OMVIC has ordered the IMMEDIATE SUSPENSION of 519224 Ontario LTD. o/a Tom Pirie Motor Sales, 190 Lombard Street, Smiths Falls, and of Thomas Pirie, officer and director of Tom Pirie Motor Sales. As a result, Pirie and Tom Pirie Motor Sales may not legally sell, lease, buy or consign motor vehicles. Consumers are warned not to buy or lease motor vehicles from, or sell or consign motor vehicles to, Tom Pirie Motor Sales, RV Kemptville or Thomas Pirie while the dealer’s registration is suspended/terminated.

Buying a vehicle, whether new or used, can be confusing—perhaps even intimidating. And while the thought of acquiring a new vehicle is exciting, the process can be stressful. So if a consumer is about to enter into the car-buying process feeling unprepared or ill-equipped, The OMVIC Academy has resources that will ensure they are entertained as they become confident and informed car buyers.

February is for lovers. February 14^this the most romantic day of the year for couples (and maybe the most oppressive day of the year for singles), but did you know about the other special days in February celebrating different kinds of love? February 5^th is National Weatherman’s Day, the 26^th is “tell a Fairy Tale Day” and the 15^th is the “International Day for Car Lovers.”

OMVIC has been providing consumer protection to Ontario’s car buyers for over 20 years, but not everyone knows OMVIC's mandate and how it is carried out. To help explain our mission, we created a quick reference guide.

A Markham area man and woman are facing dozens of charges related to the alleged illegal sale of vehicles (curbsiding), many with rolled back odometers.  

Investigators for OMVIC, Ontario’s vehicle sales regulator, found the accused bought 26 vehicles in 2018, many with very high mileage. Then, posing as private sellers, they offered the vehicles for sale on Kijiji. The odometers of many of the vehicles had been rolled back by significant amounts — in some cases, 200,000 to 300,000 kms . Euro Premium Auto Ltd., a corporation directed by one of the accused, was used to acquire many of the vehicles.  

Friday, January 25th is “Opposite Day.” We’re not sure who invented this special day, but we think it must be the same committee who decreed May 24^th “National Scavenger Hunt Day” or August 12^th “Middle Child Day.”

There seems to be no real consensus on how to celebrate Opposite Day – some eat breakfast for dinner or wear their clothes backwards. For OMVIC, Opposite Day is the perfect time to talk about negative equity, an expression that reveals itself to be contradictory. Negative Equity, just like “jumbo shrimp” and “confirmed rumour”, is an oxymoron.

Defining Negative Equity   

Negative equity actually means that you owe more for a car than what it’s worth. It becomes an issue when you want to trade in that car you still owe money on.   

Looks can be deceiving. It’s always been the case, but sometimes we conveniently forget.

Take Instagram for instance—you freely like your friend’s pictures of the family’s beautiful cottage, the snapshots of the gorgeous kids, the family trips to Europe, and the endless brunch pics featuring nothing but mimosas and smiles. And while you’re busy liking the posts, you start to wonder how someone’s life could be so perfect.  Instagram is all surface and deep down we know it, but, oh, how we get seduced by the way things look.

The same is also true with cars.

 

If you’re thinking of leasing your next vehicle, it’s crucial to make an informed decision. Failure to do so could result in financial headaches down the road.

What is a Lease?

A lease is like a long-term car rental - you don’t actually own the vehicle. A leasing agreement typically runs over a series of months (36, 48, 60) with a set monthly payment. Leasing is available for both new and used cars.

The dealer and the company that owns the leased vehicle (lessor) are most often not the same organization. The dealer helps arrange the lease and offers other services to the consumer (lessee). Generally, the dealer does not handle the monthly lease payments and is not the organization with which you sign the lease; these functions are performed by an independently owned and operated finance company

As we slip into the driver’s seat and head out on the road in 2019, let’s look back in the rear view one more time. 2018 saw OMVIC on the road educating consumers about their buying rights and promoting industry professionalism by ensuring dealers and salespeople were informed of the regulations governing vehicle sales in Ontario.  

OMVIC, Ontario’s vehicle sales regulator, is warning consumers not to purchase vehicles from Arif Adnan Syed, Hafsa Nasser or Syed’s company, Euro Premium Auto Ltd. Note: Euro Premium is not a registered dealer.

OMVIC believes Syed and Nasser are curbsiders — illegal, unlicensed dealers. Operating from a home in central Unionville, the couple are allegedly buying high mileage vehicles and then, posing as private sellers, offering them for sale on Kijiji. The odometers of many of the vehicles sold have been rolled back by significant amounts — in some cases, 200,000 to 300,000 kilometres.

 

 Recently, OMVIC received this question:

“I’m considering buying a used sedan. It is two years old and has 20,000 km on it. Unfortunately, the OMVIC-Registered Dealer is not willing to show a CarFax report. My question is, “Is the dealer required by OMVIC to show a CarFax report?”

The short answer is…

No.

Instead, dealers are required to make 22 mandatory disclosure requirements related to a vehicle’s past use, history and condition, including accident repairs greater than $3,000 and the true distance a vehicle has travelled, but there is nothing in the Motor Vehicle Dealer’s Act (MVDA) that requires them to provide a history report like CARFAX Canada or AutoCheck (note: AutoCheck is only available to dealers). 

Thinking about decking the driveway with a newer set of wheels this holiday season? Considering buying that vehicle privately? Well, OMVIC suggests you check this list twice to help you spot the naughty sellers, so you only buy from the nice.

Buying a vehicle is a decision that should only be made after careful consideration, and for most consumers, one of those major considerations is how to finance the purchase.

The majority of consumers borrow money when buying a vehicle. Some choose to use a personal line of credit or arrange financing at their own bank or credit union, while many have the dealer arrange financing.

Having the dealer arrange financing often makes sense—dealers have access to numerous lenders that may provide terms or rates unavailable elsewhere. But this doesn’t mean consumers shouldn’t carefully consider what is being offered and take steps to ensure they are getting the best possible finance rate and terms.

How did 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 — get its name? Some would say Black Friday 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 among us might argue it’s consumerism run amok and a black mark on our society.  Though the origins of the name may be debatable, the lure of Black Friday is undeniable.

 

Admit it. Most of us can be…a little superficial.  Maybe your winter coat is Canada Goose, your boots are Sorel and your fleece is Arc’teryx; you order double ristretto venti half-soy nonfat decaf organic chocolate brownie iced vanilla double-shot gingerbread Frappuccino extra hot with foam whipped cream upside down double blended, one  Low and one NutraSweet, and ice because it’s Starbucks and no one drinks ‘coffee’ anymore, and; you want to buy that ruggedly sexy SUV you’ve seen on safari travel shows; the one all the celebs drive, cuz you know, it  will undoubtedly impress your friends.  Yes, about some things – we can be brand snobs.