OMVIC is committed to its staff and its stakeholders’ health and safety. At this time, OMVIC’s head office is closed to the public. OMVIC is operating from remote sites and continues to work with stakeholders during the COVID-19 crisis. While service levels may be impacted, OMVIC remains committed to maintaining a fair and informed marketplace by protecting the rights of consumers and ensuring fair, honest and open competition for registered motor vehicle dealers during these challenging times.
If you have a consumer inquiry, please email OMVIC at consumers@omvic.on.ca
CONSUMER PROTECTION
Tackling Test Drives
How has COVID-19 changed test drives? Is a deposit required? This week, OMVIC’s Complaints and Enquiries team answer consumer questions about what to expect when you go on a test drive.
Read more
What’s the Deal with Dealer Fees?
A consumer contacted OMVIC's Complaints and Inquiries team to ask about all-in price advertising and dealer fees.
“I recently purchased a used vehicle from an OMVIC-Registered Dealer and he charged me an administrative fee of $199. I questioned this and the dealer said it was a normal charge. I thought dealers couldn’t add fees. Doesn't this violate all-in-price advertising?”
To find out the answer, you can Read more
Contract Cancellation
Recently a consumer named David wrote in to ask, “I was planning to buy a used car, but my financing didn’t get approved, can I get my deposit back?"
There are two different financing situations that can affect whether or not David can get his money back.
To learn more about the financing situations and what help is available to David, Read more
The OMVIC Fee
A car buyer contacted OMVIC’s Complaints and Inquiries team to ask about the OMVIC Fee and to find out if he can opt out of the charge.
Colin: “I bought a new car from an OMVIC-Registered Dealer last week. She charged me $10 for something called the OMVIC Fee. What is it? Could I have not paid it?”
To find out the answer, visit us online
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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