In five years a quarter of cars will be purchased over the internet, according to online car-buying service, AutoeBid.com.

The prediction follows the revelation that the website increased its online car sales by 99.6 per cent over the course of the last year.

It says it has achieved these results by imposing security conditions on the dealers using its service.

They must have been trading for at least three years, have sold at least 100 cars, have at least three employees and take a small deposit only by credit card.

Amin Saleem, chief executive of Auto eBid, said that addressing people’s security concerns was the key to increasing the number of online car sales.

He added: "This is the future model for high value transactions that will change the way cars are bought."

eMarketer estimates that the number of online buyers will rise from 26.9 million to 31.8 million – over one-half of the UK population – between 2009 and 2013.

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