Buying a used car in Quebec: checklist before you pay

Paperwork first (Quebec)

Two checks protect you before you even look under the hood:

• Search the RDPRM (Quebec’s register of personal and movable real rights) to make sure no debt is registered on the vehicle. A creditor with a registered right can reclaim the car even after you’ve paid.
• Get a vehicle history report (such as CARFAX Canada) for past accidents and odometer records.
• Make sure the name on the registration matches the seller.

What you can check yourself

• Tires: even wear, enough tread, and the same brand on each axle.
• Warning lights: all should light up at start, then go off.
• Under the car: fresh drips of oil or coolant on the ground.
• Body: uneven gaps between panels or mismatched paint can mean past repairs.
• Cold start: ask the seller not to warm the engine before you arrive.

What a pre-purchase inspection adds

A mechanic checks what’s hard to judge yourself: brake and suspension wear, leaks, the engine bay, a scan for stored and recently cleared codes, and a short road test when the seller allows it. You get a clear list of what’s urgent and what can wait, which is also useful to negotiate the price.

What an inspection can’t do

No inspection can guarantee the future of a used car or see inside the engine or transmission. It reduces the risk; it doesn’t remove it.