Monthly Archives: May 2022

summer car troubles

Common Summer Car Troubles- and how to prevent them.

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Posted in Caring for your vehicle., Road Trip Season

The Summertime season provides ideal weather for road trips, drive-ins and, unfortunately, car trouble. Why? Extreme heat can take a toll on your car’s most important systems. So, if your summer calendar is filled with travel and trips to the beach, we’re here to help you seize the summer safely.


Making sure you’re a little extra prepared this season can go a long way to protect your vehicle, yourself and your loved ones this summer. Read on as we outline the most common summer car troubles and how to prevent them.


Air Conditioning

Summer heat pairs well with air conditioning, and it might be hard to detect issues during the fall, winter and spring when it’s not in use. When higher temperatures hit, you’ll want a working AC system in your car. Turn on your air conditioning from time to time during the off season to keep it in working order, or at least make sure you test it ahead of the summer season.


If you’re getting hot air when you turn your air conditioning on, a simple fix may be a refrigerant (Freon) charge. Adding refrigerant to your car can give your AC system a boost. If that doesn’t do the trick, a car mechanic should be able to diagnose and treat the problem.



Damaged Interior

The heat of the summer means extreme heat inside your vehicle. These hot temperatures can melt plastics, food and any other garbage that’s left inside your car. To prevent damage to the internal surfaces (and expensive repairs) clean your car, and keep it clean- if you have a sunroof- keep your sunshade closed to shade and prevent more heat on the interior.


Check out our post for the best mess-free road trip snacks for some tips to help you reduce extra drive thru garbage.



Paint Damage


The sun’s rays could damage the exterior and paint of your car (especially if your car has any debris or spills on it) which could be costly to fix- and cause premature rust during wetter seasons or if you’re close to the ocean. Extreme heat could also heat up the interior of your car, like the steering wheel and leather seats, making it difficult to drive. On hot days, try to park your car in the shade whenever possible. Parking your car in a shaded spot not only keeps you cool, but can keep your car cool and prolong its life.


Having window shades, and closing the sunroof in your car is a good idea in case you are unable to park your car in the shade. These shades will block out UV heat, keep the interior of your car from getting hot, and protect from any other damaging effects of the sun.



Worn Wiper Blades


Being able to see is an essential requirement while you’re behind the wheel. In summer, dust and pollen particles, insects or even the sun’s glare can impair your ability to clearly see out of your windshield. Make sure to top up your wiper fluid and check your windshield wipers’ effectiveness to remove anything that could minimize visibility. It’s a good idea to check or replace your windshield wipers at the end of each season.


Additionally, make sure pollen and other particles aren’t covering your light beams. A quick polish or even a wipe down can make a huge difference.


Dirty Air Filters


Your car’s air filters have a very important role, especially in the summer. They keep pollutants from coming in through the vents — which is critical during warmer months because of the high pollen counts and smoke from the forest fires we’re no stranger to in BC.

Not to mention, using an old filter can lead to problems with your air conditioning system.
It’s best to change your air filter every 12 months or 20,000 kilometers, or according to your manufacturer’s recommendations so you can breathe easy- literally, and because you know your Air Conditioning isn’t in danger.


Tire Troubles


Changing temperatures affect your tires in a few ways. First, it’s important to make sure your tires are appropriate for the weather by changing out of your winter tires. Hot weather can also evaporate some of the air in your tires and cause low tire pressure- which causes premature wear and even accident-causing tire blowouts.
Make sure to check your tire pressure and top it up when necessary as that can help your tires last longer and prevent flats, and blowouts.


Engine Overheating


Much like you can overheat in the summer and get heat stroke- you vehicle- and it’s engine can overheat. Just as staying hydrated can help you prevent overheating- making sure your vehicle’s fluids (especially coolant) are topped up can prevent it from overheating.

Once you’ve ensured your vehicle has enough fluids- keep an eye on the temperature via the temperature gauge- if the needle starts to indicate high levels- pull over and wait for the engine to cool down before you continue your drive.

Overheating is a serious issue- so make sure to contact your regular repair shop right away to diagnose and fix the problem.


Get a Summer Ready Vehicle from VIDrives.


Whether you like the beach, camping, hiking, or just long summer drives and road trips- VIDrives wants to help you enjoy your summertime activities without stress about getting stuck in the stranded or broken down. That’s why all of our vehicles are inspected and safe, plus- we work with any budget to make sure you have enough left over to pay for fuel and enjoy your summer!

Get Pre-Approved

cosigner info

What is a co-signer? frequently asked questions

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Posted in Credit and Financing, Frequently Asked Questions

When someone applies for a car loan in Canada and receives less than favorable loan terms or even a loan rejection, that doesn’t always mean they can’t get into a quality vehicle. They can always turn to a co-signer to help secure the loan or get better terms.

Unfortunately, there can sometimes be a lack of clarity around co-signing, and what it means for the co-signer as well as the primary borrower. Below, we cover the ins and outs of being a co-signer and the pros and cons of co-signing for an auto loan.

What is a co-signer?

A co-signer is a person who signs onto a car loan with the main borrower. Generally, this person has a strong credit score or financial situation and is essentially vouching for the borrower.

In return, the co-signer is also taking equal financial responsibility for repaying the full amount of the car loan in the event that the primary borrower can’t or won’t.

What is a main borrower?

The main borrower (or primary borrower) is the person buying the vehicle and initially seeking financing- they will be the owner of the vehicle and they are the one who will be making the payments.

Why would someone need a co-signer?

You may need a co-signer if you don’t have credit, have poor credit, or if you already have significant debt. Lenders consider these factors risky and will be less likely to give you a loan, especially over a long term or at a low interest rate. Getting a co-signer can help you- with someone with good credit or a higher income vouching for you, lenders consider the loan less risky- and may offer you more favorable terms.

Your co-signer can be virtually anyone you know with a better financial situation- but they’ll typically be someone close to you like a family member, close friend or significant other.

What are the benefits of co-signing on a car loan?

Becoming a co-signer for someone that you trust to make their payments can be a great way to help a friend or family member get into a better financial situation, and it’s an excellent way to build and improve your own credit score without taking on additional bill for yourself.

It is however important to remember that co-signing carries the risk of negatively effecting your credit if the primary borrower doesn’t make their payments- a good rule of thumb is to only co-sign for someone that you would lend money to.

Get driving, even without a co-signer.

Even with less than perfect credit, you may not need a co-signer. VIDrives has a 99% approval rate for financing, and we offer excellent vehicle financing options for any credit situation. We work with 30+ lending partners and our financial specialists will take a look at your specific credit situation so we can present you with all of your options, and get you the best terms possible.

To find out if you’ll need a co-signer get pre-approved to get your no obligation financing options. It takes 2 minutes and won’t affect your credit- plus we can add your co-signer on later if necessary.

What are the benefits of getting pre-approved for a car loan?

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Posted in Car Shopping Tips, Credit and Financing, Frequently Asked Questions


From the time you decide to start searching for a car to the time you drive your car home, it takes the average Canadian car buyer nearly three months to find the right vehicle. That includes hours of online research and multiple visits to dealerships and banks. According to buyers, one of the most stressful parts of buying a car was arranging the financing. A car loan pre-approval makes this entire experience a lot more efficient…

Picture this: You’ve fallen in love with a new vehicle, and settled on the price- only to find that credit is just so-so or your income doesn’t quite support the loan value, so you’re waiting for the dealership to get you approved. Unfortunately, this is what happens to so many Canadian buyers. At VIDrives we know there’s no worse feeling than having your heart set on a car and getting a negative answer.

In 2022, car shoppers don’t have to go through that cat-and-mouse of waiting and being disappointed. Automotive pre-approvals have changed the game for car buyers. Not only does a pre-approval reduce (or completely eliminate) the time you have to spend at the car dealership, but it empowers you to shop for your new car more confidently, and even save you money.

How does a car loan pre-approval work?

According to data analytics firm FICO, two out of every three Canadian car buyers look for financing when they’re vehicle shopping at a car dealership. For those who plan to take advantage of financing options, A car loan pre-approval is simply preparing for the process before settling on the vehicle or setting foot in the showroom.

The loan pre-approval process is more specific than just asking, “How much car can I afford?” Instead you’re saying, “I’m going to be looking for a new vehicle. What terms am I approved for so I can select a vehicle?” In that way, your pre-approval gets you much closer to taking a vehicle home- because it helps narrow down your search.


A pre-approval application is completed at home, typically online, and all the same steps of a car loan application are taken. Income is verified along with your credit score and debt-to-service ratio. Then, the lender delivers the estimated loan terms that you can use to make your vehicle selection. Typically this will include the total loan value, monthly or bi-weekly payment amount, loan term, and an estimated interest rate.


That’s great to know, but what are the benefits of being pre-approved for a car loan?

4 benefits to getting a pre-approval for your next car

  1. It focuses your attention on the right vehicles

    If you want to avoid the phone call saying, “you’ve been approved, but” then getting pre-approved is a good idea. If you don’t have the income to support the car you’ve chosen, and need to provide a bigger down payment. If you don’t have that, that means the car you’ve got your heart set on is out of reach. Without a strong credit history- you might not get approved at all.

    When you get a pre-approval you can more accurately shop for a vehicle. You’ll know up front the total price, your expected payment and where your interest rate should be. This helps you shop within your actual budget, or allows you time to save up for a down payment if you want something more expensive.
  2. It gives you access to the best available financing rates

    One of the most beneficial aspects of pre-approval is that it arms you with knowledge. When you know the interest rate you’ve been pre-approved for- you can shop more intelligently.

    For example, if a flawed credit history means that you’ve been pre-approved on a 60-month term. You’ve selected the perfect Truck for your needs and budget and you know what your interest rate will be. The Finance Manager might ask “would you like to go forward with your pre-approved financing, or I can see if I can get you a better rate?” You can say yes, and have the chance to get an even better deal- because with a pre-approval you aren’t locked into the deal until you’ve signed on the dotted line. Whether the Finance Manager comes back with a lower interest rate or not, you can be confident that you’ll be driving home in your new ride- with no unexpected surprises.
  3. It speeds up the process

    Patience is a virtue, but it isn’t one you should have to practice in the waiting area of a dealership when you’re ready to make a big and exciting purchase. If you decide against a pre-approval and walk straight onto a car lot, it’s going to take hours or even days longer before you finally take your vehicle home. After you fill out an application and head to the finance office, the approval process can take a very long time.

    The finance manager may need to call a few lenders to clarify conditional approvals while others will require documentation that might take you time- and trips to the bank to get your hands on. Getting approved instantly isn’t the norm, especially if you don’t have perfect credit.

    Armed with your pre-approval- you can usually expect to be driving your car home within a day- even the same day. No need to jump through hoops- because you’ve organized it all ahead of time.
  4. It can help you get approved, even with bad credit

    Getting pre-approved for a car loan is a great idea for anybody, but especially for those with no credit or bad credit. While traditional dealerships have access to low or zero interest loans from the manufacturer, they aren’t always equipped to help buyers with bad-or no credit. Getting pre-approved provides you with the best rates and terms for your specific credit situation- before you even step onto a car lot.

How can I get pre-approved?

VIDrives can help you get pre-approved (with no obligation) online, so you know exactly how much financing you can get before you start car shopping.
It only takes three minutes and works with all credit situations (including bad credit). This credit check will not harm your credit score, and you don’t need to do anything with the approval terms we send you.

Get Pre-Approved today!

buying a car from vidrives

The difference between purchasing a used car privately, at a dealership, and from VIDrives.

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Posted in Car Shopping Tips

Buying a vehicle is a huge investment for anybody, so it’s important to find a seller that you can trust. If you’re looking for a used vehicle- you can choose to buy a vehicle from a dealership, a private seller, or online from VIDrives.
Choosing a private seller can save you some money on your purchase, but there’s no security in your new vehicle, On the other hand dealerships can be a scary, high pressure environment- that’s why VIDrives mission is to offer you the security of a car dealership- with the better value and freedom that comes with buying privately. Below- we’ll list 7 ways we make this happen.

VIDrives vs Traditional Dealerships Comparison Chart
A quick look at the difference between purchasing with ViDrives, Privately, and from a traditional Dealership.

1. Warranty

One thing a private seller can’t offer you is a vehicle warranty, if you’re lucky the vehicle may be new enough to have some remaining factory warranty- but this isn’t always transferrable. VIDrives offers warranty options on every vehicle we sell, and have many in stock with factory warranty included. For more information on the benefits of extended warranty options, check out this helpful guide: The benefits of purchasing a vehicle extended warranty.

2. Peace of Mind

How can you enjoy a road trip when you’re worried about breakdowns and expensive repairs?

When you buy a vehicle from VIDrives, you know the vehicle is going to meet safety standards and not have any hidden defects. All of our vehicles go through a comprehensive 151 point inspection and are repaired if necessary, with an included Carfax report so you can see the vehicle’s history and condition for yourself, even if you’re not a mechanic. If you buy privately, there’s nobody holding the seller accountable for quality standards, and no protection for you even if it breaks down in the first week.

3. Better Price

savings

Generally speaking you may be able to find the same vehicle slightly cheaper from a private seller- because dealerships have more overhead costs that they need to cover, so they’ll need to make a higher profit than a private seller would. VIDrives is an online based business- which helps us to keep overhead costs low, and our prices fair which helps you get a better deal than you would at a traditional car dealership.

4. Financial Flexibility

payment schedule image

If you’re buying from a private seller, you’ll usually need to pay the full value of the vehicle up front, if you don’t want to lose your hard earned savings to buy a vehicle privately, or don’t have that kind of cash- you’d have to secure a loan from a third party, often at a high interest rate. VIDrives specializes in financing for any credit situation. We work with over 30 lender partners, and have access to the same subvented rates that many dealers boast, so that we can get our customers the lowest possible interest rate, and affordable payments to make sure your deal works for you.

VIDrives also offers a Lifetime Oil Change Program which means you won’t pay for an oil change while you own your vehicle. This is an optional extra so make sure to ask your financial specialist for details.

For a more detailed look at credit and financing section of our blog.

5. More Options

Illusion of Choice
Many options can be deceptive when the majority are inaccessible and the remainder may be unappealling

Private sellers usually only have 1 vehicle available for sale, so when you’re shopping you may have to meet up with countless strangers, only to be disappointed in the vehicle or find that the seller makes you feel uncomfortable.

Where many dealerships offer the illusion of choice. When you drive into a dealership you’re often overwhelmed by the number of vehicles, and spend time looking at each one until you find one you just have to have! The only problem is that many of these choices aren’t real. The vehicle might be sold, out of your budget, doesn’t work for your lifestyle, or worst of all 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥.

VIDrives offers real choices, That’s why start with a questionnaire to find out your budget, and what types of vehicles you’re actually interested in, then present you with options that already work for you, and expand from there.

6. Trade-In Options

Another advantage of buying a pre-owned vehicle from VIDrives is that we offer the ability to trade-in your vehicle- which helps to lower the costs of your new vehicle, in BC you’ll only pay tax on the difference in value from your trade-in and the new vehicle. If you’re buying from a private seller, you’ll likely need to sell your vehicle before buying a new one, this can take time and leave you without transportation for weeks.

This can also present more obstacles for those who are still paying off their current vehicle with the difficulty of contacting lenders and dealerships to find out just how much you owe- and when things like negative equity come into play.


7. Transparency

Dealerships are notorious for hidden fees and evasive answers to simple questions.

Buying from a dealership can be overwhelming, between dealing with so many people, salespeople who can’t answer your questions and the hidden fees dealerships are notorious for.

Choosing a private seller is a fairly straightforward process, you find out about the vehicle, set a time to meet and view the vehicle, and you’re dealing with the same person for the entire process and when you agree to a price- that’s the price you’ll get.

At VIDrives, your financial specialist will work with you to find the right vehicle, get you approved, help you select payments, and finalize your deal. We take great care to ensure the whole process is easy and transparent, without hidden fees or misinformation.

8. Buy from home

Private sellers and dealerships require you to come to them, this can be an obstacle if you don’t have reliable transportation or live far away. It can be difficult to coordinate between your schedule, the seller’s schedule, public transit schedules, and friends and family who help you get around. Private sellers may not have their vehicle’s insured, so you may need to find a ride to their home, to get insurance, to the bank and back all over again. Dealerships in your area may not have what you’re looking for and may require multiple visits before you can take your new vehicle home.


That’s why VIDrives offers the option to do the whole deal, right from your home, on your schedule. We’ll find your vehicle, offer a virtual test drive, find you payment options, and communicate with you securely online or on the phone. Once you choose the vehicle, and payment that works for you we’ll deliver it for free right to your door, anywhere on Vancouver Island. If you’re trading in, we’ll pick up your trade at the same time.

Shopping for a new vehicle?

If you’re looking to buy a car, there’s no better place to start than here. Fill out our short application form and get approved for vehicle financing in minutes!

Get Pre-Approved Today

The Benefits of Purchasing a Vehicle Extended Warranty

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Posted in Car Shopping Tips

Vehicle repairs can be pricy, and unexpected repairs can be difficult to budget for, especially if you’re making payments on a car loan. Many Canadian drivers who used to be able to take care of repairs themselves or with the help of car savvy friends and family find that with modern vehicles are becoming more and more automated options like these are often out of their depth.

When you purchase a new vehicle, expensive repairs like these are covered by your factory warranty, but what happens when that warranty expires, or you chose a pre-owned vehicle? That’s why extended warranty is an excellent option to consider when you’re shopping for your next new or used ride. Below we’ll highlight some of the benefits of purchasing an extended warranty for your vehicle.

1. Huge Potential For Savings

While many people claim that car warranties are overpriced, there is no denying that if you run into a serious mechanical problem, a warranty can save you thousands of dollars- Especially on vehicle’s with expensive parts. For example- the average cost of a cylinder head on a 3 Series BMW costs more than $10,000 costing way more than any warranty, where vehicles which are cheaper to repair- the costs add up and make a warranty more than pay for itself.

2. Peace of Mind

The second benefit to opting for a car warranty is that you’re able to have peace of mind. Without a car warranty, it’s always stressful seeing the engine light go on and knowing that this could potentially cost you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars to repair. When you have coverage, you don’t need to stress about seeing an engine light go on or an occasional visit to the mechanic shop.

3. The Extra Perks

Not only are car warranties great for peace of mind and savings, but they commonly also have hidden perks. While this is dependent on the car warranty you buy, many of them come with roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement and towing. This adds a ton of value as you don’t need to pay an additional monthly or annual fee for a roadside assistance company like BCAA. The second perk to car warranties is that unless you buy an extended warranty from the manufacturer, you’re able to get your vehicle repaired at most mechanic shops.

4. Higher Resale Value

The last benefit of opting for a car warranty is that if you decide to sell the car within its warranty period, you’ll be able to get more money for the vehicle. Most car warranties are transferable for a small fee and now the new owner has peace of mind that the car they just bought is covered in case of any potential issues.

In the end, whether or not you decide to buy a car warranty is up to you, but we think these four benefits are well worth the extra cash- especially if it means only a couple extra dollars on your car payment.

Every New and Pre-Owned Vehicle from VIDrives has extended warranty options available.

Get Pre-Approved today and start driving with ease of mind.