The following industry related links are intended to provide unbiased information and resources to help make the most informed decisions.
Credit Bureaus
Everyone in Canada who’s borrowed money to buy a car or a house, or applied for a personal loan or a credit card, has a credit file that contains a credit report and a credit score.
Your credit report contains information about all your credit activity for the past seven years — whether you regularly pay on time, how much you owe, what your credit limit is on each account and a list of authorized creditors who have accessed your file.
Your credit rating or score (also called a Beacon or FICO score) is determined by a mathematical formula that translates the data in the credit report into a number that lenders use to make credit decisions. The numbers range from 300 to 900, the higher the better.
You can get access to your credit report and credit score from each of the two national credit bureaus in Canada: Equifax Canada and TransUnion Canada.
The credit reports are free if obtained by mail (links below), but there is no free service to access your credit score. For about $25 however, Equifax and TransUnion offer real-time access to both your credit score and credit report.
Equifax Canada – Home Page
Equifax Canada – Request for Free Credit Report by Mail
TransUnion Canada – Home Page
TransUnion Canada – Request for Free Credit Report by Mail
Automobile Associations
Used Car Dealers Association of Ontario (UCDA)
The UCDA not-for-profit association that helps cultivate a fair used vehicle buying experience that safeguards both the consumer and the dealer.
Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council (OMVIC)
OMVIC enforces the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act on behalf of the Ontario government. Their mandate is to maintain a fair and informed marketplace by protecting the rights of consumers, enhancing industry professionalism and ensuring fair, honest and open competition for registered motor vehicle dealers.
Manitoba Used Car Dealers Association
The Manitoba Used Car Dealers Association helps foster a fair used vehicle buying experience that safeguards both the consumer and the dealer.
Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Council (AMVIC)
The Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Council protects the public interest and promotes trust and confidence in the motor vehicle industry through heightened awareness and the fostering of a positive exchange of information among the industry stakeholders.
The Vehicle Sales Authority of British Columbia (VSA)
The Vehicle Sales Authority of British Columbia (VSA) is a not-for-profit regulatory agency who works to ensure both the public and industry are aware of their rights and obligations during the purchase and sale of a motor vehicle, and to ensure that vehicle transactions are completed in an open and transparent manner.
Government Resources
The Better Business Bureau (BBB)
The Better Business Bureau is a consumer resource that helps people find businesses who commit to high standards and who they can trust. They provide objective, unbiased information on national and local businesses whose ethical business behavior is measured and monitored against strict standards.
Insurance Bureau of Canada
The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) works to increase Canadians’ understanding of the insurance business. They are an unbiased resource who are available to answer questions on all things insurance. They offer a number online downloadable brochures on a variety of topics including Understanding Insurance 101, How Auto Insurance Premiums are Calculated, How to Buy Insurance and Cost Control.
Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC)
With educational materials and interactive tools, the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) provides objective information about financial products and services to help Canadians increase their financial knowledge and confidence in managing their personal finances. FCAC informs consumers about their rights and responsibilities when dealing with banks and federally regulated trust, loan and insurance companies. FCAC also makes sure that federally regulated financial institutions, payment card network operators and external complaints bodies comply with legislation and industry commitments intended to protect consumers.
Asset Evaluation
Many of our dealers purchase vehicle history reports for the used vehicle they sell. Consumers also have access to these reports, and attaining one will allow you to buy with a little more confidence. If your vehicle has a sordid past, a vehicle history report will dig it up. What might a search turn up? Things like title blemishes, incorrect odometer settings, accident history, previous damage, whether a vehicle is stolen, and any other negative mark against the vehicle that might make you think twice about opening your wallet. CarProof is a reliable Canadian based company that provides these reports.
Automobile Protection Association
Canadian Black Book has been a trusted source for used car values for over 50 years. Until recently, this information was only available to car dealers, but Canadian Black Book has now made it available to consumers. Visit their site to find vehicle trade-in values, future values and the average asking price for thousands of vehicles.
Canadian Blue Book is the definitive pricing guide for dealers of new and used Motorcycles, Snowmobiles, ATVs and Watercraft.
Automobile Protection Association
The Automobile Protection Association (APA) is, for lack of a better word, the auto industries “watchdog”. It is a membership-based non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and promoting consumer interests in the marketplace. They provide unbiased information on all things auto – new and used vehicle pricing, legal advice, recommended dealers and auto body shops, lease return pre-inspection services and group home and auto insurance.