What is freight and PDI, and do I have to pay it?

Right here’s all the things you could find out about freight and PDI, one of many obligatory charges you’ll pay when shopping for a brand new automotive

Freight and PDI — which is typically known as a supply price, vacation spot cost, or different names — is a price levied on each new automobile. It sometimes provides a pair thousand {dollars} or extra to a remaining bill. That’s some huge cash, so it’s truthful to ask precisely what that cost covers. Right here’s all the things you could find out about freight and PDI charges, together with what goes into them, why they’re so excessive, and whether or not this can be a price you’re required to pay.

What’s freight and PDI?

The time period “freight and PDI” refers back to the prices of getting the automotive from the meeting plant to the customer. This consists of the prices to ship the automobile from the manufacturing unit to the dealership, and the price of getting it prepared at hand over as soon as it arrives. Because of this these charges are typically referred to as vacation spot costs or supply charges: they cowl the price of delivering the automobile to its vacation spot and getting it prepared at hand over to you, the client.

What does PDI stand for?

Within the time period “freight and PDI,” the acronym PDI stands for pre-delivery inspection. That is the inspection that occurs after a automotive is delivered to a dealership to organize it for supply to the customer.

Why are freight and PDI costs so costly?

Freight and PDI costs have been growing lately primarily as a result of the price of delivery automobiles goes up. This is because of will increase in the price of gas to function delivery barges and transport vans. Labour prices, each within the transportation and logistics trade and in automotive dealerships, have additionally been going up with inflation. All of those elements contribute to the latest will increase within the freight and PDI price handed on to the client.

That is additionally why bigger automobiles are likely to have greater freight and PDI prices than smaller ones. As a result of smaller automobiles like compact sedans are lighter and extra compact, they typically price much less to ship than bigger and heavier automobiles akin to vans or three-row SUVs.

Car salesman handing keys to customer
Automotive salesman handing keys to buyerPicture by Getty

How a lot is a typical freight and PDI cost in Canada?

Why are freight and PDI costs greater in Canada than within the U.S.?

Freight and PDI costs on new automobiles in Canada may be as much as or greater than double these charged in the USA. One purpose for that is the fee to ship a brand new automobile from port to vendor is usually a lot greater right here. That is partly on account of our greater gas prices, that are additionally double that of the U.S. on common, and partly on account of Canada’s dimension and the logistics concerned.

Big rig yellow car hauler semi truck transporting cars on two levels semi trailer driving on the overpass road
Massive rig yellow automotive hauler semi truck transporting vehicles on two ranges semi trailer driving on the overpass streetPicture by Getty

“Many rail carriers additionally cost gas and mileage surcharges, which consistently differ based mostly on market pricing,” Reimer says. “On high of all that, labour prices in any respect of these contact factors has gone up as nicely, as employees are briefly provide and the price of dwelling retains rising, requiring greater wages to draw and maintain employees.”

Foreign money change is one other consider setting supply price charges, “which accounts for many of the distinction between Mazda in Canada and the U.S.,” Reimer says.

Do I’ve to pay a freight and PDI cost?

In brief, sure. You possibly can anticipate to see a freight and PDI cost in your invoice if you purchase a brand new automotive, and also you’re required to pay this price. It’s successfully a price that’s being handed on to you as a buyer, nevertheless it’s one of many charges that’s thought-about obligatory when buying a automobile in Canada or all over the world.