Buying tickets in the UK vs the US vs Canada
Updated 2026-10-22 · General information, not legal or financial advice. Rules change — check official sources linked below.
SolaceTix covers the US, UK and Canada because they share many of the same sellers — but the rules and habits differ. Here’s a quick comparison.
At a glance
| United States | United Kingdom | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currency | USD | GBP | CAD |
| Taxes in the shown price? | Sales tax often added at checkout and varies by state/city | VAT is normally included in consumer prices | GST/HST/PST may be added at checkout depending on province |
| Fee display rules | FTC fee rule (from May 2025) requires the total price including mandatory fees for live-event tickets; some states add their own rules | Drip pricing banned as an unfair practice under the DMCC Act 2024 | Drip pricing is deceptive marketing under the Competition Act; Ontario requires total price plus itemised fees |
| Resale price limits | No federal cap; a few states have rules | Proposed ban on resale above original cost (not yet law, Oct 2026); unauthorised football ticket resale is illegal | Ontario: no resale above original total price; Québec: restrictions on reselling above the producer’s price |
| Common sellers | Ticketmaster, SeatGeek, StubHub, Vivid Seats, TickPick, TicketNetwork | Ticketmaster, AXS, See Tickets, viagogo, Twickets | Ticketmaster, StubHub, Vivid Seats, SeatGeek |
United States
- Expect sales tax to be added at checkout in many places — that’s allowed even under all-in pricing rules because it’s a government charge.
- Resale is widely used and largely legal; prices are mostly set by the market.
- Mobile ticketing through the seller’s or team’s app is standard.
United Kingdom
- Prices for consumers are normally shown with VAT included.
- Resale listings must state the face value, seat location and any restrictions (Consumer Rights Act 2015).
- Fan-to-fan resale sites that cap prices at face value, such as Twickets, are popular for some events.
- If you’re buying for a football match, only buy from the club or its authorised resale.
Canada
- Provincial rules matter. Ontario’s Ticket Sales Act, 2017 caps resale at the original total price and requires a written money-back guarantee from secondary sellers. Québec restricts reselling above the price announced by the producer without permission.
- Taxes vary by province (GST, HST or GST + PST).
- Some US-based marketplaces show prices in USD by default — check the currency before you pay.
Buying across borders
- Check the currency and whether your card charges a foreign transaction fee.
- Check delivery: some mobile tickets can only be used in a specific app or account region.
- Local law applies to the event location, not where you live — e.g. Ontario’s resale cap applies to all Ontario events.