According to a report by Ars Technica, a recent survey has found that an overwhelming majority of American drivers are in favor of in-vehicle payment systems. Market research firm Drive Research conducted a study among U.S. drivers, revealing that 97% prefer the convenience of paying for parking, tolls, charging, and fuel directly through their vehicle’s infotainment system.
However, while 70% of respondents expressed interest in setting up the payment system at the point of vehicle purchase, a higher proportion would complete the registration at home using their smartphones or computers. Only 67% were open to registering via the car’s infotainment screen, and 53% showed interest in using the automaker’s dedicated app.
The survey also highlighted that 87% of drivers want the payment system to activate automatically, with 80% stating they would feel inconvenienced if the vehicle didn’t guide them in using the system.
Notably, 70% of drivers indicated they would be likelier to choose a vehicle with in-car payment capabilities. Within this group, 36% expressed a willingness to pay over $700 for such a system. Regarding payment preferences, 47% favored one-time payments, while 30% leaned toward subscription-based models.
Regarding trust in payment services, Apple and Google topped the list. 83% of respondents expressed confidence in these companies’ ability to manage their in-car payment information securely. In contrast, traditional financial institutions and automakers received lower trust ratings, with 63% trusting credit card companies and 57% trusting car manufacturers. Trust levels dropped further for parking apps, with 47%, valet services, with 43%, and local governments scoring the lowest (7%).
Drive Research analysts stated that the proliferation of electric vehicles is accelerating the adoption of in-car payment systems, presenting a significant opportunity for automakers to develop intuitive payment solutions integrated into their vehicles.
