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Buying a used car in Quebec

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What Quebec requires when you buy a used car: the merchant's OPC licence, the label and the A to D warranty classes, the SAAQclic transfer, and free VIN and price checks.

To buy a used car in Quebec from a dealer, check the merchant's licence from the Office de la protection du consommateur (OPC), read the label on the car, and know its warranty class: a car in class A, B or C carries a warranty of good working order for a set time or distance, and class D carries none. To buy from an individual, the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) lets you take the transfer on SAAQclic, within 48 business hours, after you have inspected the car. Before any of that, paste the VIN into Cardog's free VIN page to confirm what the car is, see the recalls Transport Canada lists for its model year and compare the price with the Canadian market.

Written by Cardog, so read it with that in mind. Every claim about a regulator or public service links to its own public page, checked on 2026-10-27. This is a guide, not legal advice.

Buying from a merchant: the OPC licence

The OPC says of the merchant's licence: "This license is mandatory for all motor vehicle merchants." Check it with the OPC's "Get information about a merchant" tool. The merchant must display the licence and put its number in the contract, and the contract must show the price, the taxes and "the total amount you will have to pay" (OPC).

The OPC also advises: "Have it inspected by a mechanic you trust," and "Do not go through with the transaction if the merchant does not allow you to test drive the vehicle or have it inspected" (OPC).

The label on the car

A merchant's used car carries a label. The OPC lists what it must show, including the asking price, the year, identification number, make, model and engine size, the odometer reading, the vehicle's class from A to D, any manufacturer or merchant warranty still in force, repairs made while the merchant held the car, and any prior commercial use such as taxi, driving school, rental or police. "All the information contained therein is an integral part of the contract," except the price and warranty details, which may be changed (OPC label).

The warranty of good working order

For contracts entered into on or after April 5, 2024, the OPC sets four classes by age and distance (OPC warranty):

ClassVehicleWarranty of good working order
A4 years or less, with a maximum of 80,000 km6 months or 10,000 km, whichever comes first
B5 years or less, with a maximum of 100,000 km3 months or 5,000 km, whichever comes first
C7 years or less, with a maximum of 120,000 kmOne month or 1,700 km, whichever comes first
DMore than 7 years or more than 120,000 kmNo warranty of good working order

Cardog's VIN page gives you the model year to read against this table; the odometer reading is on the label.

Buying from an individual: the SAAQclic transfer

The SAAQ fact sheet on transfers between individuals says "Both the seller and the buyer must be 18 or older and have a SAAQclic account," and the car must be a passenger vehicle, less than 25 years old and registered in Quebec. Before accepting the transfer, it recommends you (SAAQ):

  • inspect the vehicle in daylight and take time to test it;
  • have it inspected by a mechanic;
  • ask for repair invoices showing the odometer reading;
  • make sure it has not been damaged by flooding;
  • check it is free of debt in the Register of personal and movable real rights (RDPRM);
  • draw up a sales contract, "since the registration certificate is not a title to property."

You then accept the transfer and register the vehicle "within 48 business hours" on SAAQclic, and the QST and any registration fees are debited from the bank account you choose (SAAQ).

Cardog's free checks

Run these before you meet the seller. All are free and need no account.

  • What the car is. cardog.app/vin decodes the VIN to year, make, model and trim, and checks the check digit on a North American VIN. Cardog decodes 99.77% of Canadian VINs to trim level. Compare it with the label or the registration.
  • Recalls, in French too. The VIN page and the recall lookup list the recalls Transport Canada has for the model year, with a link to the maker's own lookup. Every recall page has a French version.
  • Price. Where enough comparable cars are listed, the VIN page shows the median asking price, the middle half of asks and the lowest ask in Canada. The market quote gives the range for any make, model and year.

FAQ

Does a Quebec car dealer need a licence? Yes. The OPC says the licence is mandatory for all motor vehicle merchants, and its "Get information about a merchant" tool checks one.

What is a class A used car in Quebec? For contracts from April 5, 2024, a car 4 years old or less with at most 80,000 km. Its warranty of good working order runs 6 months or 10,000 km, whichever comes first.

Does a class D car have a warranty? The OPC says class D, more than 7 years or more than 120,000 km, has no warranty of good working order.

How do I transfer a car bought from an individual in Quebec? The SAAQ lets the seller start the transfer on SAAQclic and the buyer accept it and register the car within 48 business hours. Both must be 18 or older with a SAAQclic account.

Can I check recalls in French? Yes. Cardog's recall pages each have a French version.

Sources

Checked on 2026-10-27:

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