Total price advertising
The VSA defines total price as "the full amount that a consumer has to pay to purchase a vehicle," including "all documentation, inspection, and other dealer fees, including transportation charges." PST, GST and other consumer taxes, such as the tire levy, are excluded. A generic "plus fees" disclaimer isn't enough. (VSA bulletin)
Three rules that hit Marketplace hardest
| VSA expectation | The Marketplace risk | The fix |
|---|---|---|
| Advertising must be accurate and consistent across platforms | Rep prices drift from the website and other listing sites | List from the website price, and act on daily price-change prompts |
| Dealers must honour the lowest advertised price | A rep's lower Marketplace price becomes the price you owe | Duplicate-VIN rules, so one unit has one price |
| Sold vehicles must be removed from ads, not marked "Sold" | Sold units linger on reps' profiles for days | Daily sold sync prompts the listing rep to take it down |
A weekly compliance check
- Open the Listings tab and sort by date.
- Spot-check five listings against the website price.
- Clear any outstanding sold or price alerts.
- Remind reps that "plus fees" isn't allowed and "plus PST and GST" is.
Frequently asked questions
Do VSA rules cover salespeople's personal Facebook posts?
A Marketplace post advertising a dealership vehicle for sale is advertising. Treat it as subject to the VSA's rules and confirm specifics with the VSA.
Sources
- Vehicle Sales Authority of BC: Advertising total price and dealer fees bulletin
- Miller Thomson: Drip pricing and Canada's Competition Act (in force June 23, 2022)
This page is general information, not legal advice. Confirm current rules with your provincial regulator.