After a surprising dip in April, the car-buying experience improved significantly in May, according to the latest Ease of Purchase Scorecard from CDK Global.
The monthly report tracks consumer satisfaction throughout the vehicle purchase process and has become one of the automotive industry's most closely watched indicators of dealership performance and customer sentiment. The May results suggest shoppers encountered fewer obstacles and greater satisfaction across nearly every stage of the transaction.
CDK reported the overall Ease of Purchase score climbed to 87% in May, a substantial improvement from April's 81% score. While still slightly below March's 88%, the rebound indicates that April may have been more of an anomaly than the beginning of a negative trend. CDK noted that the May results represented a recovery "nearly across the board."
One of the biggest contributors to April's decline was vehicle availability. In April, just 69% of consumers said it was easy to find the vehicle they wanted, the lowest level recorded since June of last year. That number rebounded sharply in May, rising to 80%. According to CDK, that figure not only recovered the April decline but also exceeded the 2025 average and marked the strongest result so far in 2026.
Inventory availability remains one of the most important factors influencing customer satisfaction. Consumers who find the exact vehicle they want tend to rate the entire buying experience more positively. Conversely, when shoppers are forced to compromise on color, trim level, options, or even model selection, overall satisfaction often suffers.
The May survey found fewer consumers had to settle for an alternative vehicle because their preferred choice was unavailable. Just 11% of buyers reported purchasing a different in-stock vehicle than the one they originally wanted, down from 14% in April and nearly in line with historical averages.
Another encouraging sign was an increase in factory orders. CDK reported that 19% of buyers chose to order directly from the manufacturer rather than purchase a vehicle already on the lot or in transit. That suggests some consumers remain willing to wait for the exact vehicle they want rather than compromise.
Perhaps the most dramatic improvement involved trade-in negotiations.
Financial aspects of the transaction—including financing, credit applications, vehicle pricing, and trade-in valuations—typically receive lower satisfaction scores than other parts of the buying process. According to CDK, these are consistently the areas where customers experience the most friction.
In May, however, agreement on trade-in value saw the largest month-over-month gain of any category measured. The satisfaction score for trade-in negotiations jumped to 59%, up from 49% in April and above the 2025 average. CDK suggested stronger used-vehicle values and increased competition among dealers for inventory may have contributed to the improvement.
That finding is especially important because trade-ins often play a major role in a consumer's perception of fairness during a transaction. A buyer who feels they received a reasonable value for their trade is generally more satisfied with the overall deal.
Not everything improved, however.
One area that remains a challenge is transaction time.
CDK found that 35% of buyers said the purchase process took longer than they expected. While that represented an improvement from April's unusually high 40%, it remains above historical norms. During most of the past two years, fewer than one-third of buyers reported spending more time than anticipated completing a vehicle purchase.
The survey also collected direct feedback from consumers, and several recurring themes emerged.
Customers consistently praised transparency, straightforward pricing, clear financing explanations, and the ability to view inventory online before visiting the dealership. Buyers appreciated having access to detailed information in advance and being able to negotiate portions of the transaction before arriving at the showroom.
For dealers, the May results provide evidence that improvements in inventory management, pricing transparency, and trade-in processes can have a meaningful impact on customer satisfaction.
For consumers, the findings suggest the vehicle-buying experience may be stabilizing after several years of inventory shortages, supply chain disruptions, and market volatility. While challenges remain, particularly regarding transaction times, the overall trend appears positive.
Whether May marks the beginning of a more consistent improvement remains to be seen. But for now, both dealers and consumers have reason to be encouraged.
Source: CDK Global Ease of Purchase Scorecard, June 2026.