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New or used car: how to choose
New car
New car
Great looking
Latest technology
Good resale value
Affordable interest rate
Warranty
Better fuel economy
New car
More expensive than a used car
Higher insurance costs
Depreciation as soon as you buy
Used car
A better deal over the medium to long term
Easy-to-find parts
Lower insurance costs
Used car
Need to look into the car’s history
Mechanical inspection is essential
Breakage and repairs to be expected
Can be less safe
Consult the right section
Made your choice? Perfect! Now read on for all the advice you’ll need to purchase the car you have chosen:
New car
You’re more interested in a new car than a used car. This section is for you. Read through it and learn the steps to be sure to get the right car… the right way!
Decide between purchasing and leasing
Take a comprehensive test drive
The pros of a new car
It’s new: it looks great!
A new vehicle often has all the latest technology… nothing like the dashboard in your parent’s old beater (not to mention the cassette player)!
The higher trade-in value will help lower the payments on your next car.
You can benefit from a lower interest rate.
The warranty will protect you from any problems—and with a new car, you can expect not to have any for a long time.
Newer models are usually more fuel-efficient.
The cons of a new car
The price will be higher than a used car of similar or higher model range. Beware of hidden costs! When buying, several costs (delivery charges, among others) will apply. The dealer is required by law, however, to include these costs in the advertised price. On the other hand, they don’t have to include the taxes. Something to think about!
It often costs more to insure a new car than it does a used car.
You’ll have to deal with the car’s depreciation: it will lose up to 30% of its value as soon as you drive it off the lot.
Decide between purchasing and leasing
When acquiring a new car, you have two choices: buying or leasing. First off, it’s important to realize that in either case, buying or leasing comes with maintenance, inspection and insurance costs. This section lists the pros and cons of the two scenarios. Before going into detail, have a look at our comparison below. A practical overview to help you make up your mind!
Buy
Trade in / trade up at any time
No constraints on extended travel outside Quebec
Possible lower monthly costs on your next car
Possible lower interest rate
Higher monthly payments than with a lease
Loss if resale value is poor
Lease
Periodic vehicle replacement
Lower monthly payments
Reduced or spread-out tax payments
Lease-end buyout possible
Expensive over-kilometre charges
Penalty to break the lease
Possible higher interest rates than with a purchase
Possible constraints on extended travel outside Quebec
Possible end-of-lease charges
Key No. 3
When comparing these options, does one stand out? If you still can’t make up your mind, the next section should help with your final decision.
Take a comprehensive test drive
You wouldn’t buy a $100 pair of shoes without trying them on, right? Before spending a considerably higher amount on a new car, a road test is a must. Read our advice on how to prepare for the test drive, including things to look for before driving and once you’re on the road.
(Video in French)
Key No. 4
- After your test drive, what are your first impressions? What about your buddy’s?
If there’s a little something that bothers you, ask yourself whether you could you put up with it on a daily basis.
Used cars
You’ve decided on a used car rather than a new car. Before heading off to buy, we recommend that you follow these four steps. They’ll help you make a wise choice and avoid unpleasant surprises.
Pros
- Over the medium to long term, you’ll have more money in your pocket if you buy a good used car and keep it for several years. A well-chosen and well-maintained used car can last 300,000km or more!
- It’s easy to find new or used replacement parts for cars 5 to 10 years old (unless you opt for a collector car!); the North-American market is huge.
- Insurance costs are lower for a second-hand car and, if needed, supplemental warranties do exist.
Cons
- You’ll have to dig in to the past of any car that interests you. This means consulting the Register of Personal and Movable Real Rights (Registre des droits personnels et réels mobiliers, or RDPRM, available in French), a CARFAX Canada report, and the previous owner’s repair bills. Learn more about this under Do all the necessary checks.
- A pre-purchase mechanical inspection is a must.
- Breakdowns and parts replacement are inevitable, but the chances of repair costs overrunning the savings gained by buying a used car are slim.
- Used cars are sometimes less safe than new models: technology advances quickly, both in collision avoidance (active security) and impact protection (passive security).
Thinking of buying a used electric vehicle? Consult our buying guide to make the right choice.
Get a good first look at the car
Before taking it on a test drive, you should first have a good look at the car you have chosen. But remember, your “good look” is no substitute for a mechanical inspection before you buy.
Why a first look?
Having a good look at the car will tell you a lot about its true condition and, in turn, help you decide whether to continue with the purchase process or stop and move on. Don’t worry! You don’t need to be an automotive expert to examine the car properly. All you need to do is follow all the steps listed below.
Beware of fake private sellers!
When showing a car, some dealers will meet the buyer in a public place (a parking lot, for example) rather than at their place of business. If you buy from this kind of seller, you’ll have little legal recourse should you have any problems. These “fake private sellers” work without permits and—as buyers often realize too late—don’t disclose all the information they may have, including their real contact information!
Key No. 5
Now that you’ve seen it close up, does the car still seem to be in good shape?
Good enough that you’re still thinking about buying or leasing it if the road test is conclusive?
If you’re hesitating between this model and another, check them both out.
Take a comprehensive test drive
You wouldn’t buy a $100 pair of shoes without trying them on, right? Before spending a considerably higher amount on a used car, a road test is a must. Read our advice on how to prepare for the test drive, including things to look for before driving and once you’re on the road.
(Video in French)
Don’t judge a book by its cover
A warranty that’s still valid or a low odometer reading is a good thing, but it doesn’t always mean that a car is in good shape. Or that it’s right for you! Only a test drive will allow you to make such a personal choice.
Key No. 6
- After your test drive, what are your first impressions? What about your buddy’s?
If there’s a little something that bothers you, ask yourself whether you could you put up with it on a daily basis. Is it something that’s likely to worsen, or be expensive to fix?
Take your notes with you when you take the vehicle for a pre-purchase inspection. And before that inspection, test drive at least one other car of the same model—and ideally the same year—and then take the better of the two to be inspected.
Do all the necessary checks
A used car has as many stories as it does kilometres on the clock. Fortunately for you, there are several ways to find out what it’s been through before you buy. Follow these methods to the letter to avoid any nasty surprises!
Ask to see the car’s maintenance records
Have a look at the maintenance log, as well as the invoices and the odometer readings on them. Do they show a logical progression? Any anomalies? Unless the odometer is broken, if the reading is lower now than it was a year ago, something’s up!
Get hold of the SAAQ file
For around $10, the SAAQ will provide you with its record on the car you’ve got your eye on. This will confirm the identity of the previous owner (if the seller is a dealer) and how many owners there have been in all.
Important: Check for notes in the record that say “reconstruit” (“rebuilt”) or “gravement accidenté” (“serious accident”).
Where to access the record:
At a CAA-Quebec vehicle registration centre
At a SAAQ service centre
Online: go to Dossier d’un véhicule at the SAAQ website
Consult the RDPRM
The Register of Personal and Movable Real Rights (RDPRM, available in French), will show you if the car is free of debts.
Important: If you buy a car that an individual has not finished paying for, the creditor can have it seized. Worse, you’ll be liable for the balance of the payments… for a car that you no longer have!
To consult the register, visit the RDPRM website.
Get a commercial vehicle history report
Companies like CARFAX Canada sell vehicle history reports for $40 to $60. You’ll find out about any accidents, the odometer reading after each event, etc. Note, however, that not every event will necessarily be listed (e.g., an accident not reported to the insurance company).
Good to know: Many used car dealers will provide these documents at no charge. But ordering one yourself is always the best bet, to be sure of getting the most up-to-date information.
Learn about the seller
Can you really trust a used car salesman? To find out, visit the page Get information about merchant at the l’Office de la protection du consommateur (OPC) website. Check whether the merchant’s profile contains any complaints from consumers.
Good to know: If the seller has no profile on the OPC site, it means they are working without a permit. Don’t buy the vehicle.
Seal of approval: If the dealer is a member of the AMVOQ or the CCAQ, you can be assured that they have not only a permit with the OPC, but that they comply with a code of conduct.
Check whether the warranty is still valid
To find out whether the original manufacturer’s warranty is still in effect, ask the seller for the car’s warranty booklet. You can also visit the manufacturer’s website to be sure.
Be sure to get both keys
Are both keys to the car available? Be sure, because ordering a new key for a late-model vehicle can be expensive. You shouldn’t have to pay extra for this basic accessory.
Have the car inspected
When you are ready to buy a used car, one essential step remains: a professional inspection. This section explains why still step is important, provides some advice on inspection, and profiles the services offered by CAA-Quebec.
Why a professional inspection?
Don’t take any risks! Neither a road test nor a visual inspection will reveal all the weaknesses of a used car. The seller is likely to boast that the car is in great condition but, in practice, they can’t know the vehicle’s weak points.
If the seller hasn’t had the car inspected: ask for an independent inspection!
Before negotiating the final price and the details of the transaction, it is in your best interest to ask for an independent mechanical inspection. This inspection, which should cost around $100 (sometimes more) can be done by any of CAA-Quebec’s autorized Vehicle Inspection Centres, at a CAA Approved Auto Repair Services location, by a mechanic you trust, or even at a dealership (but not the one selling the car).
If the seller says they’ve had the car inspected: ask for proof!
If a dealer or a private seller claims the car has been inspected, you need to see written proof: is it a recent, detailed report from a repair shop independent from the seller? If not, you’re better off having your own inspection done. It’s far better to have all the facts before the transaction.
If the vehicle is in good shape, you’ll have your confirmation. And if repairs are required, you can use that fact as a bargaining chip to negotiate a better price.
Some advice on inspections
To have a professional inspection done, take note of these tips:
Carefully choose the car you take for inspection. If there are too many things wrong with it, you’ll have to cancel the transaction, find another car, and then have it inspected as well… you have better things to do with your time and money.
Since you’ve already done a road test, remember to let the mechanic know about anything you may have noticed; this will make their job easier or lead them in the right direction.
Ask the mechanic for a detailed inspection report, which you can use, if need be, when negotiating the final price.
Inspections, CAA-style
At a CAA-Quebec's autorized Vehicle Inspection centre, you can choose among different types of inspection, each culminating in a comprehensive report that will be given to you. The choices include Express Route and Maxi Route inspection.
Express Route inspection
This partial inspection is quicker and more affordable than Maxi Route, covering around 50 points. This is enough to get a good idea of the condition of the car you’re thinking of buying.
Maxi Route inspection
This comprehensive inspection covers up to 180 inspection points. It caters to consumers who want as much information as possible about the condition of a vehicle. It’s worth considering: if the car you’re interested in is selling for several thousand dollars and it’s not really worth it, a Maxi Route inspection will protect you from a bad deal.
A Maxi Route inspection includes, among other things:
A computerized bench test of engine performance
A visual inspection of the car
Verification of the bodywork
Wheel removal and brake inspection
Key No. 7
Choosing a used car means that you’ll have to live with a few worn parts, obviously. Now that you’ve had a mechanical inspection done and you know the true condition of the vehicle, is it still worth your while to buy it?
If you decide to go ahead, does the inspection report give you some bargaining power to lower the price?