Looking to buy my first car (rental car, sale, rental)

[soaringshrimp]

Hi everyone,

I've just arrived in Toronto and want to get myself a car. I won't be in Toronto long, just until Christmas, so I was looking to take over someone's lease, but I haven't been able to find any lease takeovers that had less than 4 months' left on them. So I thought my best option would be to buy a cheap used car.

I don't really know what is involved in buying a used car. First, do I HAVE to buy car insurance, even if it's for a car I bought for $800? Do I need to submit to a credit check when buying a used car? What procedures should I follow, in general, when buying a used car? (I.e. Should I ask the owner to pay to have the car inspected by a mechanic?)

I am from Vancouver, with a full BC Driver's License. Would I have to apply to get an Ontario Driver's License or will I be able to drive with my BC license?

Thanks so much!

[MiD310]

If you are buying a car privately (for 800.00, I would assume its private) you do not need to do a credit check if you have the cash.

If you plan to purchase from a dealer, then yes, a credit check will be run if you are looking to finance. Though, you can purchase the vehicle outright from a dealer without a credit check.

As for insurance, you will need it before the vehicle moves (if you wish to proceed legally). You would then get a trip permit that is valid for, I believe, ten days. In that duration, you can take the vehicle to a shop, and get it certified. You can then buy plates for it. Sometimes, a private sale will come with a certification. If this is the case, make sure it's not expired and skip the step of taking it to a shop. Of coarse, if you're financing through a dealer, they will take care of everything, less the purchase of insurance, that is always up to you. And fyi; most, if not all insurance companies will require you to pay first and last month, which depending on your age, can be somewhat costly.

I know you said you're not staying in Toronto for long, but will you be staying in Ontario? If so, you will need to switch your DL over (Don't know what that entails).

It is quite a process, and though you may be able to find a decent car for a thousand dollars or so, bank on spending double that to get it ready for the road (cert, e-tested, insured and plated).

One more thing, if buying privately, look the car over extremely well, and if your not mechanically inclined, have someone who is, join you. Otherwise, if it needs a lot of parts, that certification can end up costing thousands after parts+labor.

[soaringshrimp]

^^ Unfortunately I don't know a soul in Toronto, yet at least.

Ugh, this is going to be more painful than I thought.

[marc3565]

One winter long ago in Toronto i was able to rent a car on a monthly basis with cash. Was a crappy car and I probably paid them more then it was worth over the few months I had it but the price included insurance and if it broke down I'd just bring it back and get a different one.

Sadly I do not remember the name of the place. You'd have to hunt around. You can also try calling all the Toronto rental car companies and ask them for monthly rates. (avoid the airport ones). It's a lot of leg work but you might find a deal out there.

or... get a Monthly transit pass and use Taxis . You add up the total cost of a car for a few months with insurance etc. you might end up with a decent taxi budget..

or.. http://www.zipcar.com/toronto/find-cars

[pluto1]

You can check out Toronto Used Cars site. There are many cars to browse through. Alternatively, you can post an ad "looking for cheap car". You may get good responses.

Also check out local used car dealerships. They might have some good deals waiting for you.