10/15/2026
Think your car is free once it’s paid off? Think again.
A car payment isn’t always the most expensive part of owning a vehicle. Sometimes it’s the repair bills that come along while you’re still making those payments.
At Ride Time, we’ve seen it happen plenty of times.
Someone buys a vehicle, stretches the financing to keep their monthly payment affordable, and a few years later they’re staring at a $3,000, $4,000, or even $5,000 repair bill.
The bank still wants its payment. The mechanic wants theirs too.
And with automotive repair costs rising, those unexpected bills aren’t getting any cheaper.
Here’s something to think about.
You buy a vehicle with 80,000 kilometres.
You drive 25,000 kilometres a year.
You finance it over six years.
By the time you make your final payment, that vehicle has 230,000 kilometres on it.
That’s a lot of driving, and potentially a lot of repairs, while you’re still paying off the loan.
This is why we encourage customers to look beyond the monthly payment.
How much do you drive? How long do you plan to keep the vehicle? What will it be worth when you’re finished paying for it? And what happens if a major mechanical repair comes along?
Mechanical breakdown protection is one option that can help make certain covered repair costs more predictable.
It’s not for everyone, and neither is buying a newer, more expensive vehicle.
But having a plan matters.
In this video, we talk about financing terms, kilometres, repair costs, and why the cheapest monthly payment isn’t always the cheapest way to own a vehicle.
Here’s my question.
Would you rather pay a little more each month for mechanical breakdown protection, or keep your payment lower and take your chances with future repairs?
There’s no single right answer. But it’s a decision worth making before something breaks.
At Ride Time in Winnipeg, we believe buying a vehicle should be about more than getting approved. It should be about making a smart financial decision for the years ahead.
Check out our inventory at www.ridetime.ca
Mechanical breakdown protection is optional. Coverage is subject to contract terms, exclusions, deductibles, and limits.
