All-in advertised pricing means the advertised price of a vehicle must include ALL fees and charges. This includes freight, pre-delivery inspection/expense, administration and/or documentation fee(s) and levy recoveries. Adding any of these fees on top of an all-in advertised price is illegal.
The only fee that can be added to the advertised price is GST and any actual costs associated with financing (if applicable).
Ensuring clarity with the consumer when advertising or selling a vehicle is considered best practice. The Automotive Business Regulation (ABR), Section 11(2)(l) states that businesses must include “[…]in the advertised price for any vehicle the total cost of the vehicle, including, but not limited to, all fees and charges such as the cost of accessories, optional equipment physically attached to the vehicle, transportation charges and any applicable taxes or administration fees, but not including GST or costs and charges associated with financing.”
Automotive businesses are required to follow the general codes of conduct and the advertising code of conduct. These codes of conduct are legal requirements in Alberta. Any action that violates either code of conduct is an offence under law.
Businesses can use the advertising toolkit available on amvic.org to ensure their advertising is compliant. For information on recent all-in advertised price enforcement actions, read the Nov. 7, 2023 special edition of Impact. Watch for AMVIC’s newly launched public advertising campaign, letting all Albertans know that all-in advertised pricing is the law.
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Reminder: as of April 1, 2024, the AMVIC vehicle sales levy is $10 per vehicle sold or leased. Ensure your bill of sale has been updated to reflect the change on April 1, 2024. Go to amvic.org for more details.