In NS, what should I know about add-ons and etching for car loans?
In Nova Scotia, as across Canada, add-ons such as paint protection, fabric guard, rustproofing, and especially VIN etching, are almost always optional and represent a significant profit margin for dealerships. While etching is marketed as a theft deterrent, its effectiveness is often debated, and its cost is typically inflated far beyond any real value it provides. Financing these items directly increases your total loan amount and the interest paid over the term, meaning you're paying more for products that rarely retain any resale value and offer limited, if any, tangible benefit. Under Nova Scotia's consumer protection framework, you are not obligated to purchase these extras to secure your car loan. Always scrutinize their necessity, research their actual market value, and be prepared to politely but firmly decline them unless you have independently verified their worth and genuinely believe they provide essential protection that cannot be obtained more affordably elsewhere. Your focus should remain on the vehicle's price and the financing terms, not on high-margin extras that primarily benefit the dealer's bottom line.