May 2019
CONSUMER PROTECTION
Q & A with OMVIC’s Complaint’s Department
"I have a few questions about my vehicle purchase agreement."
"If I purchased a non-motorized travel trailer at an OMVIC-Registered Dealer, can I still file a complaint?"
"Does the dealer need to provide a vehicle history report, when selling a used vehicle?"
We asked Tim Hines, Director of Complaints & Inquiries to explain more about OMVIC’s complaint handling process.
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7 Tips for Buying a Vehicle from a Dealer
Everybody has their own list of concerns when it comes to buying a car. These concerns can be as specific as whether the car colour comes in a matte or, if you’re buying used, how many owners the vehicle has had. OMVIC suggests you start with these tips to begin a conversation with the dealer and determine whether the vehicle you’re interested in will be a worthy investment.
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Protect Yourself from Flood-Damaged Cars
Flood damage can cause corrosion inside a vehicle’s sensitive electronics or safety components. The results could be catastrophic: air bags could fail to deploy; engines could shut off at highway speeds or steering could fail—flood damaged vehicles are not safe for the road. If you’re shopping for a used vehicle, it’s imperative that you learn to spot the signs of flood damage.
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Contract Cancellation
All shoppers know the checkout drill, you hand over your money, your goods are packaged and then the cashier tells you by rote, “You have 10 days to return or exchange, as long as you have the receipt.” You nod - probably won’t return your purchase, but it’s nice to know that you could. You walk out the door, and live your life. So here’s a question. When you sign a contract to buy a car from a dealer, there is,
- A 24 hour cooling-off period
- A 48 hour cooling-off period
- A 10-day cooling-off period
- No cooling-off period
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OMVIC administers and enforces the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act (MVDA) on behalf of the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services. OMVIC maintains a fair and informed vehicle sales marketplace by regulating dealers and salespersons, regularly inspecting Ontario's 8,000 dealerships and 30,000 salespeople, maintaining a complaint line for consumers and conducting investigations and prosecutions of industry misconduct and illegal sales (curbsiding). OMVIC is also responsible for administering the Motor Vehicle Dealers Compensation Fund on behalf of its Board of Trustees.
Consumer Line is OMVIC’s consumer guide to Ontario’s motor vehicle dealer industry. It is published throughout the year, delivered free via e-mail and provides consumers with useful tips, industry news and important, up-to-date information.
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