Car financing in Vancouver

Short answer: You can finance a car in Vancouver without visiting a single lot. Apply online in about two minutes with a soft credit check that doesn't affect your score. A lender in our network makes the decision, then we source and inspect the vehicle and deliver it to your door. Rates vary by credit, OAC.

How does car financing work in Vancouver with OCAL?

Car financing with OCAL works in six steps, and a lender reviews your file before anyone picks a car. One specialist stays with you the whole way.

  1. Apply. A short online application, about two minutes on your phone, with a soft credit check.
  2. Match. Your specialist sends your file to lenders in our network that fit it: prime, near prime or subprime.
  3. Approve. The lender makes the final approval and sets the terms. Most applicants hear back the same business day.
  4. Source. We find the vehicle after approval, from a digital inventory of more than 3,000 vehicles through OPENLANE and partner dealers, and inspect it before delivery.
  5. Sign. You review the contract and the total cost of borrowing, then sign, usually about seven days after applying.
  6. Drive. Funding and delivery follow three or four days after signing.

There's a longer walkthrough in how OCAL works.

Why do Vancouver drivers use an approval-first process?

Stock photo, not the actual vehicle

Because it spares you a Saturday on Kingsway. Walking dealership row means falling for a car before you know what a lender will do.

Approval first, vehicle second turns that around: you know your terms, then we find a car that fits them. We keep no cars on a lot, so there's nothing we need to move.

What do you need to apply?

You need a phone, a couple of minutes and basic details about your address, job and income. To finish the deal, lenders usually ask for a driver's licence, recent pay stubs or bank statements, proof of address, banking details for payments, and proof of ICBC insurance before delivery. Start your application whenever you're ready.

What credit score do you need for a car loan in Vancouver?

There's no single minimum score, because each lender sets its own criteria and every credit profile is considered. Lenders also weigh verifiable income, job and address stability, existing debts, the down payment and the vehicle. Most lenders want verifiable income of roughly $1,800 to $2,000 a month.

A down payment isn't always required, but it lowers what you borrow and can open more lender options. If you're rebuilding, a bad credit car loan in Vancouver is still possible, at a higher rate. See bad credit car loans for what lenders weigh.

We don't quote a rate before a lender reviews your file, but loan rates explains how rates work and the loan calculator lets you try numbers.

Can first-time buyers and newcomers get a car loan in Vancouver?

Yes, and it's common here. Downtown Vancouver runs on transit, so many people buy their first car later, often after a new job or a move out of the core.

Lenders in our network have programs for first-time buyers and newcomers to Canada that lean on income, employment and a down payment when credit history is short. Read your first car loan and car loans for newcomers for what to expect.

What taxes and costs apply when you buy a car in BC?

A vehicle bought from a dealer in BC carries GST plus PST. PST on passenger vehicles starts at 7% under $55,000 and rises in bands for higher-priced vehicles (BC Bulletin PST 116). With a trade-in, GST is charged on the price minus the trade-in allowance. This is general information, not tax advice.

Basic Autoplan through ICBC is mandatory, arranged through an ICBC Autoplan agent, and we need proof of insurance before delivery. If you live downtown, price out parking too.

Do you deliver outside Vancouver?

Stock photo, not the actual vehicle

Yes. We deliver across Metro Vancouver, including Burnaby, Richmond, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, New Westminster, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody and Delta. We also deliver up the Sea to Sky to Squamish and Whistler, and by ferry to Victoria and communities across Vancouver Island.

Island and remote deliveries take a little longer. South of the Fraser, see car financing in Surrey. For the rest of the province, see car financing across British Columbia.

Can you trade in your current car?

Yes, we take trade-ins as part of the deal. If you owe more than the car is worth, that negative equity can sometimes be rolled in, but it raises what you borrow and what you pay. Read about trading in with negative equity first.

Not buying? You can sell your car on its own: list in about two minutes, licensed dealers bid within 24 hours, and it's free to list.

Good questions from Vancouver drivers

Can I visit your office?

Our head office is at Suite 500, 885 Dunsmuir Street, but you don't need to visit. Everything happens from your phone, from the application to signing.

Will checking my options affect my credit score?

No. The first check is soft and doesn't touch your score. A hard inquiry happens only when you accept an approval and a specific vehicle.

How long does it take?

Most applicants hear back the same business day and sign in about seven days. Funding and delivery follow three or four days after that.

Do I get to choose the car?

Yes. Once the lender sets your terms, your specialist sources the make and model you want from OPENLANE and partner dealers.

Can I finance an older or high-kilometre vehicle?

Sometimes, but it's harder. Many lenders limit vehicle age and kilometres, so a newer used vehicle usually gets better terms.

Do you set the interest rate?

No. The lender sets it, rates vary by credit, and we add no rate markup.

Are you a dealership?

Yes, a licensed motor dealer. We run the transaction from application to delivery and take your trade-in, but we keep zero standing inventory.

Licensed and regulated

OCAL Financial Inc., licensed motor dealer, VSA #D50207. Our head office is in Vancouver, and we're also an AMVIC-licensed business in Alberta (AMVIC #B2036050). We've operated since April 2021. Approval is always the lender's decision, OAC.

Start with a soft check

Thinking about a car in Vancouver? The first step takes two minutes and won't touch your credit score. A specialist usually replies the same business day, with no obligation.

Get approved

Two minutes. No obligation. No hit to your credit score.

or call 1-877-495-2012