the report.

More than two-thirds of respondents used their mobile devices to search and that included looking up prices and finding car dealerships, it said.

The car buyers visited the dealership at a much later stage in the search process and closer to the time of purchase, it showed.

Nearly two in three buyers contacted dealers online through email, webform or social media, which 72 per cent of those that expressed dissatisfaction with the speed and accuracy of responses, reported to have changed brands as a result, it added.