You’re thinking of buying a used car or motorcycle? The law gives you certain warranties if you buy from a merchant.
The warranties mentioned in this article don’t apply or apply differently if you buy from an individual (someone who is not a merchant).
The Warranty of “Good Working Order”
When you buy a used car or motorcycle from a merchant, you benefit from a general warranty of good working order. This is a “legal” warranty. This means that it applies automatically without having to sign anything.
What is covered by the good working order warranty?
The good working order warranty covers parts and labour. It is effective as soon as the used car or motorcycle is delivered to the buyer.
What is not covered by the good working order warranty?
These things are not included in the warranty:
- normal maintenance of the car or motorcycle
- interior upholstery or exterior decorative items
- damages caused by the buyer’s abusive use of the car or motorcycle after it has been delivered
- for a used motorcycle: accessories that are not essential for it to work
Length of Good Working Order Warranty on Used Cars
Class | Date Cars of the Same Model and Manufacturing Year Were Put on Quebec Market | Mileage | Length of Good Working Order Warranty for Used Cars |
A | in the last two years | less than 40,000 km | six months or 10,000 km, whichever occurs first |
B | in the last two to three years | 40,000 to 60,000 km | three months or 5,000 km, whichever occurs first |
C | in the last three to five years | 60,000 to 80,000 km | one month or 1,700 km, whichever occurs first |
D | other | other | no good working order warranty |
Length of Good Working Order Warranty on Used Motorcycles
Class | Date Motorcycles of the Same Model and Manufacturing Year Were Put on the Quebec Market | Length of Good Working Order Warranty for Used Motorcycles |
A | in the last two years | two months |
B | in the last two to three years | one month |
C | other | no good working order warranty |
Warranty from the Original Manufacturer or Dealer
Even if a car or motorcycle is used, there still might be a warranty left from the original manufacturer or dealer (the warranty from when it was sold as a new car or motorcycle).
This warranty is still valid if it was for a certain time period or a certain number of kilometres and this period or mileage isn’t finished over when the car or motorcycle is resold as a used vehicle.
The original manufacturer or dealer must then pay the cost of the repairs covered by the warranty.
For cars only: if the manufacturer or dealer’s original warranty is still good and a repair must be done, the manufacturer or dealer must also assume the reasonable costs of towing or breakdown services.
Extra Warranty Offered by a Merchant Selling a Used Vehicle
Nothing prevents a merchant who sells you a used car or motorcycle from offering a better warranty than the one provided by law!
The Legal Warranty
As a consumer, there is an automatic legal warranty that protects you, even in these situations:
- the warranty of good working order or any other warranty on your used car or motorcycle has expired
- your used car or motorcycle was never covered by the warranty of good working order (Category D for cars and Category C for motorcycles).