BEFORE YOU SIGN

Your dealer quote checklist.

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By Sahij Sangha, Founder, SHFTR · Published October 15, 2026

A useful quote lets you explain where every dollar goes. Before comparing dealers, confirm that their offers describe the same vehicle, the same payment method and the same products.

Check these eight items

Exact vehicle: VIN or stock number, model year, trim, equipment, mileage and whether it is new, used or a demonstrator.Vehicle selling price before rebates, tax, trade-in or your down payment.Dealer discount shown separately from manufacturer rebates or eligibility programs.Conditions for each rebate: location, ownership, financing method and expiry date.Each dealer fee and optional product, including its individual price and your decision to accept or decline it.Taxes, registration, licensing and any delivery or transport charges, itemized for your location.Trade-in allowance and the current lender payoff as separate numbers.Amount financed, APR, loan term, payment frequency and the total of payments if you are financing.

Use the same comparison for both dealers

Make a two-column comparison. Put the VIN, equipment and mileage at the top, then copy the written figures under the same labels. If one dealer includes a protection package and the other does not, ask for the difference to be priced separately before calling one offer cheaper.

A trade-in or larger down payment can reduce a payment without reducing the vehicle selling price. Record those amounts after comparing the car itself. Keep a dated copy of the offer so you can compare it with the contract.

Ask what “all-in” includes

Ask for a written total that states which taxes, government charges and other costs are included. In Ontario, OMVIC explains that advertised prices from registered dealers generally include the fees the dealer intends to collect, with HST and licensing excluded. That is an Ontario rule; check the regulator for your own province or state.

Stop and clarify changes

If a figure changes before signing, ask for an updated itemized quote and compare it with the version you accepted. A useful next question is which line changed and why. Follow the numbers through to the amount financed rather than accepting a verbal explanation of the payment alone.

Next: negotiate the selling price or compare financing and trade-ins.