Canada Drives: Overview
Canada Drives is the one-stop online shop for Canadians looking to buy or finance a vehicle. Founded in 2010 and based out of Vancouver, the company has grown from being the largest auto financing provider in the country to being the largest 100% online vehicle retailer in the country.
How Does Canada Drives Work?
With Canada Drives you can shop, apply for financing, sign the paperwork, trade-in your current vehicle, and book curbside delivery of your new ride (often as soon as the same day) all entirely online. Canada Drives eliminated the need for a test drive with their 7-day ‘Love it or Return it’ guarantee. Once a customer receives their vehicle, they get an entire week to drive it and decide if they want to keep it.
What Sets Canada Drives Apart from Other Dealerships?
Canada Drives’ stated mission is to be the easiest place to buy a car in Canada, and that extends beyond simply offering a 100% online car buying experience. The company differentiates itself from traditional dealerships in a number of different ways—all of which are aimed at increasing a car buyer’s convenience and peace-of-mind.
The most significant difference may be the “transparent pricing” model, which means the price you see is the price you pay. Since there are no dealer fees and zero commissions on sales through Canada Drives, the company promises that every buyer will enjoy the best possible price without the need for haggling. Those who don’t enjoy the pressure or expectation of negotiating with high-pressure salespeople will find this approach refreshing and significantly less stressful.
Another way Canada Drives differs from traditional dealerships is through its 7-day “no questions asked” return policy. This policy amounts to a 7-day test drive, or test own. You can buy a car and return or exchange it within the first 7 days for any reason at all. For anyone who feels a little uneasy about buying a car online, the 7-day return policy doesn’t just provide some added peace-of-mind, it goes well beyond the “test drive around the block” experience offered at a traditional dealership.
How Car Financing Works With Canada Drives
Financing and finalizing paperwork is a significant step in purchasing a vehicle, and Canada Drives has gone to some significant lengths to make it as simple, straightforward, and flexible as possible.
You can pay for your new vehicle entirely or partially with cash, credit, or debit. If you’re financing, you can either do so through Canada Drives directly or through your own bank. It’s entirely your choice.
If you choose to finance through Canada Drives, you’ll be tapping into the large network of trusted lenders the company has built over the years, many of which provide $0 down options.
In keeping with the company’s quest to make car buying as easy as possible, financing a car with Canada Drives can be done one of two ways:
- Search the online inventory, find a car you like, and complete a short 2-minute application online. Then Canada Drives will send you approval terms via text or email.
- Get pre-approved by completing a 2-minute application online and get personalized finance terms before you start shopping.
What Provinces and Territories Does Canada Drive Serve?
At the moment Canada Drives currently offers its 100% online car buying experience to customers in British Columbia and Ontario. However, the company is growing fast and has plans to expand its inventory and delivery coverage to 80% of Canada by the end of 2022.
