Getting a car
To make an informed choice that’s within your budget, see Choosing the right car
Car maintenance
Once you’ve bought (or leased) your car, you have to consider everything you’ll have to do to keep it running.
Type of expense and Approximate annual cost
1- Gas
Depends on the type of vehicle, number of kilometres travelled and price of gas.
To calculate the cost, fuel up, take down how much it cost and divide that amount by the number of kilometres you travel.
Ex.: Calculation for a car that does 100 kilometres per 7 litres
7 litres/km x 108,5 cents/litres = 7,60 cents/km
If you travel 10,000 km a year, you’ll spend about $760 a year.
2 – Repairs
These expenses are difficult to plan. Make sure you save each month so you can pay when the time comes.
To easily build an emergency fund, put a certain amount in a savings account. You can ask your Caisse populaire to do it for you—you won’t even have to think about it anymore!
3 – Oil changes and other types of maintenance
Visit your car manufacturer’s website or contact a dealership to find out more about necessary maintenance.
Ex.: If your car requires an oil change every 5,000 km and you drive 10,000 km a year, then your car will need 2 oil changes at about $25 each.
Total: $50 plus other maintenance
4 – Insurance
Depends on the type of vehicle, your driving experience, age, place of residence, etc.
To get an idea of your insurance cost, request a quote at your insurance office.
Ex.: For a 17-year-old resident (male) driving a 3-year-old economical compact car, the premium is more than $3,500 a year.
5 – Winter tires
You’ll definitely need some because they’re now mandatory. Expect to pay between $80 and $200 per winter tire.
Don’t forget that you’ll need to replace them every 2, 3 or 4 years, depending on their wear.
Total: approximately $400 or more
6 – Parking
Depends on where you reside and work.
7 – Registration
About $35 a year.
8 – Driver’s licence
Approximately $50
If you have a learner’s permit or probatory licence, a maximum of 3 demerit points can be entered on your driving record.
9 – Accessories, winter wipers, maintenance products, car wash fees, etc.
Plan between $50 and $100 a year.
Total:
You can plan at least $1,300 a year, only to keep it running (excluding the insurance premium).