Americans’ next must-have car feature isn’t what you’d expect

Imagine paying for parking, tolls, and even your coffee directly from your car without ever reaching for your phone or wallet.

According to a new survey from Verra Mobility, this futuristic scenario is something many Americans are already on board with. The survey, which polled 2,000 U.S. drivers who own or lease a vehicle from 2019 or newer, found that 51% of respondents find the idea of their car acting as a "digital wallet" appealing.

Even more impressively, 54% said they would enable this feature if it were available in their vehicle.

The rise of connected vehicles

The concept of a car as a digital wallet ties into the growing popularity of connected vehicles. These cars, equipped with internet connectivity and advanced infotainment systems, are becoming more common in the U.S.

In fact, 91% of new cars sold in 2020 were considered connected vehicles, and the numbers are expected to keep rising.

By 2025, experts project that over 400 million connected cars will be in use globally, up from about 237 million in 2021. With these vehicles becoming more commonplace, the idea of integrating a payment system directly into a car seems like a natural progression.

As Cathi Chinn, vice president of innovation at Verra Mobility, put it: “When it comes to connected vehicles, we are just getting started and I believe the number of Americans opting in to these types of services and seeing value from them will continue to grow exponentially in the coming years.”

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What do drivers really want?

Connected vehicle services have already gained significant traction in the U.S. According to the survey, 57% of Americans said they would be willing to spend more on a car that offered enhanced connected services.

Many respondents are already using popular features such as FordPass, Subaru STARLINK, and Stellantis UConnect, which allow drivers to remotely start their car, locate their vehicle in a parking lot, or even check fuel levels through a smartphone app.

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But here’s the kicker: despite the increasing connectivity, 70% of survey participants said they would prefer not to use their smartphone to access these services. Instead, they’d rather have their vehicle’s infotainment system handle it all, simplifying the user experience.

This trend points to an appetite for more seamless, car-native solutions — like the digital wallet feature.

Paying for subscriptions and signing up via car

The shift toward connected services doesn’t just stop at convenience; it’s also creating new business models for automakers.

According to the survey, 40% of respondents said they had paid for or renewed a subscription through a vehicle manufacturer's app, and 39% reported signing up for services directly through their car's infotainment system.

These findings suggest that consumers are becoming more comfortable with paying for services that enhance their driving experience, which could pave the way for automakers to offer more advanced, fee-based features in the future.

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With in-car payments, the possibilities are vast. Imagine driving into a parking garage and having the fee automatically deducted from your car’s digital wallet, or pulling up to a drive-thru and completing your transaction without needing your phone. This is the type of convenience that many Americans are now eager to see in their vehicles.

Final thoughts

As connected vehicle technology continues to evolve, so too will the services and features available to drivers. While some people may still be wary of handing over so much control to their car, the survey shows a clear interest in making vehicles smarter and more capable.

The introduction of a digital wallet feature could be the next step in transforming cars into more than just a mode of transportation.

Though it’s still early days, the demand for such innovations is growing. With over half of surveyed Americans showing enthusiasm for in-car payment systems, it’s likely only a matter of time before digital wallets become a standard feature in new vehicle generations.

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