New Vehicle Advertising Rules Help Consumers

The Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority of Saskatchewan (FCAA) would like to remind consumers about drive-away price advertising laws in Saskatchewan. If a vehicle dealer advertises a price for a vehicle (new or used) the law requires that the price includes ALL fees and charges that a dealer intends to collect, with the exception of PST and GST. This is called “The Drive-Away Price”, and the law applies to all cash transactions when there is no trade-in. Some examples of fees or charges that must be included in an advertised price include:

• Freight;

• Administrative and documentation fees; and

• Government levies (i.e. tire tax, air tax etc.).

Products or services that have been pre-installed on a vehicle by a dealer must also be included in the advertised price.

These include products or services such as:

• Nitrogen/tire protection package;

• Security or theft deterrent products/services (i.e. etching);

• Fuel; and

• Warranties.

Before a consumer buys their next car, they should take a picture of the vehicle’s advertised price and bring it with them to the dealer. If the drive-away price rules apply to the purchase, the consumer should never be charged more than the dealer’s advertised price. If the consumer notices a difference between the advertised price and the full cash price, they should work with the dealer to remedy the situation, alternatively, if they are unsuccessful in resolving the dispute, they can file a formal complaint with the FCAA to pursue a remedy. Buy from a licensed dealer The FCAA encourages consumers to purchase vehicles from licensed dealers. The Drive-Away Price rules do not apply to private sales. FCAA411 Consumers can ask a dealer for their licence number and confirm the validity on http://www.fcaa.gov.sk.ca/fcaa411/.

Contact FCAA

If consumers have questions about The Drive Away Price or have a dispute with a licensed dealer, they can contact us toll free at 1-877-880-5550 or by email at consumerprotection@gov.sk.ca.