Clutch is Canada’s largest online used car retailer, bucking the trend of stuffy dealerships and pushy salespeople to deliver a seamless car-buying experience to drivers everywhere.
Yet despite the rise of ecommerce in other industries, buying a car online is still a hurdle for many people. Understandably so, given the size of the purchase, which after a home is usually the largest expenditure in someone’s life. You’re not just buying a pair of socks, after all!
Below, we help ease the apprehension of online car buying by outlining how the Clutch car-buying process works and why, even when you consider the expense, it’s time for you to ditch the dealership.
Car Buying on Clutch
Let’s start with the ease of the experience. Buying used cars on Clutch is about as simple and streamlined as it gets. You simply navigate through our inventory to find the car you want, using the filters on the left side of the screen to search by year, make, model, colour, and more.
Once you’ve found the perfect used vehicle for your style and budget, click ‘Start Purchase’ to reserve the car and begin the checkout process. From there, you’ll be able to upload any documents that may be required and schedule a date and time for delivery.
Plus, if at any time you have a question or need support, a friendly Clutch advisor will be available right away to address your needs via email, telephone, or online chat.
That’s right, if that’s what you’re getting, it’s also worth pointing out what you’re not. With Clutch, there’s no time and energy spent heading to one or more dealerships and then haggling with salespeople and worrying about hidden fees. With Clutch, there’s no haggling, hard sells, or hidden fees — just thousands of high-quality used cars and an end-to-end online car-buying experience that includes financing, insurance, and quick home delivery, all from the comfort of your couch.
Warranty Coverage on Your Clutch Vehicle
Another reason to buy online from Clutch is quality assurance and consistency. At Clutch, each of our cars goes through a rigorous 210-point inspection and reconditioning process, leaving it safe to drive and squeaky clean. We also check them for any reported frame, fire, or flood damage via a Carfax vehicle history report.
As an added measure of protection, all Clutch cars are covered under our free 90-Day Protection Plan, with extended warranty options available. Plus, your car comes with a 10-Day Money-Back Guarantee, which means that if you don’t like it, we’ll come pick it up. So if the car‘s not right for you, you‘re not stuck with it like you might be at a car dealer. Simply contact us and ask to return it for a full refund or exchange it for a different Clutch vehicle.
Clutch also offers up to eight years of extended warranty coverage through First Canadian Financial Group as an added option. These warranties come in many options covering a wide range of items, including the powertrain, heating and air conditioning, steering, brakes, fuel system, electrical, suspension, roadside assistance, rental expenses, and much more with just a $200 deductible. Plus, most repair shops in North America will perform repairs under this warranty coverage.
On top of our standard coverage, Clutch also has extended warranty options available for even more protection. One of these is our guaranteed asset protection (GAP) insurance, which covers the difference between the payoff the insurance company offers in the event of total loss or theft, and the remaining amount you owe on your auto loan, where applicable.
Securing Financing for Your Car
In most cases, you’ll also need to secure financing when car shopping. Fortunately when buying from Clutch, there’s no need to go to a bank or another lender first. We can get your financing taken care of during the checkout process itself.
Alternatively, you can navigate to our Financing page and click ‘Get pre-approved.’ Enter some basic information and we’ll show you your estimated car loan and monthly payment options right away (some exceptions apply). And don’t worry: getting pre-approved for an auto loan with Clutch will not impact your credit score.
To qualify for a car loan, you must finance at least $7,500. You may notice a PPSA fee on your financing terms. This $55-$170 fee is imposed by the lender, not Clutch, and varies with the loan term.
Trading in Your Vehicle With Clutch
If you’re looking to buy a new car, chances are you might want to sell your old one too. Fortunately, Clutch lets you trade in your old car and buy your next one in a single, seamless, online session. Simply share a few details about your current vehicle to get a firm offer instantly. We’ll deliver your new car to your door and pick up your trade-in vehicle at the same time. Plus, when you apply the value of your current vehicle towards the next one, you reduce the sales tax that goes with it. That’s a win-win.
Vehicle Delivery Day
During the online car-buying process, you’ll have the opportunity to schedule a delivery date and time, usually within a few days. A member of our Customer Support team will contact you beforehand to confirm your details.
Then, when your new ride pulls up, a member of our Delivery Team will unload it and review your paperwork with you before you sign it and get your keys.
Returning Your Clutch Vehicle
As mentioned above, all our cars come with a 10-Day Money-Back Guarantee, which means that if you don’t like it, we’ll come pick it up within 10 days or 750 km—whichever comes first. No questions asked.
To use the 10-day guarantee, you must let us know of your intent to return the vehicle no later than 5 pm on the 10th day. If you exceed the 750-km limit, you’ll incur a $1 charge for each km over.
Buy With Confidence at Clutch
Buying a car online is a novel experience for many people, and given the cost of the purchase, you may have your reservations! But as we hope to have shown, Clutch makes buying cars easier, more transparent, and most importantly, less stressful than buying in person, with no haggling or hard selling whatsoever.
Plus, with our extensive car photography and reporting, we hope to give Canadian car buyers an even better look at their car than even the most thorough in-person inspection. And with our 10-Day Money-Back Guarantee, you get to sit with your car longer than any dealership before committing 100%.
Finally, rest assured you get top-notch quality with Clutch. Not only do our vehicles undergo a thorough 210-point inspection and reconditioning process, but they also come with peace of mind via our 90-Day Protection Plan.
Check out our vast inventory of quality pre-owned vehicles in Canada, find one that suits your needs, and start the car-buying process today.
