If you are relocating to British Columbia and want a car waiting for you at the dealership instead of spending your first week shopping for one, this page covers the four things newcomers ask about most: tax, insurance, financing with no Canadian credit file, and how the dealership will approach you. Then it explains what ClearCut Auto Inc., a licensed, fee-only car buyer's broker, can have done before your flight lands.
A car buyer's broker represents the buyer, not the dealership. In British Columbia that is a licensed activity: the broker-agent works for the person buying the vehicle, sources and negotiates on their behalf, and takes no payment from the selling side.
ClearCut Auto Inc. holds BC broker-agent licence B70016 and is fee-only. The client pays a flat fee, from $150 to $2,500 plus GST depending on the package; no dealership or lender pays ClearCut anything. It serves buyers purchasing in BC, including people who have not arrived yet.
Short answers, in the order they usually come up. Each one is worth reading before you look at a single listing.
GST applies to every vehicle bought from a dealer (a private sale carries no GST but a higher PST rate). BC PST applies at a rate that climbs with the vehicle price, so a more expensive vehicle is taxed at a higher percentage, not just a higher amount. A federal luxury tax may apply above the federal threshold.
Every price in our free tools is shown all-in for BC, taxes and government levies included and dealer fees extra, so you can compare real numbers from overseas.
Vehicle insurance in BC is through ICBC and is arranged through an Autoplan broker. You need it in place the day you collect the vehicle.
If you hold a licence from another country, there is a window after you arrive to exchange it for a BC licence. The rules depend on the country, so check ICBC for yours before you fly. ClearCut does not advise on insurance; we refer you to a licensed broker.
Some lenders run newcomer programs that accept documentation, such as proof of employment, immigration status and funds, in place of a credit history. Identifying the right lender and structuring the application is most of the work.
Approvals are never guaranteed, by us or by anyone.
That is how a deal is built from the inside. A payment that fits can still hide a price that does not, so settle the price, the fees and the products first. The payment follows from those.
Our Before You Sign checklist lists the twelve points to confirm on any BC contract.
For someone arriving in BC from outside Canada, the package that fits is ClearCut Relocation: the vehicle is selected, negotiated and financed while you are still packing, the paperwork is coordinated ahead of your arrival, and you collect it from the selling dealer.
Negotiation plus newcomer support — relocating from abroad. For clients relocating to British Columbia from outside Canada who need a vehicle when they arrive.
Get started50% Engagement Retainer of $1,000.00 + GST ($1,050.00) due upfront via Stripe upon signing of the Client Service Agreement. Work commences immediately upon receipt of the Engagement Retainer, which is consideration for services performed and is non-refundable. These terms do not limit any rights you may have under applicable consumer protection legislation in British Columbia. Remaining 50% balance of $1,000.00 + GST ($1,050.00) due when you collect the vehicle from the selling dealer, via Stripe payment link, payable within 24 hours. ClearCut Auto Inc. does not guarantee financing approval, vehicle availability, or a specific pricing outcome — the Engagement Retainer is retained as compensation for all work performed if the transaction does not proceed. ClearCut Auto Inc. does not provide immigration, legal, or licensed insurance advice.
The Client Service Agreement is sent and signed through DocuSign and the Engagement Retainer is paid through Stripe. Nothing needs you to be in Canada. The dealership’s own purchase paperwork is subject to the dealership: some will complete it remotely, some only in person, and either way it is prepared ahead of time.
The shortlist is built for the BC market, the vehicle is found, the purchase price is negotiated on your behalf, and the financing application is structured for a newcomer file, all before you arrive.
You arrange the insurance, collect the vehicle from the selling dealer, and drive away. Contact us as soon as you have a move date; work starts the day the agreement is signed and the retainer is paid.
The calendar shows early-morning and late-evening Pacific slots so that callers from the UK, Europe, Australia and Asia can book at a sensible hour. The confirmation states the time in both zones. No charge, no obligation.
Calendar not loading? Open the booking page · or email info@clearcutauto.ca · or call 604-834-1922
ClearCut Auto Inc. does not guarantee financing approval, vehicle availability, or a specific pricing outcome. We will tell you honestly what we think we can do before you pay anything.
ICBC coverage is arranged through an Autoplan broker. For licensed insurance products (life, disability, and critical illness coverage), ClearCut Auto Inc. does not provide licensed insurance advice; any insurance-specific advice must be obtained from a properly licensed insurance professional.
ClearCut Auto Inc. does not receive compensation from dealerships, lenders, or third parties, and represents buyers only. BC broker-agent licence B70016.