How Much Does a Car Really Cost in Canada?

Canada figures checked October 25, 2026, all money in Canadian dollars (CAD)

The answer up front

For a worked example, use a 2026 Ford F-150 XLT SuperCrew 4x4 at CAD 59,340, the truck line Canada buys more than any other vehicle, with Ontario's tax and fees. Over five years in Ontario, it runs CAD 77,860, or about CAD 1,298 a month. The loan payment alone is CAD 1,241 a month. The six buckets:

• Value lost: CAD 22,905 (CAD 59,340 minus CAD 36,435 resale)
• Insurance: CAD 11,090 (CAD 2,218 a year x 5 years)
• Fuel: CAD 16,553 (16,000 km / 100 x 12.2 L x CAD 1.696 a litre x 5 years)
• Maintenance: CAD 6,250 (CAD 1,250 x 5 years)
• Tax, fees and interest: CAD 21,062 (CAD 7,714 HST, CAD 91 permit and plates, CAD 13,257 loan interest)
• Yearly plate renewal: CAD 0 (Ontario ended the renewal fee in 2022)

Canada's twist is that there is no single national answer: the same truck costs thousands more or less depending on the province it is registered in, because the sales tax alone ranges from 5% to 15%. Ontario sits near the top of that range, and it is the only province this example prices. The break in Ontario's favour is the yearly bill that is not there, no plate renewal fee, no emissions test for a passenger vehicle.

Day one: the 13% HST (Ontario's math, labeled as such)

Ontario charges a 13% Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) on a vehicle purchase, 5% federal GST plus an 8% provincial part, shown as one tax line, collected by the Canada Revenue Agency. On the CAD 59,340 example, the tax is CAD 7,714. A trade-in lowers the price the tax is figured on, the same as in the United States. Do not read 13% as Canada's rate. It is Ontario's rate only. For comparison, Alberta charges 5% GST with no provincial sales tax, British Columbia and Manitoba charge 12% combined, Saskatchewan 11%, Quebec 14.975% combined, Nova Scotia 14% HST, and New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island 15% HST. On this truck, the tax alone would be CAD 2,967 in Alberta and CAD 8,901 in a 15% province, a CAD 5,934 swing before anything else is counted. That is why this page says Ontario on every tax figure.

The yearly bill that is not there: plate renewal is free

Ontario eliminated licence-plate renewal fees for most passenger vehicles and light trucks in March 2022, the old fee was CAD 120 a year in southern Ontario and CAD 60 in the north. Renewal itself is still required: eligible plates now renew automatically, and owners still need valid insurance with no outstanding fines or tolls. So the yearly registration bucket in this example is CAD 0. What is not free is the first registration: a vehicle permit costs CAD 32 and new or replacement plates with a permit cost CAD 59, for CAD 91 in all. That CAD 91 sits in the tax, fees and interest bucket, not in the renewal bucket, so it is not counted twice. Other provinces still charge yearly renewal fees, another reason this page is an Ontario example, not a Canada-wide total.

Emissions tests and safety inspections: CAD 0 for a new truck

Ontario ended its Drive Clean passenger-vehicle emissions testing program on April 1, 2019, so a light passenger vehicle no longer needs an emissions test to renew its plates. Emissions standards still apply, and roadside enforcement still exists, but there is no test fee in this example: CAD 0. One related cost, stated so used buyers are not caught out: a used vehicle changing hands in Ontario may need a Safety Standards Certificate, a roadworthiness inspection that sources put roughly in the CAD 50 to CAD 90 range before any repairs, valid for 36 days. A brand-new truck bought from a dealer does not need one, so it is not in the CAD 77,860 total, but a used purchase would add it.

Insurance: the Ontario average, labeled as an average

Ontario's regulator, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA), reported an average annual premium of CAD 2,218 for all private passenger vehicles insured in Ontario over the 12 months to June 2026. The example uses that figure, or CAD 11,090 over five years. Two labels matter. First, CAD 2,218 is an average across every car insured in Ontario, not a quote for an F-150, a truck quote will differ, and your own quote is what matters. Second, where you live inside Ontario moves it a lot: the same FSRA figures put the Greater Toronto Area at CAD 2,868 a year and rural Ontario at CAD 1,791. A Toronto driver on this example would pay about CAD 3,250 more over five years than the average used here, before any other difference.

Gas: the Ontario snapshot, in litres

Gas here is a snapshot, not a five-year promise: the Ontario average for regular gasoline was 169.6 cents a litre (CAD 1.696/L) on October 25, 2026, across 1,911 stations reporting in the previous 36 hours, with Toronto itself at 169.9 cents a litre the same day. For a truck driving 16,000 kilometres a year, about the Ontario average, per Natural Resources Canada figures, at 12.2 litres per 100 kilometres combined (the 2026 F-150 XLT SuperCrew 4x4 with the 3.5-litre engine, as listed for Canadian dealer stock), that is 1,952 litres a year, or CAD 16,553 over five years at the snapshot price. Conflict disclosed: Natural Resources Canada's own daily Toronto series showed 177.1 cents a litre on October 19, 2026, higher, but six days older and Toronto-only. This page uses the fresher Ontario-wide snapshot and labels it as such. Gas prices move weekly, and winter driving pushes real consumption above the rated figure.

What Canada drives

At the national level, labeled national, because no province-by-province ranking was used, the Ford F-Series was Canada's best-selling vehicle in 2025 with 138,470 sales, followed by the Toyota RAV4 at 75,573, the GMC Sierra at 59,962, the Honda CR-V at 55,987, and the Chevrolet Silverado at 54,068. Trucks and SUVs took 87.6% of all new-vehicle sales in Canada in 2025, and the best-selling passenger car, the Honda Civic at 31,054, did not crack the top ten. One small conflict, disclosed rather than settled: one source calls the F-Series' run the 15th straight year as Canada's best seller, another calls it the 16th, the sales crown itself is not in dispute, only the count of years. The worked example below is the F-Series' volume trim, not a claim that every Canadian buys a truck.

A full Canada example: a 2026 F-150 XLT SuperCrew 4x4 in Ontario

The example truck is built from verified pieces: Ford Canada lists the 2026 F-150 XLT starting at CAD 59,340. Same loan pattern as the other pages on this site: 10% down (CAD 5,934), 8% APR (the yearly interest rate on the loan), 60 months. The financed amount, price plus tax plus permit and plates minus the down payment, is CAD 59,340 + CAD 7,714 + CAD 91 − CAD 5,934 = CAD 61,211, which works out to CAD 1,241 a month on the loan, with CAD 13,257 of interest over five years. Resale comes from iSeeCars' F-150 model page: the F-150 loses 38.6% of its value over five years, so the truck is worth CAD 36,435 after five years and depreciation is CAD 22,905. Conflict disclosed: iSeeCars' newer 2026 study puts F-150 depreciation at 37.9% instead, which would give CAD 36,850 resale and CAD 22,490 depreciation, and that rate is a model-level study applied to a Canadian price, it is not a Canada-specific resale figure. Maintenance uses the middle of the Canadian Automobile Association's CAD 1,000 to CAD 1,500 a year range: CAD 1,250 a year, or CAD 6,250 over five years. Gap, stated plainly: freight, pre-delivery inspection, and dealer documentation fees are not in this total, Canadian dealer listings show destination and delivery around CAD 2,695 on this truck, and equipped XLTs on dealer lots list well above the CAD 59,340 starting price (CAD 67,000 to CAD 74,000 in listings retrieved). A real purchase will add those charges, and the total above would rise by them.

• Value lost: CAD 22,905 (CAD 59,340 minus CAD 36,435 resale)
• Insurance: CAD 11,090 (CAD 2,218 a year x 5 years)
• Fuel: CAD 16,553 (16,000 km / 100 x 12.2 L x CAD 1.696 a litre x 5 years)
• Maintenance: CAD 6,250 (CAD 1,250 x 5 years)
• Tax, fees and interest: CAD 21,062 (CAD 7,714 HST, CAD 91 permit and plates, CAD 13,257 loan interest)
• Yearly plate renewal: CAD 0 (Ontario ended the renewal fee in 2022)

That totals CAD 77,860 over five years, or about CAD 1,298 a month. Canada's pattern in one sentence: the day-one tax is the biggest single swing factor and it depends entirely on the province, Ontario's yearly paperwork costs nothing, and the truck itself, its fuel use in litres and its value loss, does most of the rest of the damage.

Formula

The five-year total is the sum of six buckets: value lost, insurance, fuel, maintenance, tax, fees and interest, and yearly plate renewal. Value lost is the CAD 59,340 price minus the CAD 36,435 resale value after five years, which is CAD 22,905. Insurance is CAD 2,218 a year times 5 years, which is CAD 11,090. Fuel is 16,000 kilometres a year divided by 100, times 12.2 litres, times CAD 1.696 a litre, times 5 years, which is CAD 16,553. Maintenance is CAD 1,250 a year times 5 years, which is CAD 6,250. Tax, fees and interest is CAD 7,714 of HST at 13%, CAD 91 of permit and plates, and CAD 13,257 of loan interest, which is CAD 21,062. Yearly plate renewal is CAD 0: Ontario ended the renewal fee in 2022.

Added together, CAD 22,905 plus CAD 11,090 plus CAD 16,553 plus CAD 6,250 plus CAD 21,062 plus CAD 0 equals CAD 77,860, or about CAD 1,298 a month. The financed amount is CAD 59,340 plus CAD 7,714 HST plus CAD 91 permit and plates, minus the CAD 5,934 down payment, which is CAD 61,211. At 8% APR over 60 months, the payment on CAD 61,211 is CAD 1,241 a month, and the loan costs CAD 13,257 in interest over five years.

Calculation transparency

Jurisdiction. Ontario, Canada. Sales tax, registration, and insurance rules are set by your province, so your exact numbers depend on where you buy and register the car. The 13% HST in this example is Ontario's rate only. For comparison, Alberta charges 5% GST with no provincial sales tax, and New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island charge 15% HST.

Rules and time period. Five years, 16,000 kilometres a year, a 2026 Ford F-150 XLT SuperCrew 4x4 at CAD 59,340, 10% down, 8% APR, 60 months. Ontario HST 13% (CAD 7,714), CAD 91 permit and plates, gas at the CAD 1.696 a litre Ontario snapshot from October 25, 2026, insurance at the CAD 2,218 example value, CAD 1,250 a year maintenance, CAD 36,435 resale after five years. Yearly plate renewal is CAD 0, and emissions testing is CAD 0 for a new truck.

Scope and limitations. Educational estimate only. All money is in Canadian dollars (CAD). Not in this total: freight, pre-delivery inspection, and dealer documentation fees, with destination and delivery around CAD 2,695 on this truck; and a Safety Standards Certificate, roughly CAD 50 to CAD 90, which a used purchase would add but a brand-new truck bought from a dealer does not need. Insurance quotes, gas prices, and local rates vary by driver and address. Get a real quote for the same car, coverage, and loan before you decide.

Source links checked November 6, 2026. Figures: Canada Revenue Agency HST guidance, 13% in Ontario, 5% federal GST plus an 8% provincial part; Ontario ServiceOntario fee tables, vehicle permit CAD 32, new or replacement plates with a permit CAD 59; FSRA Ontario average premiums, CAD 2,218 a year for the 12 months to June 2026; Ontario gas-price reporting, 169.6 cents a litre, October 25, 2026; Natural Resources Canada driving-distance figures; Ford Canada F-150 pricing; iSeeCars F-150 depreciation; CAA maintenance ranges, CAD 1,000 to CAD 1,500 a year.

Primary sources: Ontario, register a vehicle (permit and licence plate). How the numbers are calculated is written down on the methodology page, and every source is listed on the sources page.

Definitions

Harmonized Sales Tax. Called HST, the tax Ontario charges on a vehicle purchase: 13%, made of 5% federal GST plus an 8% provincial part, shown as one tax line, collected by the Canada Revenue Agency. On the CAD 59,340 example, the tax is CAD 7,714.

Goods and Services Tax. Called GST, the 5% federal tax. In Ontario it is folded into the 13% HST with the 8% provincial part. Alberta charges 5% GST with no provincial sales tax.

Trade-in. Your old car, counted toward the price of the new one. A trade-in lowers the price the tax is figured on, the same as in the United States.

Vehicle permit. The ownership document for the car in Ontario, often called the green ownership. A vehicle permit costs CAD 32.

Licence plate. The plate on the car, issued with the permit at registration. New or replacement plates with a permit cost CAD 59, for CAD 91 in all with the permit. Ontario eliminated licence-plate renewal fees for most passenger vehicles and light trucks in March 2022, so yearly renewal is CAD 0 in this example.

Safety Standards Certificate. A roadworthiness inspection that sources put roughly in the CAD 50 to CAD 90 range before any repairs, valid for 36 days. A used vehicle changing hands in Ontario may need one. A brand-new truck bought from a dealer does not need one, so it is not in the CAD 77,860 total.

Full-coverage insurance. The insurance line in this example. Ontario's regulator, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA), reported an average annual premium of CAD 2,218 for all private passenger vehicles insured in Ontario over the 12 months to June 2026. That is an average across every car insured in Ontario, not a quote for an F-150.

APR. Annual percentage rate, the yearly interest rate on the loan. This example uses 8%. For context, Experian reported average rates of 6.35% on new cars and 11.19% on used cars in the second quarter of 2026.

Depreciation. The value the truck loses over time. On this page, the CAD 59,340 price minus the CAD 36,435 resale value after five years, which is CAD 22,905.

Common questions

How much does a car really cost in Canada?

For the worked example on this page, a 2026 Ford F-150 XLT SuperCrew 4x4 at CAD 59,340, using Ontario's 13% HST, the five-year cost is CAD 77,860, about CAD 1,298 a month. Your number will differ with the vehicle, the province, the loan, and your insurance quote. All figures on this page are in Canadian dollars.

How much tax do you pay on a car in Ontario?

Ontario charges 13% HST on a vehicle purchase, 5% federal GST plus an 8% provincial part, shown as one tax line. On the CAD 59,340 example, the tax is CAD 7,714. Other provinces differ: Alberta charges 5% GST only, while the Atlantic provinces charge 14% to 15% HST.

Does Ontario charge a yearly plate renewal fee?

No. Ontario eliminated licence-plate renewal fees for most passenger vehicles and light trucks in March 2022, so yearly renewal costs CAD 0 in this example. You must still keep the plate renewed, eligible plates now renew automatically, and a one-time vehicle permit (CAD 32) plus plates (CAD 59) apply when the vehicle is first registered.

Does Ontario require emissions testing?

No. Ontario ended its Drive Clean passenger-vehicle emissions testing program on April 1, 2019, so emissions testing costs CAD 0 in this example. Emissions standards still apply, and a used vehicle changing hands may need a Safety Standards Certificate, which is a separate inspection.

How much is car insurance in Ontario?

Ontario's regulator reported an average annual premium of CAD 2,218 for all private passenger vehicles insured in Ontario over the 12 months to June 2026, with the Greater Toronto Area averaging CAD 2,868 and rural Ontario CAD 1,791. This example uses the CAD 2,218 Ontario average, not a truck-specific quote. Your own quote is what matters.

Related: South of the border, Buffalo and Minneapolis-Saint Paul run the same math with US costs. The truck in this example is the Ford F-150, and the Toyota RAV4 is another popular choice with its own cost page.

See the same math for other places

The same example pattern, run with each place's own costs: Texas, New York City, Los Angeles, Boston, San Francisco, St. Louis, Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Miami, San Antonio, Austin, Seattle, Denver, Phoenix, Philadelphia, Detroit, and Minnesota, and Maine.

Figures from Canada Revenue Agency HST guidance, Ontario ServiceOntario fee tables, FSRA Ontario average premiums (12 months to June 2026), Ontario gas-price reporting (October 25, 2026), Natural Resources Canada driving-distance figures, Ford Canada F-150 pricing, iSeeCars F-150 depreciation, CAA maintenance ranges, and 2025 Canadian national sales figures (Automotive News Data Center, via The Car Guide). Insurance quotes, gas prices, and dealer charges vary by driver, vehicle, and dealer, the structure above is the part that does not change. This page's example is Ontario math; other provinces' totals will differ, mostly on tax.