The plaintive cry of a loon. The echoing rumble of an approaching storm. The shrill mating call of a cicada. The exasperated (and annoying) whine of three backseaters wanting to know “are we there yet?” Ahh, the heartwarming sounds of a Canadian summer. As Canadians, we cram as much into our short summers as possible; and we love our summer toys. We ATV. We camp. We boat. And why? Cuz there’s no wifi ‘out there,' but the connection is unforgettable.
Now a skeptic might define camping as a vacation where you spend a fortune to live like a pauper; but true believers know, campers have s’more fun. But putting those wonderful graham cracker, toasted marshmallow, melting chocolate campfire delicacies aside, if truth be told, camping or boating can be very expensive.
So if you’re thinking about buying a camping trailer, motorhome, boat or ATV, it’s important to know your rights; and believe it or not, depending on what you buy (and whom you buy from) your rights, like your mileage hauling a 5th wheel camper, may vary.
Only consumers who buy from an OMVIC-registered motor vehicle dealer are protected by the regulator, the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act or have access to the OMVIC Compensation Fund. Boat and ATV dealers do not require registration and therefore purchasers from them are not protected by OMVIC or the Comp Fund, though they may receive some protection under the Consumer Protection Act (CPA). “The protections available to RV buyers can be a little confusing” explains Terry O’Keefe, OMVIC’s Director of Communications and Education. “Motorhomes are considered motor vehicles so a dealer selling them must be registered with OMVIC and buyers are protected”. But if a dealer only sells camping trailers, there is no need for registration as trailers are not defined as “motor vehicles”; so like boat buyers, trailer buyers may need to look to the CPA and Ministry of Government and Consumer Services should problems arise. And any consumer who buys an RV, boat, or ATV privately has no consumer protection legislation to fall back on – when it comes to private sales, it's caveat emptor.
RV’ers will tell you that time camping isn’t spent – it’s invested; and boaters would preach that you spend time on land - you live life on the water. But these great summertime activities can be expensive, so before you shop for your leisure time conveyance – get educated. Know when you’re protected, and when you’re not. RV there yet?
About OMVIC
As the regulator of motor vehicle sales in Ontario, OMVIC’s mandate is to maintain a fair and informed marketplace by protecting the rights of consumers, enhancing industry professionalism and ensuring fair, honest and open competition for registered motor vehicle dealers. Visit omvic.ca to learn more about your car-buying rights as well as additional tips for buying a car in Ontario.
For car buying tips, check out the OMVIC Academy. You can view other resources such as multilingual videos and download the OMVIC Car-buying Guide.
Connect with OMVIC on social media!
Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council
@omvic_consumers
@omvic_official
Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council
www.omvic.ca
www.ontario.ca/page/consumer-protection-ontario