Free checklist · British Columbia

Before You Sign.

Twelve things to check on a vehicle contract in British Columbia.

Purchase or lease, new or used, the contract is where the deal is actually decided. Go through these twelve points before your signature goes on it.

The one-pager

Get the printable one-pager.

All twelve points on one page. Print it and take it to the dealership.

No email needed. Have a quote in hand? ClearCut Clarity reviews the whole deal before you sign: $250 plus GST. Not sure which service fits? Start here: clearcutauto.ca/start

Download the checklist (PDF)

The vehicle

1VIN, trim, options and colour on the contract match what you agreed to.
2(New) Freight and PDI must already be inside any price a BC dealer advertises. On the contract they may appear on their own line. Find them, and confirm you are not charged twice.
(Used) The price you agreed to is the price on the contract.

The price and your trade

3Vehicle price and trade-in value appear as separate lines, never blended, and the trade figure matches what you were quoted verbally.
4The exact lien payout on your current vehicle is written down, confirmed by your lender, not estimated.
5If you owe more than the trade is worth, the shortfall appears as its own line rather than folded into the new loan.
6Taxes are itemized: GST, PST at the correct tier, and federal luxury tax if it applies.

The financing

7The interest rate on the contract matches the rate you were approved at.
8The term is the length you asked for. A longer term makes any payment look affordable.
9Ask for the total interest you will pay over the full term, in dollars. It is rarely offered. Ask anyway.
10If you are leasing: the kilometre allowance, the per-kilometre overage charge and, if the lease includes a purchase option, the end-of-lease buyout price are all stated on the contract.

The add-ons

11Every add-on is listed and priced individually. Nothing is bundled into a single package figure.
12Add-ons installed before you agreed to buy must already be in the advertised price. You can refuse add-ons you did not ask for, and warranty, GAP and protection products are negotiable.

Then check the number.

Take the total amount financed from the contract (the balance after your down payment and trade, taxes included) and enter it in the Interest Calculator with your rate and term. If the payment on the contract does not match, ask what accounts for the difference before you sign.

Open the Interest Calculator →