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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 and continues to publish his titles independently of the APA.
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 industry experts in the fields of auto sales, repair and warranty. The APA staff road tests approximately 50 vehicles annually.
How does the APA select shops for its recommended garage list?
A: Many repair shops have been recommended by APA members. In most cases repair shops are surveyed or 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 vehicles. Also, in order to keep our independence, we currently accept no paid 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 provide payment information every time they require these additional services.
How do I obtain the name of a dealer for the APA's pre-negotiated deals?
A: Referrals may be acquired before or after the quote, ideally by telephone at 416-204-1466 or 514-273-5149. Please do not reveal the names of APA dealers to other dealers under any circumstances, so that the APA's buying service is not compromised.
How long does it take to obtain a quote?
A: Price quotes are available instantly on the APA website with the APA membership. For vehicles not in the APA pricing database, internet submissions will be answered within the day or following business day, depending on the time of call. If you phone, the APA will provide a quote immediately.
How long does it take to get the vehicle?
A: The delivery date depends on supply and demand. Being an APA member and purchasing/leasing a vehicle from an APA recommended dealer-contact is not likely to speed up the delivery one way or another. However, an APA recommended dealer is more likely to be realistic about the real delivery date with a member than dealerships sometimes are with retail customers.
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 the APA Toronto. Note: Incentives can change ANY TIME.
What information do I need to obtain a lease analysis?
A: Use the calculator on the APA website lease or contact 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
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.
We can provide you with information on the vehicles that you are considering, and depending on your skills you can use the information the APA provided to negotiate a better deal on a new vehicle with a dealer in your area. Our pricing reports tell you how much the manufacturer invoiced the dealer for the vehicle and what the APA mark-up is, to guide your negotiations. The APA will also tell you what incentives are available from the manufacturer for a cash purchase, a financed purchase, and for lease deals. You will have a lot 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. The APA membership is for one year membership would provide you with up to 5 pricings on different vehicles.
The APA does not provide pricing information on dealer accessories in its price quotes. However, should you purchase the vehicle through an APA approved dealer, you may be eligible for discounts on the accessories. Please refer to the ‘Additional APA member Incentives’ section on the APA 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. The APA recommends a $0 down payment lease.
Check out our Lease Return Appraisal Service. An automotive specialist will inspect your vehicle 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 the APA for details and a 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, 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 + Tax. With renewal, you are once again elibible for five new vehicle quotes.
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 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 + Tax = $26.75
Single quotes do not include referral contact information, the APA member price, and 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 after the fifth one
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.
A $99 + Tax service fee is charged to the member through the dealer or broker at time of purchase and is remitted to the APA
4) Trade in evaluation:
• Find out the approximate wholesale value of your vehicle.
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
The APA membership also provides other services, including recommended repair shops, a used vehicle buying service, complaint assistance, and auto insurance at group rates.
For a full list of all APA services, see our services section.
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