Since October 5, 2026, the law already gives you four years of free repairs on a new television bought in Quebec, starting from delivery. The same rule covers 13 other devices, from the washing machine to the cellphone. Before the holiday shopping season, here is what it covers, what it changes for extended warranties, and how to enforce it.
What is the working-order warranty?
The working-order warranty is an automatic, free protection provided under the Consumer Protection Act. It has applied since October 5, 2026 to 14 categories of household appliances and electronic devices bought or leased new from a merchant. If the device stops working properly during the covered period, you are entitled to a free repair.
It stems from the Act to protect consumers against planned obsolescence, adopted in 2023. According to the Office de la protection du consommateur, it covers parts, labour, and reasonable shipping or transport costs. You only need to show that the device stopped working properly during the covered period.
Two things remain excluded: damage caused by misuse, such as a washing machine drum damaged by an object that should not have been inside it, and normal maintenance, such as replacing a heat pump filter.
Which devices are covered, and for how long?
The duration depends on the device: 6 years for stoves, refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, and heat pumps; 5 years for washing machines, dryers, and dishwashers; 4 years for televisions; and 3 years for computers, game consoles, cellphones, and tablets. It is calculated from delivery, not from the payment date.
For a device bought during Black Friday on November 27, 2026 and delivered on December 2, here is the end date of the protection.
| New device | Duration | Delivered December 2, 2026, covered until |
|---|---|---|
| Stove, refrigerator, freezer, air conditioner, heat pump | 6 years | December 2, 2032 |
| Washing machine, dryer, dishwasher | 5 years | December 2, 2031 |
| Television | 4 years | December 2, 2030 |
| Laptop or desktop computer, video game console, cellphone, electronic tablet | 3 years | December 2, 2029 |
So keep the email or delivery slip, not just the receipt. A device bought or leased before October 5, 2026 is not covered, even if it was delivered after that date, the Office notes in its guide for merchants. It does, however, keep the other statutory warranties.
The warranty also follows the device. A refrigerator resold after three years keeps the remainder of its six-year period, calculated from the first delivery.
Is the extended warranty still worth it?
During the period covered by the law, an extended warranty is only worth its price if it adds something: accidental damage, replacement rather than repair, at-home service, or years beyond the legal duration. If it covers a computer for three years that the law already protects for three years, you are paying twice for the same thing.
A merchant offering an additional warranty on a covered device must first inform you of the statutory warranties. Since October 5, they must use a new written notice on the working-order warranty for this purpose. Here is how the four protections compare.
| Protection | Duration | Cost | Who to ask | What you must show |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Working-order warranty | 3 to 6 years depending on the device | Free | Merchant, manufacturer, or both | That the device stopped working properly during the period |
| Reasonable-durability warranty | No fixed duration | Free | Merchant or manufacturer | That the device could not serve normal use for a reasonable duration |
| Manufacturer's warranty | Depends on the manufacturer | Included in the price | Manufacturer | What its terms provide |
| Extended warranty | Depends on the contract | Paid | The seller | What the contract provides |
The reasonable-durability warranty does not disappear. It continues to apply during and after the working-order period, which matters for a stove that fails after seven years. The difference: with the new warranty, you no longer have to argue over what a "reasonable" duration is while you are within the period.
The useful question to ask at the counter fits in one sentence: "What does your warranty cover beyond the working-order warranty, for the same period?" If the answer is "nothing," you have your answer.
How does the price display help you compare before buying?
Since October 5, 2026, merchants must indicate the working-order warranty duration "clearly, next to the advertised price," according to the Office: online, on the label, in advertising, and in flyers. The manufacturer must publish this duration online. A product page without this mention deserves a question before purchase.
The rule also targets online commerce. The Office specifies that merchants based outside Quebec must comply when they enter into a contract with a Quebec consumer, and that any platform is covered, whether website or app.
In practice, compare two offers on total price and on the protection that comes with them. For example, a $30 gap between two televisions weighs less than a $150 extended warranty that one seller pushes you to add for a period the law already covers.
How do you get a device repaired under the working-order warranty?
You can contact the merchant, the manufacturer, or both, and neither can require you to go through the other. Make the request in writing, naming the warranty and the delivery date. If refused, a formal notice, a complaint to the Office, and Small Claims Court remain your options.
- •Find the delivery date on the invoice, delivery slip, or confirmation email.
- •Choose whom to write to: the merchant, the manufacturer, or both.
- •Name the warranty. For example: "My television was delivered on December 2, 2026 and it no longer turns on. I am requesting that you repair it free of charge under the working-order warranty provided by the Consumer Protection Act."
- •Make the request before any repair, to keep a dated record of your request.
- •If refused, send a formal notice, then file a complaint with the Office de la protection du consommateur. A claim of $15,000 or less can be filed with the Small Claims Division of the Court of Quebec.
The period does not restart from zero after a repair. It is, however, extended by the time the device spends in the hands of the merchant or manufacturer, which protects a refrigerator that spends three weeks in the repair shop.
How can a shopping assistant take this warranty into account?
A shopping assistant or comparison tool designed for the American market may not know a Quebec rule that took effect on October 5, 2026. Tell it where you live, name the warranty, and ask it what the extended warranty adds for the same period. Then verify its answer on the Office's website.
A request that yields a usable answer looks like this: "I live in Quebec and I am comparing two televisions delivered in December 2026. Take into account the four-year working-order warranty provided by the Consumer Protection Act, and tell me whether the extended warranty offered by each seller adds anything for the same period."
This is why purchase advice should be regional. The same television does not come with the same protection in Montreal, Toronto, or Boston. To start from your need rather than from a flyer, describe it to Inception's search, specifying that you are shopping in Quebec.
Frequently asked questions
Is a device bought on October 1, 2026 and delivered on October 10 covered by the working-order warranty?
No. The working-order warranty only covers devices bought or leased new on or after October 5, 2026, even if delivery takes place after that date. However, the device keeps the reasonable-durability warranty and the other statutory warranties. You would then need to show that it could not serve normal use for a reasonable duration.
Does the working-order warranty apply to online purchases?
Yes. It applies to online purchases made by a Quebec consumer from a merchant. According to the Office de la protection du consommateur, merchants based outside Quebec must comply with these rules when they enter into a contract with a Quebec consumer. The duration is calculated from the delivery of the package.
Is a used device covered by the working-order warranty?
Yes, provided the device was bought new from a merchant on or after October 5, 2026 and its period has not ended. The warranty is transferable and is calculated from the first delivery. A tablet delivered new in December 2026 and resold a year later remains covered until December 2029.
What if the merchant refers me to the manufacturer?
The merchant cannot require you to go to the manufacturer for the working-order warranty, and the reverse is also true. The Office de la protection du consommateur indicates that you can make your claim with the merchant, the manufacturer, or both. Remind them in writing, naming the warranty, and send a formal notice if the refusal persists.