Any advertisement that contains false or misleading information, or that conceal an important fact, is illegal. The rules presented below apply to advertisements on leasing a vehicle with purchase option. 

Mandatory contents of an advertisement

An advertisement about long-term leasing of an automobile must indicate that it is an offer for a lease. If the ad includes any of the following elements, it must also include all of the others:

  • the amount payable, either in part or in whole, before the leasing period (this amount may include a down payment, a security deposit that can be reimbursed at the end of the contract or instalments payable in advance);
  • the amount, total number and payment period of the instalments (e.g. one instalment per month);
  • the length of the leasing period;
  • the kilometre allowance, if applicable;
  • fees for any excess kilometrage, if applicable;

Advertized instalments

If the amount of the instalments to be made for the long-term lease of the vehicle is indicated, its retail value must also appear and be more prominently displayed. 

Examples of prohibited practices

It is prohibited for an advertisement to:

  • indicate the kilometre allowance for the duration of the contract without mentioning the fees charged for any excess kilometrage;
  • use an illustration that does not accurately depict the vehicle whose price is advertized;
  • present information about the vehicle in a manner that is unclear, illegible or incomprehensible. For example, this could mean using a font size that is too small to be read or using terms that limit the scope of an important piece of information in the message.

The leased vehicle must comply with the advertisement for the vehicle in question.

If there is a problem

If you find yourself in a situation in which these rules are not respected, you can contact the Office de la protection du consommateur.

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Last update : May 3, 2021

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The information contained on this page is presented in simple terms to make it easier to understand. It does not replace the texts of the laws and regulations.