Cardaps is a free Canadian vehicle intelligence platform. We aggregate data from Transport Canada, NRCan, NHTSA, SAAQ, and real dealer listings to provide safety recall checks, VIN decoding, fuel economy ratings, price estimations, and vehicle history reports - all in one place.

How do I check if my car has a recall in Canada?

Use our free Recall Check tool. Enter your VIN or select your make, model, and year. Cardaps searches both Transport Canada and NHTSA databases and shows all open recalls with severity ratings, affected components, and dealer repair instructions.

Is Cardaps free to use?

Yes - all core tools are 100% free: recall checks, VIN decoding, fuel economy ratings, price estimates, EV charging maps, and car loan calculators. Vehicle history reports require credits, available as single purchases or through dealer subscriptions.

How accurate are Cardaps car valuations?

Our AI scoring engine analyzes real Canadian dealer listings daily using 50+ data points including make, model, year, mileage, province, trim, condition, and current market demand. Valuations reflect actual Canadian asking prices, not US or wholesale book values.

Does Cardaps work for Quebec vehicles?

Absolutely. Cardaps integrates SAAQ data for Quebec, including inspection requirements, winter tire regulations, and provincial incentives. The entire platform is bilingual (English and French) and compliant with Bill 96.

How is Cardaps different from CARFAX or AutoTrader?

Cardaps combines free tools that competitors charge for: recall checks, VIN decoding, and fuel economy data from official Canadian government sources (NRCan, Transport Canada). We also provide AI-powered valuations, EV incentive calculators, and dealer profitability intelligence - features no single competitor offers together.

Does Cardaps share or sell my personal data?

No. Cardaps does not sell your personal data to advertisers, brokers, or third parties. We collect only what is needed to provide our free tools: VINs you decode, recall searches, and price estimates. Vehicle history reports involve sharing the VIN with our data providers (CARFAX, AutoCheck) for that specific lookup, but no personal information is sent. We are transparent about data sources and do not maintain hidden user profiles.

Can I use Cardaps as a dealer?

Yes. Cardaps offers a dedicated dealer platform with vehicle scoring, profit calculators, market intelligence, and inventory acquisition tools. Plans range from FREE (25 lookups/month, 0 credits) to ENTERPRISE ($999/mo with 30 credits, API access, and 5 user seats). Dealers can sign up at cardaps.ca/register?dealer=true. The first 25 vehicle lookups are free with no credit card required.

Is Cardaps available outside Canada?

Cardaps is built specifically for the Canadian market. Vehicle valuations use Canadian dealer listings (not US data), pricing is in CAD, fuel economy uses Canadian L/100km ratings (not US MPG), and recalls integrate Transport Canada plus NHTSA. International users can decode VINs and check NHTSA recalls, but valuations, fuel ratings, and dealer directory features are Canada-only. We currently cover all 13 provinces and territories.

What languages does Cardaps support?

Cardaps is fully bilingual: English and French. All tools, FAQ answers, vehicle data, and customer support are available in both languages. The French version is fully compliant with Quebec Bill 96 requirements and uses Canadian French (not European French). Language can be switched anywhere on the platform with the EN/FR toggle.

How accurate is Cardaps vehicle data?

Cardaps aggregates data from authoritative Canadian sources updated continuously. VIN decoding uses NHTSA vPIC data (98%+ accuracy on year/make/model/trim). Recalls come directly from Transport Canada and NHTSA databases. Fuel economy uses NRCan official ratings. Vehicle valuations have an average error rate of $1,900 across 200 benchmark tests, calibrated against real Canadian dealer asking prices (not wholesale or US book values).

How often is Cardaps data updated?

Different data types refresh at different cadences: Vehicle listings update daily (50,000+ active Canadian listings refreshed each night). Safety recalls sync every 24 hours from Transport Canada and NHTSA. Fuel economy ratings refresh from NRCan when new model years are released. Vehicle history reports are pulled in real-time when requested. Dealer information from Google Maps refreshes monthly. All data carries source attribution and last-updated timestamps.

Insurance & LegalMarch 27, 20269 min read

What to Do After a Car Accident in Canada — Step-by-Step Guide

Cardaps Research Team

Step-by-step guide after a car accident in Canada — insurance claims, police reports, and rights by province — The first 15 minutes are critical for your insurance claim

Quick Answer

After a car accident in Canada: (1) check for injuries/call 911, (2) move vehicles if safe, (3) exchange info (name, license, insurance, plates), (4) photograph everything, (5) file police report if required (Ontario: if damage >$2,000), (6) contact insurer within 24 hours. In Quebec, bodily injuries go through SAAQ (no-fault); property damage through your private insurer.

Part of our complete guide:

Car Insurance Canada — Complete Guide →

First 5 Minutes — Safety & Emergency

Step 1: Check for injuries — yourself, passengers, other vehicle. Call 911 if anyone is hurt. Don't move injured people unless immediate danger (fire, traffic). Step 2: Turn on hazard lights. Move vehicles to shoulder if safe and drivable. If not moveable, stay inside with seatbelt on. Step 3: Call 911 if required — all provinces require police if injuries, suspected impairment, or vehicles can't move. Ontario: report to Collision Reporting Centre within 24h if damage >$2,000. Quebec: police required for injuries. Step 4: Do NOT admit fault. Don't say "I'm sorry" or "my fault." Fault is determined by insurance adjusters using provincial rules, not by drivers at the scene.

Car accident checklist Canada — 10 steps from safety to filing insurance claim — Save this checklist to your phone

Document Everything — Next 10 Minutes

Step 5: Exchange info — full name, phone, driver's license number, plate number, insurance company + policy number, vehicle make/model/color. Get witness contact info. Step 6: Photograph everything — all damage (close-up + wide), plates, overall scene, street signs, weather conditions, visible injuries. Take 20+ photos. Step 7: Write down what happened in your phone notes while memory is fresh. Step 8: Check for dashcam footage — yours and witnesses. Most valuable evidence for disputed fault.

Try It Free:

Check Vehicle Accident History — CARDAPS

Filing Your Insurance Claim — Within 24 Hours

Step 9: Contact your insurer within 24 hours. Call the claims line directly (not your broker). Have policy number, other driver's info, photos, and written account ready. Quebec dual path: Bodily injuries → file with SAAQ (saaq.gouv.qc.ca or 1-800-361-7620). Vehicle damage → file with private insurer. Ontario: Visit Collision Reporting Centre within 24h if damage >$2,000. Step 10: Get repair estimate. Don't begin repairs until insurer authorizes. At-fault claims increase premiums 15–40% for 3–6 years. This is why photos and documentation matter — they can determine fault assignment.

Also in this series:

Best Car Insurance Quebec 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes if injuries, suspected impairment, or vehicles can't move. Ontario: report within 24h if damage >$2,000. Quebec: police required for injuries only.

Dual system: SAAQ covers ALL bodily injuries (no-fault public program). Your private insurer covers vehicle damage and property liability. File separately.

At-fault claims increase premiums 15–40% for 3–6 years. Not-at-fault generally doesn't affect premiums. Some insurers offer first-accident forgiveness.

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