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My Self-Help

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Information you provided

  • Yes, my dealer is listed in the VSA Online Search
  • Yes, the licence status is Issued.
  • Yes. The vehicle list says the VSA can help
  • Yes. My vehicle is used most of the time for personal, family, or household use.
  • Yes, it happened, or I became aware of it, less than 2 years ago.
  • My issue is about a deposit.
  • I put a deposit on a vehicle but did not buy it. The dealer will not give the deposit back.
  • It was the dealer who did not go through with the sale.
  • I changed my mind about buying the vehicle. Examples include finding a different vehicle, deciding you couldn't afford it, or just not wanting to buy it anymore.

Information We Provided

  • The VSA helps with issues with licensed dealers, not private sellers
  • Vehicle types the VSA can help with
  • What does personal vehicle use mean?
  • How long do I have to make a legal claim for my issue?
  • Deposits
  • There are rules about getting your deposit back
glossary

There are rules about getting your deposit back

In law, a deposit shows that you intend to go ahead with the vehicle purchase. If you decide not to buy the vehicle, you risk losing the deposit. There are different rules about deposit return for purchases, leases, and distance sales. For more information about deposits, see this Deposit Fact Sheet.

Deposits for Purchases

If you decide not to purchase the vehicle the deposit is only returned if the written agreement says it is refundable or if the dealer cannot deliver the vehicle on the terms that you and the dealer agreed to when you paid the deposit.

Deposits for Leases

In most cases, the dealer will keep your deposit if you decide to end a lease. If you signed a lease and did not take the vehicle though, you can cancel. You must cancel within one full business day from the time you signed. In this case, your deposit will be returned.

Deposits for Distance Sales

A “distance sale” is where you buy without seeing or inspecting the vehicle. Examples of a distance sale include buying a vehicle by phone or over the internet.

There are many cases when you have the right to cancel a distance sale for a vehicle and have the deposit returned. These include if:

  • The electronic form of a contract was not available before you entered the contract. You may cancel within 7 days after receiving a copy of the contract.
  • The contract does not contain information required by law. You may cancel within 7 days after receiving a copy.
  • The dealer fails to provide a contract within 15 days. You have the next 15 days to give notice of cancellation.
  • The vehicle is not delivered within 30 days of the agreed delivery date. You may cancel at any time after those 30 days, if the vehicle has not been delivered.
  • There is no specified supply date, and the vehicle has not been delivered within 30 days of the contract. You may cancel after those 30 days if the vehicle has not been delivered.

To be a legal agreement, the vehicle purchase contract must include certain details. These details include vehicle description, price, and the delivery terms. It must also include any cancellation, return, exchange, and refund policies. For distance sales contracts, you must be able to review, revise, and print the agreement. You have the right to accept or reject the agreement. 

If you cancel the agreement for any of the above reasons, the dealer must return your deposit.

For more information about distance sales contracts, see this Distance Sales Fact Sheet.

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