Checked October 2026 on Clutch's own pages and on Ontario regulator, Nova Scotia government and federal tax pages. Fees and packages change, so read the current page before you buy. This is general information, not legal or financial advice.

Finding a car you like on Clutch.ca is the fun part. Then the questions pile up, and working out what you will actually pay is a real grind. Clutch.ca says its pricing is transparent. This post lays out what its own pages say gets added to the price, what they leave out, and how to check the total before you agree. For how the service works, see How does Clutch work?.

What is the short answer?

The short answer: as of October 2026, Clutch's pages say fees are disclosed upfront and that the price you see when you place your deposit is the price you can expect to pay. They also show that tax, delivery or shipping, a package whose price varies by vehicle, a protection plan and loan items can be part of what you pay. We could not read Clutch's vehicle pages, so check the wording next to the price on the car you want. Before you pay, get the full total in writing.

What does Clutch say about its price?

Clutch's FAQ says it has no hidden fees, its prices are no-haggle, and "any fees are disclosed upfront." It adds: "The price you see when you place your deposit is the price you can expect to pay for the vehicle."

Its Terms of Service (effective May 31, 2022) say prices on the website "are subject to change at any time without notice," that a vehicle advertisement is an invitation to make an offer, and that your completed bill of sale is your offer, accepted once Clutch signs it. They also say the purchase documentation, including the bill of sale, "shall govern any vehicle purchase." So read the bill of sale line by line.

What gets added to the car's price?

Tax

Clutch's loan calculator explains vehicle price as "the total cost of the car before taxes," and its example adds 13% HST to a $20,000 price, which is $2,600. The Canada Revenue Agency lists HST at 13% in Ontario, 14% in Nova Scotia, and 15% in New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. Nova Scotia's rate fell from 15% to 14% on April 1, 2025, which the Nova Scotia government also confirms. Check your province's current rate.

A trade-in can lower the taxable amount. Clutch's FAQ says that "in most cases" tax is calculated on the difference, and gives an Ontario example: a $25,000 car with a $10,000 trade-in credit means HST on $15,000, saving $1,300. The Canada Revenue Agency says a registered dealer charges GST/HST on the price minus the trade-in allowance when a person trades in a personal-use vehicle.

Delivery, shipping and admin fees

Clutch's FAQ names three fees:

Clutch's blog says delivery and shipping fees are "always disclosed up front" during checkout. None of the pages we read gives a dollar amount for these fees.

Where Clutch sells is worth confirming. Clutch's blog (updated September 2025) lists Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. A July 2026 report in Canadian Auto Dealer says Clutch currently operates in Ontario and Nova Scotia. Confirm your province at checkout. The blog also says buyers outside its sales areas must take delivery in an operating province, handle registration themselves and pay in full, because financing is only offered inside its coverage area.

Packages

The protection plans page shows four packages and says "package price varies by vehicle." Your included protections and price are "confirmed during checkout." The pages read cash timing differently. The plans page lists the full purchase price due at checkout for Basic. The FAQ says cash by certified cheque or bank draft is due upon vehicle delivery, and does not say which packages that covers. Ask exactly when and how your money moves.

The FAQ says some vehicles may not qualify for every package. It also says Essential includes a 3-month or 6,000 km warranty, while describing a separate "optional 3-month Protection Plan" priced on each vehicle's Pricing tab. We could not tell from these pages how the two relate, so ask which one is in your price.

Protection plans and financing items

The FAQ says warranty prices "vary widely" by car. Extended warranty plans carry a deductible of $100 to $300 per repair visit, plus taxes. It explains GAP insurance but gives no price.

If you finance, a PPSA fee may appear on your Bill of Sale. The FAQ says it is the lender's registration fee, not Clutch's, and usually runs $55 to $170. Interest is on top: Clutch's default calculator example (7.99%, 96 months) shows a $20,000 price, $2,600 HST and a total loan amount of $30,621, including $8,021 of interest. It shows no delivery, package or other fees, and it is not your rate.

Registration

The pages we read give no amount for government registration or licence fees. In Ontario, OMVIC says licensing is outside the all-in price rule, so ask whether it is on your bill of sale.

Which fees does the money-back policy not refund?

Clutch's 10-Day Money-Back Guarantee terms (effective November 7, 2025) name one fee: "Your refund shall not include shipping charges." They also say accessories Clutch purchased for the car that were not on it when it was listed are not refunded. The FAQ says you get the price paid "excluding certain fees" and does not list them.

What the terms do not mention: taxes, the delivery fee, the admin fee, financing charges and the package price. That does not mean they are refunded or not refunded. It means the pages do not say, so ask. Clutch's blog adds that if you are unhappy at delivery you can "cancel the delivery on the spot" with no charge. One FAQ answer ties inspecting before you complete the purchase to the Essential or Certified package, so confirm that this applies to yours. Details of the policy are in Clutch.ca 10-day money-back policy.

What does Ontario law say about advertised prices?

OMVIC, Ontario's vehicle sales regulator, says the price a dealer advertises must include all fees and charges the dealer intends to collect, except HST and licensing, and must say clearly that HST and licensing are not included. Fees in the price must be itemized on the bill of sale. An OMVIC article dated May 20, 2026 repeats this and names freight, administration, pre-delivery inspection and safety certification costs. Ontario's dealer regulation (O. Reg. 333/08, section 36(7)) also says an advertised price is the total of what the buyer must pay plus related charges such as freight, pre-delivery inspection and fees.

This is an Ontario rule. We did not check the rules in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick or Prince Edward Island, and how the rule applies to any one charge, such as an optional delivery fee, is a question for OMVIC. We are not saying any particular price breaks the rule. Use it as a question: "What else do you intend to charge me?" For the wider picture, see what gets added to an online car price.

How do you check the real total before you agree?

1. Ask for an itemized total in writing. Price, package, protection plan, delivery or shipping, admin fee if any, tax, licensing and financing items, one line each.

2. Name your province. Admin fees and tax rates differ.

3. Choose pickup or delivery on purpose. Clutch says pickup at a retail facility avoids the delivery fee.

4. Ask which package your price includes and whether the 3-month plan is already in it.

5. Ask which fees come back on a return. Ask in writing: "If I return the car, which fees and taxes do I get back?"

6. Compare the final contract with the first quote. OMVIC advises checking that terms and prices match the initial agreement, and that a loan agreement has the agreed rate with no added fees.

7. Check the car's price too. A fair fee on an overpriced car is still a high total.

Checking every line and waiting on written answers takes patience. It is the kind of legwork Uobo does by text for you.

The Out-the-door price calculator adds your province's tax and fees and subtracts your trade-in. The Car dealer add-ons explained tool covers rust proofing, GAP and tire plans and what to ask before you say yes. The Is this used car price fair? tool shows what share of similar used cars listed in Canada cost less than the asking price.

Buying a car should feel like a big, good moment, not a test. In a 2021 survey of over 1,000 Canadian car buyers, run by the car listing marketplace AutoTrader.ca with the Angus Reid Group, 81% said access to a price comparison tool that shows fair market value would give them confidence in a vehicle's price. Checking before you commit is sensible, and so is asking for help with it.

Try these free tools

• Out-the-door price calculator: see the real total with tax, fees and your trade-in.

• Car dealer add-ons explained: learn what each add-on is and what to ask.

• Is this used car price fair?: see where an asking price sits among similar used cars.

Want someone on your side while you shop? Text Uobo, a personal car agent that does the research, checks and dealer legwork by text. It is free for shoppers, and you can start at Find That Car.