The rate at which the car business is growing is so astronomical that the streets, newspapers and the Internet are filled with private Sellers, registered and unregistered dealers who operate from their homes, private shops and legitimate stores. Some of these business owners and sellers do not really care about the ethics of the business.  They lack the business etiquette, education and experience. Their main focus is just to sell and make profit. Customers are treated unfairly, threatened, cheated and manipulated due to their burning urge to sell. 

Unfortunately, many car buyers do not understand that they are fully protected by the law when buying a vehicle. They are manipulated and coerced into buying without the necessary information and documentation.

In the Province of Ontario, there is a body called OMVIC, that is, the Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council. It regulates the sale of vehicles in the province. This body ensures that Car Dealers are duly registered and advise all car buyers to be careful and not to buy from unregistered dealers and private sellers.

The body upholds the dictates of the Consumer Protection Act and does not encourage dealers to treat their customers unfairly either by hiding vital information or making false advertisement about the vehicles they are selling.

As a car buyer, it is your right to know the odometer reading of the vehicle that you are buying. You need to know if the odometer reading is accurate or faulty and confirm that it has not been tampered with. The Dealer must provide this on the Contract, usually referred to as the Bill of Sale. If the odometer reading in the car is different with a wide margin from the one on the bill of sale, the customer has the right to protest and refuse to sign the contract.

The customer has the right to know the year, model and make of the vehicle. This must equally be provided on the Bill of Sale.

It is the right of the customer to know if there is a warranty on the vehicle. In addition, the customer has the right to know if the vehicle has been used as a Taxi, rental car, police or limousine.

It is the right of the buyer to know the branding of the vehicle. Has it been branded as “Rebuilt”, “Salvage” or “Irreparable” by the Ministry of Transportation?

The VIN (Vehicle identification number) of the vehicle must also be written on the contract. It is the right of the buyer to know this. The VIN is a special identification of 17 digits that consists of a combination of letters and numbers that is allotted to the vehicle when it is manufactured.

When you buy from a dealer that is not registered with OMVIC, you will find it tough to fight for your rights. Therefore, before you buy or begin to sign any document, confirm that the dealer is registered. This can be done online by going to www.omvic.on.ca. Use the search feature to check the status of the dealer and salesperson that you are dealing with. If you feel that a registered dealer has treated you unfairly, contact OMVIC.

However it should be noted that once you sign the contract, it is legally binding but if you notice that any of the information mentioned above is missing, you have 90 days to cancel the contract.

No dealer has the right to threaten you to buy a car. And if a dealer wanted to register a car in your name, there is a process to be followed. He / She must ask if you will like to obtain new license plates or transfer the plates you have on your old vehicle.

Furthermore, the dealer must contact or ask you to contact your Insurance Agent to fax or email your Insurance Confirmation. In addition, your Driver’s License must be viewed and copied and such License must originate from Service Ontario and not from out of Province. Safety Check and proof of emission must also be provided by the dealer.

The buyer should always be patient when buying a car. Do not allow any salesperson to coerce you into buying. Relax and do your research about the vehicle, the price, warranty and safety features and make sure it is the right car. 

If the dealer promises you anything such as free oil change, additional keys or accessories, do not hesitate to ask that it should be written clearly on the contract. Furthermore, if the dealer adds or cancels anything on the contract, such addition or cancellation must be initialed by the representative of the dealership.

Car buying is a very interesting experience. It involves shopping around, surfing the Internet, test driving different vehicles and meeting with a lot of salesmen. Sometimes, it could be very frustrating if at the end, you discover that the dealer or salesperson that sold you a car gave you a misleading information. This is why it is crucial to know your rights before you buy.

Ask questions and do not allow anybody to gamble with your intelligence. Be patient and do not rush. Never allow the time and the journey to bother your mind but focus on the destination – the right vehicle, the vehicle that will serve your needs.

Franklin Adeyeri is a Professional Sales and Certified Credit Consultant

Contact him for your Car Purchase and Credit Rebuilding

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