OMVIC

OMVIC — the Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council — administers the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act (MVDA) in Ontario. It is a self-regulatory organization with statutory authority: every person or business that buys or sells motor vehicles for profit in Ontario must be registered with OMVIC, regardless of whether they operate from a physical lot.

OMVIC sets and enforces the rules governing dealer advertising (including all-in pricing), mandatory disclosures to buyers, vehicle history disclosure requirements, bill of sale standards, salesperson conduct, and dealer registration requirements.

Registration: complete the OMVIC Registration Course and apply for dealer registration. Maintain a registered place of business that has passed OMVIC's lot inspection. Renew registration annually.

Advertising: display your OMVIC registration number in all advertising including your website, social media, listing sites, and print materials. Use all-in pricing in every advertised price. Avoid misleading claims.

Buyer documentation: provide a Buyer Information Sheet (BIS) to every buyer before any purchase agreement is signed. The BIS discloses vehicle history, known issues, and dealer contact information.

OMVIC investigates consumer complaints and can conduct proactive inspections of dealer operations. Violations can result in fines, conditions placed on registration, suspension, or revocation of dealer registration.

The most common violations reported to OMVIC are: failing to display the registration number in advertising, advertising prices that exclude fees (all-in pricing violations), failure to provide a Buyer Information Sheet, and misrepresenting vehicle history. Most of these violations are straightforward to avoid with proper systems.