Info:
Purchasing a Vehicle
Purchasing New. Most new cars are generally much cheaper than in the UK, with American vehicles cheaper still. You must also budget to add tax to the advertised price. Be prepared to haggle on price and extras, and warranty above that offered by the manufacturer. If serving on a Diplomatic Posting you are exempt from customs and excise duties on new cars bought from a dealer, you are however liable to pay GST (Goods and Services Tax) and PST (Provincial Sales Tax) but further information can be obtained from the dealers.

Purchasing Used. Good second-hand cars are plentiful though prices can be high in relation to the lower price of new cars and when compared to used car prices in the UK; high mileage vehicles should be expected; do not necessarily be put off by this. Except in British Columbia (mild climate) older cars usually rust in due course due to the large amount of salt spread on roads during the winter. There is no ‘MOT’ test but used cars must be ‘safety certified’ on change of ownership but this does not necessarily cover cosmetic body rust.

Leasing. Before leasing you are advised to take advice from your predecessor and ensure that you are aware of all the small-print. Leasing companies will usually require a down payment with monthly payments for a fixed term (normally for 24 or 36 months). At the end of the period the value of the car is assessed and an adjustment made. The benefit of leasing is that you may drive a new car and have nothing to sell at the end of your tour. However, the costs associated with the early termination of, or extension to, a lease should your tour length vary, can be great and the classified car adverts often feature leases for sale by those who cannot afford them or need to terminate them, and this can be a source of a quality lease over a shorter period; take advice.

Importing you Current Car. Although it is possible to import your current car from the UK it is not recommended that you do so for many reasons but foremost that it is difficult to find Canadian insurance companies who will provide cover for a right hand drive vehicle due to legislation that is in place. Insurance can only be obtained through a Provincial Government Insurance Scheme which is likely to cost some 3 to 4 times that of the equivalent Canadian left hand drive vehicle. Please ensure that you fully research this before taking the decision to import a vehicle.

Registering a Vehicle. The procedure for registering a vehicle varies slightly from Province to Province. Unless buying from a dealership, you will get your vehicle without license plates. Unless you have a delivery permit (equivalent to trade plates in the UK) you may not drive the vehicle until you have registered it and been given license plates. Using Ontario as an example, there are 3 steps to be followed in order prior to driving your new vehicle – obtain a Canadian Driving license, obtain insurance and then register your car with the Province (at which stage you are given number plates and a tax sticker). You will need to take the following documentation to your local Vehicle Licensing Office in order to obtain your plates:
– A valid insurance certificate.
– The bill of sale for the car (if the car is new, you will also require proof of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), if it is not shown on the bill of sale).
– Cheque book.
– The vehicle plate permit from the previous owner (used cars only).
– The safety certificate (used cars only). Please note, the vehicle must be registered within 30 days of the safety certificate being issued.