Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

faq

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know when shopping for a vehicle.
OUR DEALERSHIP
BUYING A CAR
FINANCING vs. LEASING
trade-ins

OUR DEALERSHIP

Our dealership is open 9 am to 8 pm Monday to Thursday, 9 am to 6 pm on Fridays, and 9 am to 5 pm on Saturdays.

Our Parts & Service Departments are open Monday to Friday from 7 am to 5 pm and Saturdays from 8 am to 5 pm.

You can reach us online after hours!

No, we’re not open on Sundays. If you can’t visit our showroom during open hours, send us a message and we’ll do our best to work around your schedule.

(613) 604-9858

Yes! You can text us at (613) 704-5773

For sure! Call, text, or chat with us to book and appointment! If you’d like to book a service appointment, you can use our online booking tool.

We’re a Top-Rated Jeep, Dodge, RAM, and Chrysler Dealership in Ottawa. Don’t take our word for it, read our Google Reviews!

Beyond our huge selection of new, used, and certified pre-owned vehicles, we deliver an exceptional, pressure-free, and transparent experience.

buying a car

You can start by looking at our inventory and see which vehicles stand out to you. While you browse, try to determine which features are important to you. Is it high-tech features? Lots of seating for a large family? Lots of cargo space for trips and events? Fuel economy for long trips?

Once you get a better idea of what you’re looking for, start researching the vehicles that stood out to you by clicking ‘View Details’, or visiting our YouTube channel where we features walk-around videos! Remember that we’re here to help you. Send us a message and we’ll help narrow down your options.

Unlike buying a home, it is possible to buy a car with little or even zero money down. Although, it’s important to consider that if you don’t have a down payment, it could result in higher bi-weekly payments – costing you more in the long run.

Yes. We work with a variety of lenders who offer different rates and options for all credit scores. Together, we can review your options and, not only get you approved, but also start rebuilding your credit.

While we understand the long-standing tradition to negotiate the price of a vehicle, we value honesty and transparency above all. We want you to shop with confidence, which is why we always proudly display our best price available online and in our Showroom. We’re already giving you our best price!

Sure, you can. We do recommend test driving a vehicle before buying it – it gives you a better feel of the drive and helps determine if it’s a good fit for you.

But, if you prefer not to, you can skip the test drive. In fact, you can buy a vehicle without ever stepping foot at the dealership!

Absolutely, use our Vehicle Finder form to let us know what you’re looking for! It may take a bit more time, but we’re more than happy to locate the perfect vehicle for you and bring it in. We can also place a custom order for a brand new vehicle if you’re looking for something more unique.

financing vs. leasing

It all depends on how you plan to use the vehicle. If you like the idea of driving a new vehicle every few years, leasing is probably for you. However, if your goal is to own the car eventually, financing might be a better option

financing

Financing means that you’ll gain ownership of the vehicle. Owning a vehicle is preferable if you’re planning on making modifications to it, keeping it for a long period of time, or even planning to re-sell it down the road. It’s also ideal if you drive a lot and think you’d go over the annual kilometres allowed in a lease agreement.

Interest rates on new vehicles typically vary between 3.99% to 4.99%. With that said, there are many other factors that will affect the interest rates applied to your car loan. This includes the condition of the vehicle (new or used), terms of the loan, your credit score, as well as your down payment.

Yes, we offer 0% financing on most of our new inventory! Some of our 2020 models even have bonus cash incentives that can be combined with the 0% financing rates. Message us to find out more!

Yes, you can. Although the terms of the loan can vary depending on the age of the vehicle.  For example, a 1-year old vehicle can be financed over a longer period of time than a 5-year old vehicle.

Generally, you’re able to finance a used car for up to 7 years (or 84 months). Although the term of the loan can be dictated by the age of the vehicle.  For example, a 1-year old vehicle can be financed longer than a 5-year old vehicle.

Interest rates tend to be slightly higher on used vehicle financing, though. So it’s a good idea to choose the shortest term you can comfortably afford to save in interest payments down the road.

If you’re financing and it’s secured in the form of a loan, the dealership transfers ownership of the vehicle to you when all documents have been executed. It’s important to note that the institution providing the financing will most likely hold a lien on the vehicle until the outstanding balance is paid, which means you cannot legally transfer ownership until the lien is cleared.

leasing

Leasing ensures that you’ll always drive a later-model vehicle, won’t have to pay for warranty-covered repairs, and won’t have to bother with re-selling at the end.

Annual kilometers restrictions are a major limitation for customers who choose to lease. Typically, you’ll be able to drive 18,000 and 25,000 kilometers per year on a leased vehicle.

If you drive over the annual kilometre allowance, fees apply on a per-kilometre basis, usually in the range of $0.10 to $0.25 per kilometre.

So if you mostly drive locally, leasing makes sense. However, if you consistently tack on 500 or more kilometres a week, financing is best for you.

trade-ins

Yes, you can get a trade-in appraisal online. You’ll simply need to fill in your information along with some basic info of your vehicle. You’ll then receive a link to download our app. It will guide you through the rest of the process and you’ll be able to take and upload pictures of your vehicle.

Since every vehicle is different, our appraisers focus on:

  • Year, mileage, make, and model of your vehicle
  • Interior and exterior conditions
  • Aftermarket modifications
  • Structural damage
  • Your vehicle’s history report for possible flood or frame damage and any accidents

We also check general factors that affect a vehicle of similar make and model. Your vehicle is then compared to current market conditions as well as auction data for the most accurate appraisal.

Yes. Your vehicle’s physical and mechanical condition definitely will impact our offer. If you can provide proof that you took care of your vehicle, we’ll usually be able to give you a better value for it.

Yes, modifications will affect our offer. Sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse.

Supply and demand determines the desirability of any vehicle. If it’s in high demand, a modification has the potential to add a lot of value to your vehicle. On the other hand, if it’s not something generally desired, it could reduce the offer.

If you have any questions about the appraisal you receive, please contact us! We’re here to help and will gladly explain the factors that influenced our offer.

Yes! We’ll appraise your vehicle and give you a written offer. Our offer will be valid for five days. If you choose to accept, we’ll buy your vehicle.

No! We’ll buy your vehicle even if you don’t buy one from us.

If you do decide to purchase from us, you will receive an additional credit equal to the sales tax.

If you owe more than the appraisal offer for your vehicle, then the difference is called “negative equity”.

In most cases, that amount can be included in your financing when buying a vehicle from us. If you’re not purchasing your next vehicle from us, we’ll calculate the difference between your balance owed and our offer, and you can pay us directly.

Selling yourself may come with extra costs, such as cost of ownership, insurance, and possibly advertising.

Selling privately could take a while and you might end up dealing with untrustworthy people, increasing the risk of being hassled after the transaction.

At Ottawa St-Laurent Jeep & RAM, we have experts that will give your the best offer and save you the struggle and stress of selling yourself. You don’t have to worry about any hassles, title issues, or about a buyer obtaining a loan or backing out.

Once we appraise your vehicle, you’ll be invited to bring your trade-in to our Showroom.

When you bring in your vehicle, remember to have:

  • An original copy of your vehicle’s provincial registration and lien/pay-off information (if applicable)
  • Your provincial registration to transfer the vehicle’s ownership, and it must be provided at the time of sale.
  • All titleholders should be present. We must see the vehicle’s current registration to confirm that you’re the vehicle’s owner.
  • Valid Photo ID
  • All keys and key fobs/remotes.

It’s important you provide us with all sets of keys and remotes. Note that, if the original keys and remote to the vehicle are missing, we may need to adjust the offer. If you’re missing some of the required items, we still may be able to complete the sale, or we will guide you through the process to make arrangements to gather any missing items.

Ottawa St-Laurent Jeep & RAM | Top Rated Ottawa Dealership
About Us

We're proud to be a top rated Jeep, Dodge, RAM, and Chrysler dealership in the core of Ottawa.  Our knowledgeable and devoted team is here to help and educate for a stress-free car shopping experience.

Don’t take our word for it, read our Google Reviews!

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