A structural equations model of the determinants of external search for automobiles is developed and tested on survey data from recent automobile purchasers. By considering how perceived risk and perceived benefits affect search, by specifying the role of experience and knowledge in the search process more precisely than in other field studies of search, and by modeling the interrelationship between the various determinants of search, we attempt to provide new insights into the determinants of search behavior for automobiles and other consumer durables.