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The following are the
most common questions related to
consumer protection issues. If
your questions are not addressed
on this page, please contact us.
I signed a contract and left
a deposit. I don't want the car
anymore, and the dealer won't
give me back my deposit. What
should I do?
What you signed is a legally
binding agreement. There's no
"cooling-off" or grace period to
change your mind. Barring any
extenuating circumstances, if
the dealer agrees to cancel the
contract, s/he is entitled to
keep part of the deposit – if not
all – as a result of the costs
already incurred in selling the
vehicle to you. These
non-recoverable costs are
commonly referred to as
"liquidated damages."
Is there an automatic
warranty when I buy a used car?
What about the Safety
Certificate?
There are no automatic
warranty provisions in Ontario.
The Safety Standards Certificate is not a warranty. It just means
the car met a minimum set of
safety criteria on the day it
was examined. This certificate
is valid for a period of
36 days only.
Does a dealer have to provide
a Used Vehicle Information
Package if I buy a used car?
No. The intention of the Used
Vehicle Information Package
(UVIP) was to protect consumers
from buying a car with a lien on
it from a private individual or
from a curbsider. Even if you
are buying from a registered
dealer it is a good idea to get
one. The dealer may offer to
provide it, or you can obtain
one from the Licensing Offices
of the Ministry of
Transportation (MTO) for $20. In
addition to information on any
lien, you'll find who the
previous owners of the vehicle
were.
I bought a car from a
registered dealer, and I just
found out that there is a lien
on it. What are my options?
This shouldn't happen. It is
the dealer's responsibility to
ensure the car is free and
clear of all encumbrances.
Contact the dealer and ask him
to rectify the situation. If you
have no luck, please contact us.
We'll definitely deal with it.
I want my car declared a
lemon?
There is no such thing in
Ontario. If required, civil
action – Small Claims Court, for
example – may be your best
option. If the car is a current
model, or up to four years old,
you may qualify for assistance
from CAMVAP. However, this is
for problems with the
manufacturing, and not those
arising from a dealer's service.
How can I find out the value
of my used car?
If you're interested in
finding the value of your used
car, go to a public library and
check the Canadian Red Book.
This publication provides
guidelines only, and the amounts
shown should not be taken as a
must.
I want my car inspected.
Where should I go?
Under limited circumstances,
MTO will inspect your vehicle,
especially if a Safety Standards
Certificate has recently been
issued. Otherwise, have an
independent mechanic look at the
vehicle.
For more information on
transferring or registering a
vehicle in Ontario, the Highway
Traffic Act, the Safety
Standards Certificate, a list of FAQs and other pertinent
information, please access the
Ministry of Transportation's
Drivers and Vehicles information
page.
I feel that my car inspection
was done improperly.
Who do I contact?
If you feel that your
inspection was done improperly,
and you would like more information, please visit the
Ministry of Transportation's
information page.
© 2009 OMVIC This information is provided as a public service by 
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