Terms of Service
1. Who we are
Car Shepherd is a used-car buying concierge service operated by Kenneth Finnbogason, a sole proprietor based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. In these Terms, "we", "us", and "Car Shepherd" refer to that business. "You" and "Client" refer to the person purchasing or using our service.
2. What we do
We provide a multi-week advisory engagement to help you research, evaluate, and negotiate the purchase of a pre-owned vehicle. This includes a personalized buying brief, periodic ranked vehicle listings from public marketplaces, model-specific risk information, pricing guidance, and coordination with independent inspection shops where appropriate.
We do not sell cars. We do not take possession of cars. We do not finance cars. We do not insure cars. We do not inspect cars mechanically. You remain the buyer, you sign all documents, you pay the seller directly, and you make all final decisions.
3. What we are not
- We are not a licensed motor dealer under the Motor Dealer Act (British Columbia). We do not act on your behalf to acquire or transfer vehicle ownership.
- We are not a mortgage broker, insurance broker, or financial advisor. Any mention of financing, insurance, or warranty products is informational only.
- We are not mechanics or certified vehicle inspectors. Our risk briefs summarize publicly available information and operator experience; they are not a substitute for an in-person mechanical inspection.
4. Fees and payment
The fee for our current engagement offering is stated on our website and shown at checkout. Fees are paid in advance in Canadian dollars via Stripe. Applicable taxes, if any, are additional.
We do not accept commissions, finder's fees, or referral fees from any dealer, financial institution, insurance provider, or third-party service. Our fee is the only compensation we receive for your engagement.
5. Refunds
You may request a full refund within 14 days of your engagement start date for any reason. After 14 days, pro-rated refunds are available on request for the unused portion of the engagement.
If we cannot identify a suitable vehicle for you within the engagement window (and an extension, where applicable), we will refund your fee in full automatically, without requiring a request.
Refunds are processed through Stripe to the original payment method, typically within 5 business days.
6. Scope of service
Our advisory work covers vehicles listed for sale in British Columbia at the time of your engagement, with a focus on Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. We do not currently service searches in other provinces, the United States, or internationally.
An engagement includes one vehicle search. If you decide mid-engagement to pursue a meaningfully different vehicle category (for example, switching from a family SUV to a sports car), we will make a reasonable effort to adjust. Fundamental scope changes may require a new engagement at our discretion.
7. Your responsibilities
- You will provide accurate information about your needs, budget, and deal-breakers during intake.
- You will respond to communications from us in a reasonable timeframe during your active engagement.
- You are responsible for arranging and paying for any mechanical inspections, test drives, or professional services we recommend.
- You are responsible for the final purchase decision and for the funds used to complete any transaction.
8. No guarantees
Used vehicle markets are variable. We cannot guarantee a specific vehicle will be available at a specific price within a specific timeframe. We cannot guarantee that a vehicle you purchase will be free of mechanical issues, that it will appreciate or hold value, or that it will meet your expectations in ways we did not discuss at intake.
Our service is advisory. Our advice is based on public information, operator experience, and reasonable professional judgment at the time it is given. You assume all risk associated with any vehicle purchase.
9. Limitation of liability
To the maximum extent permitted by law, our total liability to you in connection with this service is limited to the amount you paid for your engagement. We are not liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages, including but not limited to loss of use of a vehicle, repair costs, depreciation, or third-party costs (inspection fees, legal fees, transport fees).
Nothing in these Terms limits our liability for anything that cannot be limited under applicable British Columbia consumer protection law.
10. Confidentiality
We treat the information you share during intake and engagement as confidential. We will not disclose your identity or your search criteria to any third party except (a) as needed to coordinate services on your behalf (for example, briefing an inspection shop), (b) as required by law, or (c) with your explicit consent.
11. Changes to these Terms
We may update these Terms from time to time. The current version is always posted at carshepherd.ca/terms with an updated date. For active engagements, the Terms in effect on your engagement start date govern that engagement.
12. Governing law
These Terms are governed by the laws of the Province of British Columbia and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein. Any dispute that cannot be resolved by discussion will be resolved in the courts of British Columbia.
13. Contact
Questions about these Terms: hello@carshepherd.ca