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Is this used car price fair?

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How to tell if a used car's price is fair in Canada: compare it with the median and middle half of asks for comparable cars on Cardog, then adjust for kilometres, trim and condition.

A used car's price is fair when it sits inside the range comparable cars are asking for, once you allow for kilometres, trim and condition. To see that range, paste the VIN into cardog.app/vin. Where enough comparable cars are listed in Canada, Cardog shows the median asking price, the middle half of asks and the lowest ask, in CAD, next to this car's own price and the number of live listings behind them. A price inside the middle half is in the market. Below it or above it, find the reason before you pay.

Written by Cardog, so read it with that in mind. Where we describe a public body's rules we link its own page, checked on 2026-10-27.

Step 1: Confirm what the car is

A price is only fair for the right car. Paste the VIN into cardog.app/vin and check the year, make, model and trim against the ad. Cardog decodes 99.77% of Canadian VINs to trim level. Two trims of the same model can be thousands of dollars apart, so a "top trim" ad that decodes to a base trim is not priced fairly at the top-trim rate.

Step 2: Read the market range

On the VIN page, or in the market quote for any make, model and year:

FigureWhat it tells you
Median askThe middle asking price: half of comparable cars ask less, half ask more
Middle halfThe range from the 25th to the 75th percentile of asks, where most cars sit
Lowest askThe cheapest comparable car listed right now
Live listingsHow many cars set the range; more listings, firmer range
This carThe asking price of the car whose VIN you opened, if it is listed

Where too few comparable cars are listed, the page says so. For a wider view, research the model year for its trims, MSRP and market, or browse listings to see the comparable cars yourself.

Step 3: Adjust for this car

The range is for comparable cars, not this one. Move your view of a fair price for:

  • Kilometres. Well above or below typical for its age moves the price.
  • Trim and options. Confirmed by the decode in step 1.
  • Condition. Tires, brakes, body and interior. A mechanic's inspection puts a number on it.
  • History. Accident, lien and registration records are what a vehicle history report is for, and a car's past can move its value.
  • Open recalls. Check the recalls listed on the VIN page and confirm with the maker, as Transport Canada advises (Transport Canada).

Step 4: Compare like with like

Make sure the price you are judging includes the same things as the prices you compare it with. In Ontario, OMVIC's rule is that "The price advertised for a motor vehicle must include all fees and charges the dealer intends to collect," except HST and licensing, which the ad must say are not included (OMVIC). Ask any seller what is and is not in the price.

Step 5: Use the range to negotiate

An asking price is a starting point. If the car sits above the median with no reason in its kilometres, trim or condition, the middle half is a fair place to start an offer. If it sits well below the lowest ask, find out why before you go further.

FAQ

How do I know if a used car price is fair in Canada? Paste the VIN into cardog.app/vin and compare the asking price with the median and middle half of asks for comparable cars listed in Canada, then adjust for kilometres, trim and condition.

What is the middle half of asking prices? The range from the 25th to the 75th percentile of comparable asks, where most cars are priced.

Is the asking price what cars actually sell for? No. An asking price is what the seller lists; the final price is agreed between buyer and seller.

Why is a car priced well below the market? It may have high kilometres, a lower trim, condition issues or a past that a history report would show, so find the reason before you buy.

Do Ontario dealer prices include fees? OMVIC requires the advertised price to include all fees and charges the dealer intends to collect, except HST and licensing.

Sources

Checked on 2026-10-27:

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