Discovering a newly purchased vehicle has an unsavoury past can cause major headaches: knowing a vehicle’s history can keep you protected. Finding undisclosed accidents, unpaid liens, unreturned recalls and more can lead to unexpected, expensive payments – or worse – for consumers. Before signing for your next vehicle, check through a CARFAX Canada Vehicle History Report (VHR) to get the details you need to protect your wallet – and yourself.

We asked Shawn Vording, Vice President of Automotive Sales at CARFAX Canada, to share his insights into how a report about a car’s past can protect consumers before they sign on the dotted line. The report ultimately “tells a story from start to finish” giving consumers a complete picture into possible future challenges Vording says in an interview.

Information in a CARFAX VHR is key to peace of mind for car-buyers. Reading through the report’s detailed history section puts every major event in a car’s life in a timeline. “As a consumer you can see how involved the previous owners were in maintaining the vehicle, servicing it and renewing the license plate stickers at the right time. You get a real sense of the story behind the car,” Vording explains.

According to Vording, dealers tend to dig into a history report to ensure they meet mandatory disclosure requirements so consumers know what they’re purchasing. Consumers tend to carefully review the detailed history to really appreciate and understand all the different events the vehicle has gone through. Both are important in the car-buying process.

While a history report may share several details, consumers should always get the vehicle inspected by a trusted mechanic and to take the car for a thorough test drive.

Ultimately, the VHR is a critical tool, but not the only option available for consumers to help them make an informed purchase. To be truly protected, get informed. Read the VHR and review OMVIC’s resources for consumers on our website. Consumers can also contact OMVIC’s consumer support line at consumers@omvic.on.ca or call 1-800-943-6002.

Remember: OMVIC is here to help.

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

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