If you’re thinking of buying or selling a vehicle online or simply applying for financing, here’s a look at how three well-known companies compare in various categories.
Canada Drives vs Clutch vs CarDoor
As of March 2023, you can no longer buy a car online from Canada Drives. However, you can still sell your car to them or get approved for a car loan.
Canada Drives
Clutch
CarDoor
Inventory
None
Pre-owned cars, SUVs, minivans and Jeeps
Pre-owned cars, SUVs, minivans and Jeeps
Buys used cars
Yes
Yes
Yes
Accepts trade-ins
Yes
Yes
Yes
Accepts cars with a loan on it
Yes
Yes
Yes
Serviced provinces
All
Ontario and Nova Scotia
Ontario
APR ranges
Not disclosed
From 8.49%
From 7.99%
Loan terms
12 - 96 months
12 - 96 months
12 - 96 months
Minimum loan amount
$5,000
$7,500
$5,000
Maximum loan amount
$75,000
No maximum
Not disclosed
Fees
Not disclosed
In Halifax, there is an $899 car-prep fee.
$130 for registering your licence plate
Trial period
Not applicable
10 days/750 km
14 days/750 km
Exchange policy
Not applicable
Exchanges can be made within the 10 days/750 km “test own” policy.
60 days/5,000 km
Warranty
Not applicable
Complimentary 90 days/6,000 km warranty
Complimentary 90 days/10,000 km warranty
Eligibility requirements
Be a Canadian resident and of the age of majority in your province
Have a valid Canadian mailing address and an active bank account.
Have a valid driver’s licence.
Have a steady income of at least $1,800.
Be a Canadian resident and at least 19 years old.
Have a valid Canadian mailing address and an active bank account.
Have a valid driver’s licence.
Have a steady income to make loan repayments (no minimum income threshold is listed online).
Be a Canadian resident and at least 19 years old.
Max.1 bankruptcy and currently employed for 3+ months
Min. credit score of 500
Accepts no down payment
Yes
Yes
Yes
Cross-province purchases
Not applicable
Between Ontario and Nova Scotia
No
Negotiable prices
Not applicable
No
No
Contactless delivery
Not applicable
Yes
Yes
Turnaround time
Less than 24 hours
Less than 24 hours
Less than 24 hours
Better Business Bureaus
F rating (not accredited), 1.73 stars out of 5 (based on 41 reviews)
A+ rating (accredited), 1.94 stars out of 5 (based on 17 reviews)
Canada Drives vs Clutch vs CarDoor: Who is the best?
When you’re shopping for a car and the financing to make your purchase, there are crucial factors you’ll want to zero in on. Here’s how these online dealers stack up:
Best for deals: Clutch
Weekly deals. Unlike CarDoor, Clutch has deals on cars, where you can browse discounted cars for sale – possibly saving you a few thousand dollars off the vehicle’s purchase price.
Large inventory. CarDoor has over 1,000 vehicles in its inventory, while Clutch has over 300.
Detailed inspection process and vehicle history records. Count on CarDoor to provide you with everything you need to know about the pre-owned car you’re eyeing. Its pre-owned cars come with a free CARFAX vehicle history report and details about their interior and exterior. (Clutch does the same as well.)
Test drive your vehicle. CarDoor offers the lengthier trial period at 14 days/750 km compared to Clutch (10 days/750 km).
Make an exchange. CarDoor is generous with its exchange policy too, providing a timeframe of 60 days/5,000 km. Clutch allows exchanges within the trial period of 10 days/750 km.
Complimentary warranty. CarDoor offers a free 90 days/10,000 km that covers defects in materials or workmanship for many parts of the car, but excludes wear items like brakes and tires. Its warranty is longer in distance than Clutch.
Option to purchase warranties through the dealer. Both Clutch and CarDoor provide buyers with the option to buy in-house warranties.
Range of financing options available. With Canada Drives, choose between new car loans, used car loans, bad credit car loans (including no credit, poor credit and bankruptcy).
Flexible terms. All three offer trade-ins and no down payment, along with similar loan terms Clutch (12 - 96 months), Canada Drives (up to 96 months) and CarDoor (12 - 96 months).
Compare car loans
1 - 5 of 5
How does online car shopping work?
Online car dealers are making it easier to do your vehicle shopping and financing from wherever you have an Internet connection. Here’s how:
Choose from a variety of new and pre-owned vehicles via online platforms. Look through inventory listings, each with a virtual 360-degree walk around, key features and a CARFAX vehicle history report.
Apply for vehicle financing if you need an auto loan. Online dealers provide a one-stop shop, so you can apply for a car loan to make your purchase. Learn more about used car financing.
Make your purchase and have it delivered straight to your home. Select a delivery date and your online lender will bring the car to your front door for a “test own” period.
Eligibility criteria vary between each online dealer, but as a baseline, you’ll need to meet the following requirements:
Be a Canadian resident, of the age of majority in your province.
Have a valid driver’s licence.
Have a steady income to make loan repayments.
Have an active bank account.
What documents do I need to apply?
When your vehicle is delivered to your home, you’ll need to provide the following:
A void cheque or direct deposit form for the bank account you want your payments to come from.
A copy of your new insurance, in effect upon receiving your vehicle.
A valid driver’s licence.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you do. When your vehicle is delivered to you, you will need to have proof of insurance ready. You can date the policy to take effect on the date of your delivery appointment.
Check with the dealer you're working with to understand if you'll have to pay for any loan origination fees, late, missed or NSF payment fees and early prepayment penalties. Read the terms and conditions of your loan agreement and vehicle purchase before you sign off on your contract.
Carmen Chai is a freelance writer at Finder, specializing in financial products. She is an award-winning Canadian journalist who has lived and reported from major cities such as Vancouver, Toronto, London and Paris. She has reported on personal finance, mortgages, and banking products for nearly a decade.
Compare the pros and cons of buying a car online vs at a dealership, and choose which option suits you best.
Feedback
How likely would you be to recommend finder to a friend or colleague?
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Very UnlikelyExtremely Likely
Required
Thank you for your feedback.
Our goal is to create the best possible product, and your thoughts, ideas and suggestions play a major role in helping us identify opportunities to improve.
Advertiser Disclosure
finder.com is an independent comparison platform and information service that aims to provide you with the tools you need to make better decisions. While we are independent, the offers that appear on this site are from companies from which finder.com receives compensation. We may receive compensation from our partners for placement of their products or services. We may also receive compensation if you click on certain links posted on our site. While compensation arrangements may affect the order, position or placement of product information, it doesn't influence our assessment of those products. Please don't interpret the order in which products appear on our Site as any endorsement or recommendation from us. finder.com compares a wide range of products, providers and services but we don't provide information on all available products, providers or services. Please appreciate that there may be other options available to you than the products, providers or services covered by our service.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
