|
Not sure which APA office to sign up at? See our About Us page.
Have general questions about your membership? Your questions are answered here.
Frequently asked questions on consumer info are located here.
Is the APA affiliated with the CAA?
A: No, the APA does not have any affiliation with the CAA.
Is the APA affiliated with the Lemon Aid books written by Phil Edmonston?
A: No, the APA has no affiliation with the Lemon Aid books or its author Phil Edmonston. Phil Edmonston founded the APA but retired in the late 1980’s
How long has the APA been around?
A: APA was founded in 1969.
What publications are you responsible for?
A: The APA publishes on line the Lemon-Aid Car Reviews.
How does the APA determine the rating of vehicles in your magazines?
A: The ratings are determined by member feedback and consultations with various industry experts. Also, APA staff roadtests approximately 50 vehicles annually.
How does the APA select garages for its “recommended” garage list?
A: Most garages are recommended by our members. In most cases garages are surveyed and visited on a regular basis.
How do you maintain your independence from the industry?
A: APA accepts no money for its recommendation of repair facilities, dealers, or manufacturers. Also, in order to keep our independence, we accept no advertising from anyone. Finally, the APA conducts its own research and surveys in order to provide updated information.
Does the APA keep consumer complaints on file?
A: Although we provide advice on most car related problems, we are not a government agency. Therefore, we do not act as a registry for complaints. APA counsellors can refer you to the appropriate government/self-regulatory agency depending on the nature of the complaint.
How does the APA protect my privacy?
A: The APA does not share the personal information of its members with any other company and does not keep credit card information on file. Please note that this also means that members requesting additional quotes or services must contact us with payment information each time they require these additional services.
How do I receive referral contact information for the pre-negotiated deals?
A: Referrals may be acquired before or after the quote, but only by telephone at 416-204-1466. Please do not reveal the names of APA dealers to other dealers under any circumstances so APA services are not compromised.
How long does it take to get a quote?
A: Internet submissions will be answered within the day or following business day, depending on the time of call.
If you call us, we will try to provide a quote immediately.
How long does it take to get the vehicle?
A: Date of delivery fully depends on supply and demand. Being an APA member and purchasing/leasing a vehicle from an APA dealer-contact will not influence delivery one way or another.
How long is a quote good for?
A: Quotes are generally good for one-month because incentives are typically announced by the manufacturer at the beginning of each month. After a month, members should call to confirm pricing with APA Toronto office. Note: Incentives may change ANYTIME.
What information do I need to get lease analysis?
Please fax/call us with the following information:
• Selling price
• Trade in value and/or money down before taxes
• Interest rate
• Term (months)
• Residual value (end of lease buyout)
• Itemized list of money due at delivery to prevent duplication of charges
Please note: APA only confirms whether the monthly payment corresponds with the APA pre-negotiated price. In order to obtain the lease payment or the remainder of the above information, please contact the dealer.
APA members can obtain an evaluation of their trade-in vehicle by contacting John or Kevin at Auto Showplace - 416-661-3444 or 888-408-6314- and arranging an appointment.
We recommend that you do this before you have the APA new car dealer look at the vehicle. You will have two car dealers bidding on your current vehicle and that will ensure that you get a fair and competitive offer for your trade-in.
Our new car dealer will write up your contract using the higher of the two bids.
Our New Car Buying Service is centred in Montreal and Toronto which is where our dealers and brokers are located. We use a broker in BC to acquire cars for our members in that province. In all other provinces, for vehicles in the range of $30,000 and higher, we recommend Automall Network. This full service broker has been vetted by APA and can in most cases match APA’s recommended prices. Contact APA Toronto for a referral to Automall Network.
We can provide you with information on the vehicles that you are considering, and you can (depending on your negotiation skills) use the information to get a better deal on a new car with a dealer in your area. Our pricing reports would tell you what the dealer paid the manufacturer for the car, what mark-up (or profit) we have with our dealer to act as a guide in your negotiations, and we also tell you what incentives are available from the manufacturer for cash purchase, a financed purchase, and for lease deals.
Certainly, you would have more information than the average consumer entering a dealer showroom. If there is more than one dealer for a particular brand in your immediate area, you can attempt to play them off against each other for the best price on the new car and the best offer for your trade-in.
Your one year membership would provide you with up to 5 pricings on different vehicles.
We do not provide pricing information on accessories. However, should you purchase the vehicle through an APA approved dealer, you will receive a discount on the accessories. Please refer to the ‘Additional APA member Incentives’ section on the cost quote for more details.
Most APA approved dealers provide a flat percentage discount on dealer installed accessories at the time you are purchasing the vehicle only. The amount of the discount varies from make to make. Please check the “Additional APA Member Incentive” section of the quote to determine the discount available on a specific vehicle. The manufacturer’s website will show regular MSRP pricing for most accessories.
Lease and finance payments based on the pre-negotiated APA price will be provided by our dealer or broker when you contact them. We will gladly confirm the accuracy of the quoted payments – please itemize all necessary information. For leasing we need not only the net leased amount but also the residual value and itemized money due on delivery. We recommend a 0 down lease.
Check out our Lease Return Appraisal Service. An automotive specialist will inspect your vehicle in your presence and identify possible trouble areas. It is usually cheaper to take care of problem areas before returning the vehicle to the dealer or manufacturer. Contact APA Toronto for details and referral.
How long does membership last?
A: APA membership is valid for one year.
Is my membership automatically renewed?
A: No, APA membership renewal is not automatic. APA members receive a renewal form in the mail asking them if they would like to continue their membership in the APA near the expiry of their membership.
How can I renew my membership?
A: You can renew your membership through our web site (www.apa.ca), by phone, fax or dropping by our office.
What are the benefits of renewing my membership?
A: You will receive all of the APA membership benefits at the reduced price of $39 + HST. Note that with renewal you will receive five new car quotes again.
How long after my membership has expired can I renew my membership?
A: Members of the APA can renew their membership up to six months after their membership has expired. Note late renewal only renews your membership for 1 year from the original expiry date. After six months the APA member’s information is removed from our database and it is no longer possible to renew the membership. Members who wish to renew their membership after six months must join the APA as a new member at the regular price of $77+HST.
What’s the difference between an APA membership ($77 + HST) and a single quote ($25 + HST)?
Single Quote: New Car
1) One quote on one specific year, make, model and trim level of vehicle
This will give you the invoice price of the vehicle, factory options you selected and all available current incentives. You can then use this as a bargaining tool in your negotiations with a dealer of your own choosing.
Cost: $25 + GST = $26.75
NOTE: Single quotes do not include referral contact information, the APA member price, or any other APA membership services
APA Membership
1) Five quotes on specific year, make, model and trim level of your vehicle.
This will give you the invoice price of the vehicle, factory options you selected, pre-negotiated markup, admin fees and all available current incentives
2) Additional new car quotes: at a reduced price
1st additional quote $10 + HST = $11.30
2nd additional quote $10 + HST = $11.30
3) Referral to an APA recommended dealer or broker who will sell, finance or lease the vehicle at the APA pre-negotiated price. These referrals save APA members time and aggravation in having to negotiate their own purchase agreement. Note: referral contact information is only given out over the phone. This service is available in Greater Toronto and Montreal with limited referrals available in Ottawa, Vancouver and Victoria.
Note there is a $65 + GST admin fee charged to the member through the dealer or broker at time of purchase and is remitted back to the APA
4) Trade in evaluation:
• Find out the approximate wholesale value of your vehicle.
• In GTA , an independent market appraisal of your vehicle is available at no charge.
5) Lease analysis (performed by APA staff) to determine if the monthly payments are accurate
This requires either the full disclosure lease from the dealer or relevant information from the consumer:
• Selling price
• Trade in value and/or money down before taxes
• Interest rate
• Term (months)
• Residual value (end of lease buyout)
• Itemized list of money due at delivery to prevent duplication of charges
6) Counselling: Experienced APA counsellors will answer your questions and help steer you in the right direction
Additionally, APA membership also provides other services such as recommended repair shops, used car buying service and advice, group insurance, etc..
For a full list of all APA services, see our services section.
|
