Glossary
Quebec car glossary
The terms you come across when shopping for a vehicle in Quebec, explained simply in English. The Quebec French term is kept so you recognize it at the dealership. From GST to VIN, from AWD to the odometer.
- 2e chance au crédit (second-chance financing)
- Financing program for customers turned down by traditional banks. Higher rates, but it lets you rebuild your credit.Learn more
- 4x4
- Four-wheel drive, usually engaged manually. Sturdier, often found on pickups (Tacoma, F-150).Learn more
- ABS
- Anti-lock braking system. Prevents the wheels from locking during emergency braking.
- Antipollution (emissions control)
- System that reduces polluting emissions. Must be working to pass inspection (catalytic converter, O2 sensors, etc.).
- AWD (traction intégrale)
- All-wheel drive. Power goes to all four wheels, managed automatically. Ideal for Quebec's climate.Learn more
- CARFAX / CarProof
- Vehicle history report: owners, accidents, insurance claims, odometer readings.Learn more
- Cote de crédit (credit score)
- Score from 300 to 900 calculated by Equifax/TransUnion. Determines the interest rate offered. Excellent: 700+. Average: 600 to 699.Learn more
- Coussin gonflable (airbag)
- Safety system that deploys in a collision. Must be in working order (checked at inspection).
- CVT
- Continuously variable transmission: an automatic gearbox with a continuous range of ratios. Better fuel economy, but it feels different to drive.
- Cylindrée (engine displacement)
- Total volume of the engine's cylinders, expressed in litres. The bigger it is, the more power and the more fuel it uses. E.g. 2.0 L, 3.5 L.
- Dépréciation (depreciation)
- Loss of a vehicle's value over time. 20-25% in the first year, 40-50% after 3 years, 60-70% after 5 years.Learn more
- Échange (trade-in)
- The dealership takes your current vehicle as partial payment for a new one. Tax advantage.Learn more
- Faillite libérée (discharged bankruptcy)
- Status after a personal bankruptcy is discharged. Credit is severely affected, but you can still get a car loan.Learn more
- Garantie LPC (legal warranty)
- Automatic warranty of good working order under the Consumer Protection Act (LPC). Categories A, B, C and D depending on age and mileage.Learn more
- Hybride (hybrid)
- A vehicle combining a combustion engine and an electric motor. Recharges automatically without plugging in (HEV) or by plugging in (PHEV).Learn more
- Logo flocon-montagne (mountain snowflake symbol)
- Official symbol of certified winter tires (Mountain Snowflake). Superior winter performance.Learn more
- Mandat de recherche (vehicle search service)
- Asking a dealership to find a specific vehicle through its network (auctions, other dealerships).Learn more
- Odomètre (odometer)
- The vehicle's mileage counter. A mismatch between the display and the actual mileage is a red flag.
- OPC
- Office de la protection du consommateur: Quebec's consumer protection office. Issues licences to dealerships (BonAuto: licence 2110539-1).
- Pneus M+S (M+S tires)
- Mud + Snow. Legal for winter driving in Quebec, but not as good as a dedicated winter tire.Learn more
- Pré-approbation (pre-approval)
- A lender's commitment to finance an amount at a given rate. Valid for 30 to 60 days.Learn more
- RDPRM
- Registre des droits personnels et réels mobiliers: Quebec's register of personal and movable real rights. Checks that a vehicle has no lien against it. A search fee applies.
- Reconstruit (rebuilt)
- Vehicle declared a total loss, then put back in working order. Resale value collapses and insurance costs more. Avoid unless there is a major discount.Learn more
- SAAQ
- Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec: Quebec's auto insurance board. Handles registration, driver's licences and insurance.
- Salvage
- Status of a vehicle declared a total loss by the insurer. Often rebuilt afterwards. A red flag on a CARFAX.
- TPS (GST)
- Goods and services tax. 5% across Canada. Applies to used vehicles sold by a dealer.Learn more
- TVQ (QST)
- Quebec sales tax. 9.975%, calculated on the pre-tax price. Applies to sales by dealerships and to private sales (collected through the SAAQ).Learn more
- Valeur résiduelle (residual value)
- Value of a vehicle after a given period. High means good resale value. Toyota and Honda have the best.Learn more
- Vente d'accommodement (accommodation sale)
- A sale facilitated by the dealership between a previous owner and a designated consumer, without a purchase and resale.
- VIN (NIV)
- Vehicle identification number. 17 unique characters that identify a vehicle. Lets you trace its history.