It is commonly held that Black Friday – the day of mega-amazing colossal unbelievable can’t-be-beat blow-out sales signifying the unofficial start of the Christmas shopping season – is so named as it marks the point many retailers turn a profit for the year, going from being “in the red” to being “in the  black.” The more cynical might argue it's consumerism run amuck and a black mark on our society, and perhaps for good reason.

At least five days a week, Kelly Hult, college student and single mom of two toddlers (with a third on the way), commutes half an hour to school in Sault Ste. Marie. “My car didn’t handle the snow-covered highways very well,” explained Kelly with understated charm. “That’s why I decided to trade my 2011 Chevrolet Cruze for a slightly older pickup truck.” She settled on a 2008 Chevy Silverado.

All-In Price Advertising is the law in Ontario. If an OMVIC-Registered Dealer advertises a price for a vehicle (new or used), that price must include ALL fees and charges the Dealer intends to collect – minus the licensing fee and HST.

 

However, as with many rules in life, there are exceptions. 

Jack-o-lantern flames gutter in a chill wind. Discordant music echoes from once serene suburban houses. Lights strobe disorientatingly. Macabre figures adorn once neatly pruned trees. Grave markers appear with eerie and disturbingly piled leaves on lawns that were just yesterday pristine. Eyes narrow….senses heighten.  Ah yes…Halloween.  A time for fear….and fun. The little kids get 2 hours of costumed candy collection; and the bigger kids (i.e. most of us) break out our favourite horror films. So many of us love to get scared. There’s a visceral reaction to it – it awakens our primal “fight or flight” response.

Rental vehicles are usually of the current or previous model year, with relatively low mileage and factory warranty. And because it’s used and there’s no freight or PDI charge they often come with a discounted price. But there are some consumers who forego these benefits and steer clear of daily rentals.

OMVIC is celebrating its 20^th anniversary of providing consumer protection to Ontario’s car buyers, but not everyone knows about this regulator, what they do and how they can help.

There’s a new danger riding in on a storm for used car buyers—flood-damaged vehicles. “Authorities in the US have told us they expect about half a million vehicles to be flooded as a result of Hurricane Harvey alone,” said Tom Girling, Director of Investigations for OMVIC, Ontario’s vehicle sales regulator. “And they expect many of them will end up being exported—including to Canada.”

Vehicles that would have been completely unaffordable two decades ago are now financially accessible. Many consumers can buy the car of their dreams, with no money down, for a monthly, bi-weekly (or even daily) payment that has somehow become “affordable.” But how? Did cars get cheaper? Are we all significantly wealthier? Or is something else at play?

Do know the difference between buying a car from a dealership and buying privately? OMVIC staff will be happy to answer your car-buying questions and provide you with information about your car-buying rights at IMPORTFEST! 

Sending a “child” off to university or college can be traumatic – for the parents of course; the kid will be just fine. So to make it easier to keep ‘em coming home for more than just Thanksgiving and spring break, some parents will head out with their teens on an elusive hunt for a decent, but cheap, set of wheels. It’s worth noting decent and cheap can be difficult to find in peaceful coexistence in the automotive jungle.

When you owe more for a car than what it's worth, you have negative equity. Follow our infographic to find out how easily it can happen.

Ontario’s vehicle sales regulator is providing educational information and tips to consumers who are financing their next car-purchase. “Traditionally the most common source of complaints received by OMVIC relate to vehicle condition or contract cancellation” explained John Carmichael, OMVIC CEO and Registrar. “However we are noticing an increase in complaints specific to finance agreements; and in the past few years, this has led to a number of dealers facing charges or licence revocation.”

OMVIC, Ontario’s vehicle sales regulator, has ordered the immediate suspension of 1828780 Ontario Inc. o/a D L Auto Brokers, operated by Darrel Legare at 581 Lakeshore Drive, North Bay. As a result, Legare and D L Auto Brokers may not legally sell, lease, buy or consign vehicles. 

Thinking about buying a used car? There is a lot of information out there, so paring down that information to what is essential can seem like a daunting task. 

Once you have narrowed down your options on budget and brand of vehicle and are ready to start visiting dealerships, knowing about mandatory disclosure requirements is essential.  

So what exactly is a lien?
A lien is a legal “encumbrance” registered on a person’s property to secure a debt the property owner owes to another person/business (commonly a bank/lender). In the case of a car loan, a bank (or finance company) will register a lien against the vehicle giving them the right to take possession of it should the borrower default on the loan and to sell the vehicle to recoup the outstanding debt.
So it’s really important you DON’T buy a vehicle with an outstanding lien!