How To Find Cheap Used Cars in Ottawa

Owning a vehicle in Ottawa is almost essential. For example, if you live in places like Gatineau, Napean, Kanata, Kempville, or Cornwall, it can be hard to get around without your own set of wheels!

Fortunately, the Canadian used car market is very robust. So if you're looking for affordable cars in Ottawa, you have options.

Where are the best cheap used cars in Ottawa?

In Ottawa, there are thousands of used cars for sale at any one time. Many of those are in the range you’d consider a cheap used car, from $3,000 to $15,000. The various locations you’ll find cars listed run the gamut.

Autotrader

Of the sites listing used cars for sale, Autotrader is one of the most popular. Typically containing more than half a million listings nationwide, Autotrader has many options to choose from. While diverse listings are a positive aspect, this site is notorious for sellers who don’t honour the price they advertise the vehicle for. It’s also inundated with premium listings that may be masking the gem you’re looking to buy, and Autotrader doesn’t offer financing.

Facebook Marketplace

One of the most recent additions is Facebook Marketplace where you can browse through free vehicle listings. There are thousands of vehicles listed, but it’s definitely not user-friendly to sort through those listings. As well, there’s no guarantee that the details on the ad are true and accurate, and there’s always a chance the listing is a scam. Financing the vehicle is completely up to you to organize separately.

Kijiji

Canada’s favourite classifieds website is Kijiji where you can buy and sell virtually anything. That includes used cars by the thousands. It’s relatively easy to search the listings for the model or details you want, but there are hiccups for Kijiji also. Like Marketplace, many ads are fake with the intention to scam you. And like Autotrader, there’s a trend where the listed price isn’t the actual price you’d have to pay. Kijiji also doesn’t offer any financing services.

Used car dealerships

It might surprise you to learn that private used car sales aren't the only place to look. Across the internet (including the platforms mentioned above), you’ll find vehicles listed by dealerships. Dealerships have a responsibility to provide accurate details and are accountable for them. The vehicles are also professionally inspected and serviced. Unfortunately, if you have bad credit, some dealerships may not be equipped to take care of you well. Also, you'll often be charged various dealership fees, so make sure you're clear about this before you sign any paperwork.

Canada Drives

Canada Drives is Canada's largest online vehicle retailer that makes it easy to shop, buy, and pay for your next car completely online. All vehicles are certified, which means they are professionally reconditioned, warrantied, and ready to drive. Canada Drives can get you approved for financing too. We'll even deliver the vehicle to your door!

We've helped over one million Canadians find great cars with affordable auto financing. Here's why more and more car buyers are shopping with Canada Drives:

• Hundreds of cars in one place: Browse hundreds of low mileage cars, trucks and SUVs—all online (no more hopping from dealership to dealership). 
• Love it or return it: Shop confidently knowing you can easily change your mind with our ‘Love it or Return it’ money-back guarantee. 
• Great prices: Our online-only model doesn’t rely on brick-and-mortar stores or dealer fees and you’ll see those savings reflected in our prices.
• Free CARFAX history reports: Make an informed decision about each car with all background checks just a click away. 
• No more face-to-face appointments. We do everything online, so you can skip the dealership be driving a car you love in as little as 24 hours.
• Delivered to your door: Tell us where and when—we’ll bring your car to you as soon as the same day.
• All credit situations welcome: Bad credit, good credit, or no credit, we can help you!
• Flexible financing options: Our team of finance professionals will work to get you the best rate possible. You can also finance with your own bank or pay with a card or bank draft.

What to look for when buying a cheap used car

No matter how much or how little you’re looking to spend, you need your car to be reliable. Certain things should be on your checklist for a cheap used car including:

•  A vehicle history report such as CARFAX. A VHR identifies any red flags like title issues, major accidents, or gaps in history that you may want to walk away from. 
• Warranty included or available. Unless you’re ready to pay for costly repairs, you’ll want a warranty on your used car. Find out how much factory warranty is remaining and price out extended warranty options.
• A vehicle inspection. Make sure the car has been checked over and safety certified by a licensed technician. But you should personally look for warning signs like rust spots, dents and dings, mismatched paint, leaks under the car, and unusual wear on tires. This is especially important if you decide to buy from a private seller who will probably not provide a CARFAX or inspection report.

Should you pay cash or finance?

The average Canadian family has just $852 in their savings account, making it unlikely you’ll be paying cash for your car. And even if you have the cash available to you, a car is a purchase that depreciates quickly – smart money is invested to earn interest, especially if a low-interest car loan is an option. 

Financing a car gives you the financial flexibility to put your money to work in other ways. Other advantages of an auto loan include:

• You get to decide how much your monthly payment will be.
• You do not have to provide any collateral (besides the vehicle itself).
• You can get approved without a down payment.
• Your credit score will improve thanks to positive payment history.
• You'll own the car at the end of the term (compared to leasing).

Ready to connect with hundreds of great car deals today? Visit Canada Drives. There are dozens of vehicles being added to our inventory daily. Find your perfect ride before somebody else does!