The Motor Vehicle Dealers Compensation Fund is a consumer protection program financed by Ontario's registered motor vehicle dealers. The fund allows car-buyers, who have purchased from OMVIC-registered dealers and who meet the eligibility criteria, to receive financial assistance if something goes wrong with a vehicle purchase or lease agreement.

Since its creation on July 1, 1986, the fund has paid out over $6 million in compensation to consumers and offers enhanced protection for vehicle buyers in Ontario.

Buying from a registered dealer provides you with some consumer protection and is the safer way to purchase or lease a motor vehicle. Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council (OMVIC)-registered dealers are licensed individuals who must abide by industry professionalism standards. By law, they must undergo background checks and successfully pass an automotive law and ethics certification in order to be registered. So, if you’re looking to buy or lease a vehicle, purchase from an OMVIC-registered dealer to ensure you get what you paid for.

March marks national Fraud Protection Month, so here are tips on how to identify and protect yourself from curbsiders when buying a car.

Curbsiders are illegal, unlicensed dealers who pose as private sellers. Two signs that you are dealing with a curbsider include a rolled back odometer or previous write-offs with undisclosed accident repairs.

The price of any new or used vehicle advertised by a dealer must include all fees and charges, excluding HST and licensing. This is called all-in price advertising and it is one of the consumer rights provided to Ontario car-buyers under the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act (MVDA). For car buyers, this means that there are no hidden or additional costs that you may not be aware of. Here are some possible risks and how to protect yourself as a consumer.

When it comes to New Year’s resolutions, one of the most popular is to create and stick to a realistic personal budget to help with important things like paying down debt or saving up for a house, a vacation, or even a new car.

When purchasing a new or used vehicle, it’s important for consumers to identify how they'll finance the purchase. Buying a car is the second most important purchase most consumers make next to buying a home, so protecting your finances and understanding the risks related to vehicle financing are key to ensure a smooth purchase.

Before signing on the dotted line for a vehicle, carefully consider the interest rates and financing options offered and take steps to ensure you get the best possible finance rate and terms. Remember there is no cooling-off period in Ontario so once you sign a contract you are committed to the purchase. Here are some possible risks and how to protect yourself as a consumer.

Getting a vehicle loan may seem like a simple way to make buying a car more attainable. However, consumers must do their research before taking on a long-term loan to avoid negative equity and protect their personal finances.

In Ontario there is no cooling-off period when it comes to buying or leasing a car. Although consumers in the province are permitted a cooling-off period when they sign contracts for certain purchases outlined in the Consumer Protection Act - like a newly built condo or a gym membership, vehicle purchases are final upon signature. Once you sign a vehicle contract, that deal is final and legally binding, unless the dealer has failed to make certain specified disclosures.

Signing on the dotted line for a new vehicle can be intimidating, and the last thing you want to do is waste your hard-earned money on a car that doesn’t meet your needs. Consumers shouldn’t sign a purchase or lease agreement unless they’re sure all terms and conditions are correctly disclosed on the contract.

Rolling back a vehicle’s odometer to display a lower mileage than it has travelled is known as “odometer fraud”. It may be done to increase the sale price of a used car and this issue is often problematic in vehicles sold by dishonest private sellers and illegal, unlicensed vehicle dealers, referred to as curbsiders.

Identifying a vehicle with a rolled-back odometer can be difficult, however, there are steps consumers can take to help spot an odometer that has been tampered with.

Many Ontarians purchase cars from private owners, but “buyer beware”., avoiding Avoiding dealerships can sometimes lead to headaches, unexpected repair bills, unusable vehicles or worse. Private sales can present opportunities for sellers to take advantage of consumers, often by selling vehicles and misrepresenting their car’s history and condition. The Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council (OMVIC) can help you get the information you need before you buy privately to protect yourself.