Falsifying documents and failing to disclose significant accident histories of vehicles sold has resulted in a Newmarket car dealer having his licence suspended for 120 days. 

Ontario’s Vehicle Sales Regulator, OMVIC, issued a Proposal to Revoke the registration of Premium Cars Wholesale Ltd., 17065 Yonge St., Newmarket, after receiving serious complaints from numerous consumers and one dealer. Premium appealed the proposal to the Licence Appeal Tribunal, LAT, which, after a ten-day hearing, ordered the suspension.

 

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 a conversation with the dealer to determine whether the vehicle you’re interested in will be a worthy investment.

 

OMVIC received this question from Cathy, a consumer, who purchased a used vehicle from an OMVIC-registered dealer.

"I bought a used car. Had the car for one day and noticed the coolant was low, only to find out the coolant was leaking into the motor. What right do I have as a consumer?" Cathy.

 

Let’s cast one final look back at 2019 before it disappears from the rearview mirror forever!

As we head boldly into an exciting new decade, remember that when it comes to buying a car in Ontario, OMVIC’s commitment to your consumer protection and education remains as steadfast as ever.

 

Thinking about decking the driveway with a new set of wheels this holiday season? Before you go dashing all the way to the dealership or checking out the nice and naughty list in the online car classifieds, find out if you’re a Dasher or a Blitzen! Take OMVIC’s ‘smart’ car buyer quiz to find out.

 

Ah December, the holidays are here and a new year looms.

There’s a spirited hustle and bustle unmatched by any other season…. but then comes the rest of the interminably long, dark, soul-sapping winter. We graupel (that’s a pun, not a typo btw) with blizzards, white-outs, treacherous driving, Vitamin D deficiency; and, the excitement that led up to the holidays is replaced by a pining for spring…. a spring that seems an eternity away. Our coping skills are put to a frosty test.

 

If you’re looking to purchase a late model used car or truck, chances are you’ve checked out some of the online auto marketplaces such as Kijiji, AutoTRADER or others. While there are a lot of legitimate vehicles available through these sites, there are also online scams you should watch out for.

The best way to protect yourself against scams is to educate yourself, ask lots of questions, and learn to recognize red flags.

 

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.

 

As consumers, we pay attention to brands. Brands tell us the quality and reputation of a product. The same can be said of Ontario’s mandatory branding program for vehicles.

Knowing what each brand means: Irreparable, Salvaged, Rebuilt and None will help to make an informed decision when it’s time to purchase a used vehicle and will also help to determine whether this is indeed a car you’d like to buy.

This Friday, November 15^th to Sunday, November 17^th, OMVIC will join over 500 exhibitors and 30,000 attendees for the 18^th annual National Women’s Show in downtown Toronto at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

There are some things which should last forever, like love, or a diamond ring, but a car payment is not one of them. Yet forever is how long it might feel if you take out an extended-term loan (e.g. 96 months), without educating yourself on the perils of negative equity—owing more for a car than it is worth.To avoid the pitfalls of an extended-term loan, consumers need to educate themselves and be honest about their needs and car-buying habits.

At two a.m. on Sunday, November 3rd, Daylight Savings Time will officially end. We mark this event by turning our clocks back and getting in one more hour of sleep.

Only Daylight Savings Time–and of course, Cher–can turn back time, but there is a nefarious group who also tries to do it: curbsiders– illegal, unlicensed vehicle dealers who roll back odometers to increase the value of the vehicles they’re selling. 

As adults, little is as exciting and yet equally fearful as the Halloweens of our childhood…with perhaps one exception—buying a car. In that acquisition, many of us steel ourselves with the same heightened sense of “prepare for anything” as a nine-year-old on Halloween. Our fight-or-flight response is awakened; because this is, for most, a large purchase; it can be scary, and no one wants to get stuck with a lemon.

OMVIC, Ontario’s vehicle sales regulator, has ordered the immediate suspension of Hudson’s Fine Cars Inc., 3715 Keele St., Unit: 15 & 16, Toronto, and of the dealership’s  officer and director, Hamid Valizadeh. As a result, Hudson’s Fine Cars Inc. and Hamid Valizadeh cannot legally sell, lease, buy or consign vehicles.

In conjunction with the Suspension Order, a Proposal to Revoke the Registration of Hudson’s Fine Cars Inc., and Hamid Valizadeh, has also been issued.

Ontario’s Vehicle Sales Regulator, OMVIC, has made new car-buying resources available to educators in Ontario. The OMVIC Academy videos, student car-buying guide and teacher’s manual resources are part of a new initiative designed to create informed and confident car buyers.