CHICAGO -

As digital-first experiences take the spotlight and consumers increasingly seek reviews about how businesses are handling pandemic-related health and safety concerns,  Cars.com said 10 million car buyers have now left reviews for dealers on its platform.

The milestone comes as 38% of consumers report they read more reviews because of COVID-19, according to a DealerRater Consumer Survey last month.

Cars.com said the number of people leaving reviews about local dealers is also increasing, as March marked the highest volume ever of new reviews on the Cars.com platform. The platform saw nearly 140,000 reviews posted in a single month, according to Cars.com and DealerRater internal data from last month.

Consumers have left 90% positive reviews for local car dealerships during the pandemic’s peak, according to Cars.com and DealerRater internal data.

The companies’ research uncovered other national trends:

— Three-star minimum for most purchases. One in three shoppers won't make a purchase without reading a review, according to an April DealerRater Consumer Survey. Sixty-eight percent of shoppers will not buy from a business with fewer than three stars.

— The rise of “no touch” retail. Reviews mentioning contactless services, including “safe pickup” and “home delivery,” rose 1,100% over the past year, according to Cars.com and DealerRater internal data. Cars.com said that shows car dealers are meeting shoppers’ changing needs and transforming the car-buying process.

— Health and safety: new and influential review criteria. Sixty-nine percent of respondents would not buy from a business with poor or negative reviews about pandemic health and safety measures, according to an April DealerRater Consumer Survey.

— Reviews drive sales. For more than 85% of dealerships, DealerRater reviews helped them sell or service more vehicles, according to a March DealerRater Dealer Survey.

— Employee reviews spur requests, referrals and sales. For almost 80% of DealerRater users, consumers have specifically asked for them because of their online reviews and reputation. Nearly 90% of shopper requests to work with a specific sales representative led to a sale, according to a March DealerRater Dealer Survey.

Cars.com chief experience officer Brooke Skinner Ricketts said cars are a large, considered purchase. Consumers, Ricketts said, can spend months researching about what and where to buy.

“Reviews have been and will continue to be critical to the research phase as shoppers trust unbiased advice from others like them,” Ricketts said in a news release.

Ricketts also said, “Reviews on Cars.com have become even more important over the last year as consumers pay closer attention to the buying experience offered by local businesses as consumers seek the best overall experience for their needs.”