Buying New — What We Cover

Every new vehicle purchase has the same structure: invoice cost, holdback, incentives, financing, F&I, and trade-in. We work through all of it before you sit down.

Scan

A focused call built around one specific offer. Purchase, lease, or F&I package — we go through the numbers with you before you sign. You leave knowing whether to proceed, push back, or walk.

  • The all-in purchase or lease price and whether it reflects fair market conditions
  • Any dealer fees or add-ons that aren't standard
  • The financing rate and whether it matches what you qualify for
  • The F&I products being offered — what's worth considering and what isn't
  • One clear recommendation: proceed, negotiate on X, or walk away

Vehicle Selection & Trim Strategy

Not every trim is worth the upgrade. We work through exactly which package gives you the best value — and which options are margin for the dealer.

  • Side-by-side trim comparison for your target vehicle
  • Which factory options actually retain resale value
  • New vs. certified pre-owned analysis for your budget
  • Best timing within the month and year for your vehicle
  • How to identify slow-moving inventory — your leverage point

True Cost & Dealer Margin Analysis

Where the margin sits on any vehicle is knowable — but it takes experience to read it accurately. In this session we walk through the numbers together: what the dealer paid, what incentives are in play, and where you have room to move. The goal is a shared understanding of the deal before you make an offer, not a data file you interpret alone.

  • What the dealer paid for your specific vehicle relative to MSRP
  • Holdback explained: the hidden manufacturer payment built into every deal
  • Current manufacturer incentives and how to use them in your negotiation
  • Market adjustment markups — when they're justified vs. when they're not
  • How to request and compare quotes from multiple dealers

Lease vs. Finance Deep Dive

This one decision can cost or save you thousands. We work through the actual numbers for your situation — your vehicle, your usage, your parameters.

  • How the lease money factor (interest) gets marked up by dealers
  • Residual value — how it's set and when it works in your favour
  • Total cost of ownership: lease vs. finance over your intended term
  • Mileage caps and overage fees — the hidden cost most leases carry
  • Financing rate negotiation (bank vs. dealer financing)
  • When dealer financing is worth using even if you could pay cash

Negotiation Coaching & Scripts

Knowing the numbers matters. Knowing how to use them is what closes the gap. You'll leave with exact language for every stage of the negotiation.

  • How to structure your initial offer — the framing matters
  • The monthly payment focus trap and how to avoid it
  • When to walk, how to do it, and what the callback strategy looks like
  • Negotiating out-the-door (OTD) price, not monthly payment
  • How to respond when they say "let me check with my manager"
  • A written counter-offer email template you can use directly

Finance & Insurance Room Strategy

The finance office is where most deals shift — and where most buyers are least prepared. Dealers earn more per transaction here than anywhere else. Every Holdback session covers this in full — it's the one stage of the Canadian car buying process that no pricing service or data tool currently addresses. Neither the vehicle price nor the monthly payment protects you in the finance office. Every product offered there — extended warranties, GAP, paint protection, credit insurance — has a markup. We cover exactly what's worth considering and the exact language to decline the rest.

  • Every common F&I product explained clearly (warranty, GAP, paint protection, etc.)
  • Which add-ons are worth considering vs. pure margin for the dealer
  • How to evaluate whether an extended warranty makes sense for your situation
  • GAP insurance: when you actually need it and what it should cost
  • Paint protection, rust-proofing, fabric guard — the real story
  • How to decline without souring the relationship or the deal

Trade-In Optimization

A trade-in is a major leverage point — when you know how to use it. Most buyers bundle trade and purchase, which lets dealers shift money between columns without you noticing.

  • How to establish your trade's real market value before you walk in
  • The separate negotiation strategy: maximise both transactions independently
  • When to trade at the dealer vs. sell privately vs. use an online buyer
  • How dealers adjust the purchase price to compensate for trade value
  • Negative equity situations — your actual options

When the Dealer Says the Price Is Fixed

More dealerships now post one price and don't negotiate on the sticker. That doesn't mean the deal is finished. The financing rate, the trade-in offer, the finance office products, and the add-ons are all still in play — and these are where buyers lose money most often. Every Holdback session covers all of these, regardless of how the vehicle is priced.

Buying Used — A Different Game

There's no dealer invoice to reference and no holdback calculation. The information gap is different — and the strategy is different. Every Holdback session adapts fully to used vehicle purchases, including dealer used, certified pre-owned, and private sale.

Pricing & Market Value

Used vehicles don't have an invoice price or holdback percentage to reference. Market value is built from what comparable vehicles are actually selling for — and knowing how to read that data accurately is the starting point for any used purchase.

  • How used vehicle pricing is set and which data sources are reliable for Canadian buyers
  • How to interpret days-on-lot and price drop history as negotiation evidence
  • How mileage, trim, condition, and colour affect market value in your specific area
  • Reconditioning costs dealers factor in — and how they affect your opening number
  • What the spread between asking price and selling price looks like for your vehicle

New vs. Certified Pre-Owned vs. Private Sale

Certified Pre-Owned sounds like a simple step up from used. The real question is whether the certification, inspection, and added warranty are worth the premium — compared to buying private or going new. We break this down for your specific situation and budget.

  • What CPO actually covers for your specific brand — not all CPO programs are equivalent
  • The real cost premium of CPO vs. what the warranty extension is actually worth
  • Private sale advantages (price) vs. risks (no warranty, no financing fallback)
  • When dealer used makes more financial sense than CPO or private sale
  • HST treatment in Ontario: private sale vs. dealer (a significant real cost difference)

Pre-Purchase Inspection Strategy

An independent inspection is non-negotiable on any used purchase. Knowing how to request one, what to look for in the results, and how to use findings to your advantage is a skill most buyers don't have walking in.

  • How to request a pre-purchase inspection without signalling desperation or giving the seller leverage
  • What a qualified inspection covers and how to find an independent mechanic for your vehicle type
  • How to use inspection findings to re-negotiate price, request repairs, or walk away cleanly
  • Red flags in a listing before you even book a showing — and what to look for in person
  • Common mechanical and structural concerns by vehicle age, mileage, and category

Used Vehicle Negotiation

Used vehicle negotiation is different from new. There's no invoice to reference, but there are other levers: market comparables, days on lot, price history, condition, and seasonal demand. We build your opening position and counter-offer strategy around all of them.

  • How to make an opening offer that's credible, not insulting, and leaves room to move
  • Using days-on-lot and price drop history as evidence, not just pressure
  • Dealer used vs. private sale negotiation: different dynamics, different language
  • What's still negotiable at a dealer used lot: price, certification fee, financing rate, and F&I
  • How to structure a private sale offer with conditions that protect you

Financing for Used Vehicles

Rates for used vehicles are typically higher than new, lenders differ, and certain vehicle ages or categories limit your financing options. We review your financing position specifically for a used purchase — including whether dealer financing actually makes sense in your case.

  • Why used vehicle rates differ from new — and by how much in the current rate environment
  • Lender options for used: bank, credit union, and dealer financing compared
  • How vehicle age and mileage affect financing eligibility and available rates
  • When arranging your own financing before going to the dealer gives you real leverage
  • GAP insurance on used vehicles: when it's relevant and when it isn't worth the cost

EV Purchases & Factory Orders

EV purchases come with federal and provincial incentives, MSRP caps, lease structure considerations, and factory order risks that standard vehicle purchases don't. These are covered in any session involving an electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle.

Incentive Eligibility & Stacking

Federal and provincial EV incentives are available in Ontario but come with MSRP caps, vehicle eligibility restrictions, and timing conditions that are easy to miss. We map exactly which programs apply to your vehicle and how they interact.

  • Federal iZEV program: which vehicles qualify, MSRP caps, how to claim at point of sale
  • Ontario-level incentives: current availability and vehicle-specific eligibility
  • How incentives stack — and when stacking restrictions apply
  • Lease vs. buy: how incentive treatment differs (some programs only apply to purchases)
  • What happens if your vehicle delivers after a rebate changes or expires

EV Lease vs. Buy Analysis

The lease vs. buy decision for EVs is fundamentally different from ICE vehicles. Battery residual risk, charging infrastructure, manufacturer support, and incentive treatment all factor in differently. We model the actual numbers for your situation.

  • How EV battery depreciation affects residual values and what that means for lease math
  • When a lease makes more financial sense than ownership for your specific EV
  • What to look for in an EV lease: residual percentage, money factor, mileage restrictions
  • Long-term ownership considerations: battery warranty, out-of-warranty serviceability, resale
  • Total cost of ownership: lease vs. buy modelled on your usage and parameters

Factory Orders

Many EVs — and some popular ICE models — require factory orders with significant wait times. A factory order is a different commitment than buying from stock. Deposit terms, price protection, incentive timing, and delivery rights all need to be understood before you sign anything.

  • How factory orders work and exactly what you're committing to at signing
  • Price protection clauses: what's typically covered and what isn't
  • Deposit terms and your rights if the vehicle doesn't arrive as specified
  • How to ensure incentive eligibility is locked in before your delivery date
  • What to review on delivery day: build confirmation, inspection, final financing terms

Your Take-Home Package

Every consultation includes a written package — so you're not relying on memory once you're at the dealership.

Personalized Deal Checklist

Step-by-step, built around your specific deal. What to review, what to ask, what to never skip.

Negotiation Brief

The language for your offer, counter-offer, and finance office responses. Written in a style that matches how you want to come across.

Lease vs. Finance Summary

A clear written comparison showing total cost for each option, with a recommendation and the reasoning behind it.

Follow-Up Access

One follow-up email after your session, answered within one business day. If something unexpected comes up at the dealership — a new offer, an F&I product you weren't prepared for — you can reach out and get a direct response.

Comparable Vehicle Alternatives

If a similar vehicle offers meaningfully better value at your budget, we'll discuss it — a live conversation covering 2–3 alternatives worth considering, based on your specific situation.

Rate & Incentive Updates

If incentives or financing rates change significantly before your purchase date, email us — we'll update your deal notes at no charge.

Ready to Go In Prepared?

One consultation. One flat fee. A clear picture of your deal and exactly how to approach it.