sattyflora

Hi all,

I've just got my work permit and due to make the move to Calgary in a couple of weeks. I've been looking at cars (yes I know the second hand car market is nut's at the moment) but I've been told that if the car is over 10 years old, it needs to have a mechanic review completed before purchase/insurance?

Is this correct, can some one please outline the process and best place to look for cars?

What are the key things to look out for in Canada, I seen phrases such as ' clean title' being thrown around.

Help would be great. Thanks

Sunnybrae

I'm looking to buy one in BC in a months time. Get a carfax report on the vehicle as it shows service history, any accidents, recalls etc, Dealers should supply them free.

Remember that taxes are on top, so in BC it's an extra 12.50% on top of the price advertised, not sure what they are in Alberta?

I think Title is like who's the registered owner in the UK but I may be wrong?

Prepare yourself to pay a fortune in insurance, it'll go down once you have a Canadian licence but it'll be very expensive on a UK licence, I'v been quoted CAN$500 a month for a Toyota truck and I don't even pay that for a year in the UK.

Cargurus.ca and autotrader.ca are good places to look but if you can't access a dealers website and Error 403 message shows instead, it just means they block overseas access as they're worried about cyber security etc.

Finally you'll probably need winter tyres so take that extra cost into consideration.

Good luck

Almost Canadian

That's not a requirement in Alberta, as it is in some parts of Canada, but it may be worth doing.

neill

Canadian insurance for newbies is astronomical. Might be a good idea to get an insurance quote before you even buy a car, just to see what monthly payments you might be having to make.

sattyflora

Thanks all for your feedback.

Do you know if I will need to surrender my UK Licence for the Canadian Licence or can I retain both?

Almost Canadian

No. You cannot retain both and, once you become a resident of Alberta, you are not entitled to a UK licence anyway.

Danny B

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace is a very popular site for used cars, so is https://www.kijiji.ca/h-alberta/9003 and also https://www.autotrader.ca/

If you need something cheap, cheerful, reliable and holds their value, look for a 2003-2008 Toyota Corolla. Those cars are bullet proof.

Pretty much anything from Toyota, Honda or Mazda will do the trick. Engines with timing chains don't need the expensive timing belt service. Try and negotiate winter tires into the deal if possible.

The used car market is starting to cool, so you should be able to get something half decent for $5k

I just bought a 2012 Mazda 3 Sedan for $6,500.

Clean title means it hasn't had any major accidents. In BC we use the term 'rebuilt' for cars that were written off by the insurance company and then bought by a body shop and put back on the road.

Piff Poff

In Alberta.

If you are buying an older vehicle, 10 years or more, your insurance company may ask for a mechanical fitness report. They will provide insurance until you get this, not sure what happens if you buy a complete wreck. The report can be done at any garage, Canadian Tire or some such would do it. It's not much of a report, basically has the vehicle got wheels and lights.

vehicles with rebuilt status will be harder to sell on, means exactly what it says, car has been rebuilt from insurance loss. It does mean it has had stringent tests to pass to rebuilt status.

kijiji is the online classifieds. Michener Allen and Regal are frequent auction houses. Pik'n'pull scrap yard has resale cars. With Pik'n'Pull (I think it's still the case), you can make an offer on the vehicle, if it's accepted they inspect it, tell you what's wrong if anything, you decide wether to go ahead, if you do you have x amount of time to return the car if it's a basket case.

sattyflora

Thanks folks! Great insight on places to go and look. Hopefully the car market will ease off the premiums soon

anthonygum

Hello from Calgary!

if you have any no claims from the UK some insurance companys do accept it here. Intact insurance accepeted mine when i came here, its worth a try!

Rogo

The prices I’m seeing of $10,000 Canadian for a 10 year old car is Nuts you could buy a 2017 year old Ford Focus diesel just under 50,000 miles for £10 K in the uk

Piff Poff

Get used to it. It also means when you come to sell it you will be able to sell it higher priced than the equivalent in the UK.