Canadian car buying guide

Thinking about buying a car, but feel like you need some guidance? Well you're in luck, this car buying guide has been designed to help you accomplish this exact goal. Most of the time we want a car because we’re either sick of riding public transportation, need it for work, or your current vehicle is on its last legs. Our guide won’t help you decide which car drives the fastest or looks the coolest, but it will help you make a smart and savvy financial decision. 

This car guide gives you the full rundown on the whole process of buying a car, as quickly as possible, but it links out to more content to provide you with additional depth and context. It contains the insights needed to allow you to take actionable steps toward a successful car buying experience. Ratehub.ca worked with several credible sources to put together the most comprehensive car buying guide to help you choose better. 

The how to buy a car guide starts by helping you figure out if it’s worth buying a car in the first place, if all signs point to yes, then it’s simply time to calculate just how much you can afford to spend. Once you have that number locked in, it becomes easier to narrow the scope of your target list of potential vehicles. Why test drive a Porsche if all you can afford is a used Chevrolet Spark? You may be having fun, but also losing precious time. The cost of owning a vehicle is more than just the sticker price, so we’ll also take a deeper look at the total cost of ownership. You might be able to afford the lease payments, but what about gas, maintenance, and insurance?

Now it’s time to consider the age-old car buying questions - new vs. used and lease or finance. We can walk you through the benefits and shortfalls of each side of the equation. We’ll look at how to save for a car, how much you should put down, and if you’re financing, how to make sure you get the best auto loan interest rate.

Are you a student or recent grad looking for a cheap solution? Perhaps you have a new family member and considering a van? Maybe you’re a contractor or just like the look and feel of a truck. Whatever your situation, we put together a few different buying guides comparing the different vehicles in each of their categories and compare them by the financial elements of each including price, fuel efficiency, safety rating, and car insurance. Consider the following resources to help you narrow down you targeted list of vehicles and find your specific car:

Congratulations, you bought, and now own a car. But, what else do you need? There is a lot that goes into the cost of car ownership per year and as the potential owner of a car you should be aware of all the added costs. You will need to consider if you should go to the dealership for service vs. your local mechanic. What’s all the fuss about winter tires - do you really need them? What should you do in an accident? How do you keep your car insurance low? The answer to each question comes with a price.