The new car you’ve seen at the dealership makes your heart pound; your pulse race and the thought of driving it makes you a little giddy. It must be love. You know what they say, first comes love, then comes…car ownership. However, before the dealer can pronounce you ‘car owner and car’, you need to take a step back and ask some serious questions.

Because, let’s face it, buying a new car is a lot like getting married: if you don’t do proper research and ask the right questions you can end up making an expensive mistake you’ll regret for years.

So, think of OMVIC as your marriage coach—here to help you start that discussion that will ensure the relationship between you and new your car is a happy and long lasting one.

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

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

The mandatory disclosure requirement is one of the key pillars of protection offered to Ontario consumers who purchase from an OMVIC-Registered Dealer. Ontario’s Motor Vehicle Dealers Act (MVDA) requires dealers to disclose in writing a vehicle’s past use, history and condition. For example, if a vehicle has been in a collision and the damage exceeded $3,000, the dealer must disclose that.

When it comes to buying a vehicle in Ontario, it is important consumers do their homework before purchasing. But what exactly does that entail? We've come up with a h-o-m-e-w-o-r-k mnemonic will help consumers make an informed purchase whether buying from a private seller or an OMVIC-Registered Dealer. So, roll up your sleeves and get ready to do some H-O-M-E-W-O-R-K!

Warning. This story requires the reader to hum and sing along. Readers may become better educated car-buyers, but, may have a song stuck in their head for a minimum of 12 hours.

Hmm hmm hmm hmm
Hmm hmm hmm hmm
Hmm hmm hmm hmm
Some…times in our lives, we all have pain
We all have sorrow
But, if we are wise
We know that there's, always tomorrow

Go ahead—sing it out loud. No one on the train is watching ;)

Lean on me, when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on….

“Lean on Me”—the immortal classic by Bill Withers. Ranked 208 on Rolling Stones list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time; it still feels as good today as when it was released 45 years ago. But there are times when you most definitely don’t want to be leaned on; or technically, ‘liened’ on. Like when you trade in a car for a new(er) one.

You’ve found the used car of your dreams at a dealership at a price you can afford.  In fact, you’ve been circling the dealership for a few days to check that “The Cruisin' Canary” (the perfect name for your car) hasn’t left the lot with the wrong owner.

Today is the day you’ve decided to take the plunge and move towards committing to your four-wheeled partner.

Well, all right then.

You can do this. You’ve got a plan.

You’ll saunter in, talk to the dealer, see how The Cruisin' Canary handles on a test drive and take things a step further.

You’re a smart consumer, you’ve done your research, you know your rights and have the OMVIC consumer inquiries phone number (1-800-943-6002 ext. 3942) on speed dial. You’ve got your wallet, phone, those pesky prescription glasses and mostly importantly, your power socks on, there’s just one more thing you need to take with you: the right questions!

Buying a car, especially buying a car privately, takes more than money. It takes moxie - you know, pluck, spunk, nerve, tenacity, guts, grit…yeah, moxie! Not only do you have to know the right questions, you need to be bold enough to ask them.
If you’re buying from a private seller, as hundreds of thousands of Ontarians do each year, you need to take the necessary steps to protect your interests and to ensure you are not dealing with a curbsider.

Organized and staffed by students in the Automotive Business School of Canada, Georgian’s Auto Show is the largest of its kind in North America attracting up to 15,000 visitors from across Ontario.

Get your motor runnin'
head out on the highway
lookin’ for adventure
and  whatever comes your way

Steppenwolf was definitely not talking about packing up the station wagon, programming the GPS, adjusting the climate control and arriving at a destination looking fresh and relaxed. ‘Born to be Wild’ is about feeling the exhilaration and adrenalin that only riding a motorcycle on the open road can give you.

“I saw a 2003 Chevrolet advertised on Kijiji for $1,500 ‘as is’ or $1,800 certified, so I arranged to meet the seller. The car looked good. It was comfortable - leather seats and power everything, including a sunroof.”

– Anonymous Toronto car buyer

At first glance this car buyer, let’s call her Amanda, found what appeared to be a pretty good deal--at least for an older, used vehicle. However, that ‘pretty good deal’ was in fact ‘too good to be true’. The private seller was actually a ‘curbsider’, an illegal, unlicensed dealer. And the car? Well, it had major mechanical problems.

If checking out all those cars, trucks and SUVs at the Ottawa Gatineau International Auto Show has you thinking about buying or leasing, make sure you also stop by OMVIC’s booth (Level 2) and bring your car-buying questions!

And, if meeting the friendly OMVIC team isn’t enough of an incentive, we will also be handing out branded keychains, to remind you that OMVIC is here to help with your car-buying experience. Not only is this keychain attractive and stylish, it’s also multi-purpose, serving as a handy tire tread depth gauge. Don’t miss out on your chance to get one! The show runs from March 22 to March 25, at the Shaw Centre.

With today’s modern, tech savvy vehicles - are rolled-back odometers a thing of the past? Or, are roll-backs making a comeback?

Rolled-back odometers are rarely an issue with vehicles sold by OMVIC-Registered Dealers, partially because the consequences can be severe. They could be charged/prosecuted, disciplined and/or lose their licence. And, of course, they have to take back the vehicle and return all monies to the consumer (note: there are time limits for contract rescission). While roll-backs are not a major problem with vehicles sold by dealers, rolled-back odometers are a significant and growing problem amongst vehicles sold by curbsiders and dishonest private sellers.

Professional scammers love to troll popular websites like Kijiji, AutoTRADER and Craigslist, preying on unsuspecting consumers with their phony car ads. It’s how they make their money. And they’re really good at it!

Most of these phony online car ads closely resemble a typical car ad placed by a legitimate private seller, it’s not until the consumer calls that it all starts to go sideways. They’re told fake, made-up stories, i.e. the seller has divorced or relocated and the car is in storage (or someplace similar but inaccessible), or that the seller is actually a dealership located in the U.S.