Buying a brand new car is not only expensive, but often just not feasible for many young drivers.

Did you know?..

In Ontario there are designated spots for vehicle sales to safely take place? Many police stations offer to provide facilitation for any potential buyer and seller interactions. It is also your right as a buyer to be provided a vehicle information package (UVIP) when purchasing a vehicle which contains :

• The vehicle details (including the year, make, model, colour, body type, cylinders and power)
• A vehicle registration history in Ontario (including all present and previous owners, their city of residence and odometer reading)
•  The package will include information about the vehicle currently attached to that plate number
• Vehicle lien information (a lien claimant has a right to the car or the amount owed from you)
• The average wholesale value of the vehicle (minimum value on which Retail Sales Tax (RST) will apply)
• Retail Sales Tax (RST) information
• Condition of the vehicle:

This is required by the seller, who is legally required to provide this package to a buyer when you sell a pre-owned vehicle. Unless you are purchasing from a registered used vehicle dealer or  family member. 

Here are 3 other tips to ensure you are prepared:

1. Ensure the vehicle is safety certified

Legally you should not be driving a vehicle that is not safety certified as it is a danger to you and those around you. You should always ask before purchasing whether the price includes the vehicle being safety certified. Go beyond asking and ensure it is by checking the UVIP, and the safety certification as well.

2. Ensure the vehicle is registered under your name (registered)

When you own a vehicle in Ontario, it is required by law to have a valid vehicle registration. You can register your vehicle at a Service Ontario center to get a vehicle permit, and plate. You need to renew your licence plate  each year so that

law enforcement officials can easily identify it, as well as;

• If the police stop your vehicle, they will need to see your registration in order to know that the vehicle is properly registered.
• So that you can prove that you own it.
• If you are ever involved in an accident or your vehicle is stolen, you will need to show proof of ownership to get it back.
• Finally, registration for your vehicle also helps to ensure that you are paying your fair share of taxes. 

Your vehicle permit needs to be updated within 6 days of a change in your address or vehicle information. Finally, remember that though our government has removed sticker renewal fees you still need to renew your licence plate once every year or two to avoid hefty fines.

3. Get the best insurance quote for your vehicle model/make

This can be tricky as it depends more on your age and driving history than anything else, but the best course of action is to utilize your parents insurance as an occasional driver to pay less insurance. This would mean you are expected to drive your parents car and if you own your own, you will be paying a lot more as a young driver meaning men and women in the 18-25 age range pay more. As a young male, depending on location you might be subjected to the highest premium possible due to research done by insurance companies that shows they are the most likely to be in collisions. As a general rule of thumb these are the biggest impacts on insurance premium costs;

1. Age.
2. Driving history. 
3. Credit score.
4. Years of driving experience. 
5. Location. 
6. Gender. 
7. Insurance history.
8. Annual mileage.