THE FREE SHFTR BUYING PLAN

How to buy a car.
One clear step at a time.

Know the vehicle. Compare the whole deal. Walk in ready.

A practical checklist for buying in Canada or the U.S., from your first shortlist to the final written terms.

Start the checklist ↓Download the Excel comparison ↗

8 stages32 actionsNo sign-up required

Compare the deal from every angle.

Check off each action as you go. Progress can be saved on this browser when JavaScript is enabled.

Payment calculatorType your numbers or use the sliders.

Work at your own pace. Mark a step complete after reviewing it, including when it does not apply to your purchase.

START HERE

Know your plan before the sales desk.

0/4

A salesperson and a finance manager have a deal to close. Arrive knowing what makes the deal work for you.

Define your exact vehicle.Write down your year range, model, trim, must-have options and acceptable alternatives. Keep the same specification when comparing dealers.Set your walk-away number.Choose a maximum total price and a comfortable overall budget before discussing payments. Leave room for insurance, operating costs and unexpected expenses.Check that the vehicle is actually available.Confirm the VIN or stock number, mileage, condition and location. Ask whether the advertised vehicle is in stock, incoming or already sold.Separate the test drive from the commitment.Check fit, visibility and comfort. You can take time to compare written offers before agreeing to buy.

FINANCING

Close the financing information gap.

0/4

Have a financing reference before a dealer asks what monthly payment you want.

Research manufacturer rate offers.Check programs for the exact model and your location. Ask whether a used or certified pre-owned vehicle has an eligible rate offer.Get a bank or credit-union comparison.If you plan to borrow, ask about pre-approval, its expiry and any conditions. Check whether an application uses a hard credit inquiry.Record the complete loan terms.Compare amount financed, contract interest rate, APR, term, payment frequency and total of payments. A longer loan can lower the payment while increasing borrowing costs.Check the early-payoff terms.Read the agreement and ask about prepayment charges, extra payments and how interest is calculated. Do not assume every loan in Canada or the U.S. has the same rules.

Estimate your payment · financing and trade-ins

NEW OR USED

New or used? Compare the real difference.

0/4

Depreciation, condition and taxes can change the answer. Start with comparable vehicles rather than a general rule.

Compare a matching older vehicle.Look at a similar trim from the previous model year or a used alternative. Record age, mileage, condition and asking price so the difference is meaningful.Check the vehicle’s history and condition.For a used vehicle, review history, service records and remaining warranty. Arrange an independent inspection where appropriate and price any repairs into your comparison.Confirm the taxes for your purchase.Ask for an itemized calculation for your registration location, including any special levies. Tax rates and exemptions may differ between vehicles and transactions.Check the costs after delivery.Get an insurance quote and estimate charging or fuel, maintenance and tire costs. Keep these beside the purchase comparison, not hidden inside the monthly payment.

REBATE VS. RATE

Cash rebate or a lower rate? Run both.

0/4

Some manufacturer offers are a choice. The larger rebate or smaller payment alone does not settle it.

Confirm which incentives you qualify for.Check location, model year, ownership or loyalty requirements, financing method and expiry. Ask which offers can be combined.Separate the rebate from the dealer’s discount.Ask for each reduction on its own line. A manufacturer program is different from the dealership reducing its own selling price.Compare the cash and promotional-rate options.Use two workbook columns for the same vehicle with each offer’s actual price, rebate, rate and term. Include cash due at signing when comparing the overall deal.Compare total repayment, then the payment.Read the workbook’s out-the-door price, loan payment and total payable on the loan together. Confirm the estimate against a lender’s written quote.

Get the three-vehicle Excel workbook ↓

THE NUMBERS / SIDE BY SIDE

Three vehicles. One clear comparison.

Bring the full price and financing into the same view. Download the Excel workbook, enter your quotes, and the formulas do the math.

VEHICLE 01Out-the-door price

VEHICLE 02Monthly payment

VEHICLE 03Total loan repayment

Download free Excel workbook ↓

.xlsx · formulas included · compare in CAD or USD · no email required

What can I enter?

Vehicle price, dealer discount, rebates, loan term, annual contract interest rate, down payment, trade allowance, existing loan payoff, fees, warranties and packages.

Tax settings include two components, full / capped / no trade-in credit, rebate tax treatment and adjustments for your written quote. The sheet shows eligible tax savings and keeps loan payoff separate from gross trade value.

The Guide & tax tab explains each input. Use the confirmed tax treatment for your purchase; a currency selection does not choose a tax rule. Total payable on the loan excludes cash due at signing.

WRITTEN OFFERS

Get competing written offers.

0/4

Give dealers the same request. A clear breakdown makes the price easier to negotiate.

Establish the asking-price range.Search matching inventory on research and listing sites. Record the date, equipment and availability, plus any travel or delivery costs.Ask several dealers for an out-the-door quote.Use the email or text below. Give the same vehicle specification and registration location, and ask for the quote before cash down or a trade-in.Check every line of the quote.Record selling price, dealer discount, eligible rebates, fees, taxes, registration and optional products. Ask for any rebate conditions in writing.Negotiate the total purchase price first.Use comparable written offers and your walk-away number. Then review the financing and trade-in separately so a change in payment does not hide a change in price.

Copy a friendly email or text request ↓ · payment calculator

SKIP THE BLANK PAGE

Ask for the real out-the-door price.

A friendly starting point. Fill in your details, tweak the wording, and send it yourself.

Email draft ↓Text draft ↓

Email

SubjectMessage

Text message

Message

The copy buttons use exactly what is in your draft. Nothing is sent from this page.

YOUR TRADE-IN

Your trade-in is its own deal.

0/4

A high allowance is only useful when the vehicle price, old loan and tax treatment are clear.

Get a separate value reference.Compare independent purchase offers or valuations with the dealer’s allowance. Note any sale costs and the practical work of selling privately.Request the current lender payoff.Use a dated payoff figure, not just the balance shown in an app. Compare it with the gross trade allowance to find equity or a shortfall.Confirm eligible trade-in tax savings.Ask which tax components allow a credit and whether there is a cap. Enter gross allowance separately from loan payoff in the workbook.Compare the trade with selling separately.Compare allowance plus eligible tax savings with an outside offer after relevant costs. Ask how any loan shortfall or excess equity will be handled.

ADD-ONS

Choose the add-ons you actually want.

0/4

Optional products deserve their own decision, with their own price and terms.

Identify every optional package.Ask for individual prices for protection products, coatings, accessories and other packages. Ask which are optional and request a revised quote without products you decline.Read the warranty, not just the pitch.Compare coverage, exclusions, deductible, claim limits and overlap with manufacturer coverage. Check cancellation terms and independent options before deciding.Price service packages against your likely use.Compare the included services, expiry and location restrictions with the maintenance you expect to need. Include financed interest if the package is added to the loan.Get the accepted product list in writing.Have the dealer confirm the products you chose, their individual prices and the updated total. Keep a copy for the final contract review.

BEFORE SIGNING

Reconcile the numbers before you sign.

0/4

The final contract should tell the same story as the offer you accepted.

Complete your three-vehicle comparison.Use written quotes and the correct tax settings. Compare the vehicle, out-the-door price, cash due, monthly payment and total payable on the loan side by side.Match the contract to the agreed offer.Check vehicle identity, price, rebates, taxes, fees, products, trade allowance, payoff, down payment and amount financed. Ask about every difference.Read deposits and delivery conditions.Confirm any deposit or refund terms, financing conditions, delivery date, included items and remaining promises in writing. Keep copies of everything you accept.Make the decision on your timeline.Move forward when the written terms are clear and the deal fits your plan. If it does not, ask questions, change the specification or keep looking.

WORDS YOU CAN USE

BONUS: FOUR PHRASES TO KEEP THE DEAL ON TRACK

When asked only about your monthly budget:

“Let’s agree on the total purchase price first. Then we can compare financing.”

When a rebate is presented as the dealer’s discount:

“Please show the manufacturer rebate and your dealership’s discount separately.”

When an unwanted package appears:

“I don’t want that optional package. Please send a revised quote without it.”

When you feel rushed:

“I’m ready to move forward once I’ve reviewed the full written terms.”

YOUR NEXT MOVE

Want someone to work through the deal with you?

SHFTR helps you compare offers, negotiate, and review the numbers before you commit.

Get help with my deal ↗

Explore the current free-service offer and terms. Vehicle and third-party costs remain yours.

About this checklist & sources

Based on SHFTR’s “How to buy a car in 2026” content plan. Written for SHFTR by Sahij Sangha. Reviewed October 16, 2026.

Offers, tax treatment and loan terms depend on the vehicle, location and transaction. Confirm the figures and conditions in your own written quote. The workbook includes configurable tax settings and explains its fixed monthly loan assumptions.

FTC: financing or leasing a car
FCAC: shopping around for a car loan
CFPB: checking prepayment terms
CRA: motor vehicles and GST/HST
California: motor vehicle dealer tax guidance
Texas: trade-in tax treatment

Checked steps and an update time are saved only in this browser, when storage is available. No IP address is used to identify your checklist. Message details are not saved with progress. Reset progress above, or clear this site’s browser data, to remove the saved steps.