OMVIC has been delegated responsibility for administering and enforcing the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act (MVDA), a public protection statute delegated by the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery.
As a regulator, we exist to protect car buyers and enhance registrant professionalism. Car buyers should know they are protected and that dealers and salespersons will operate with honesty, integrity and fairness. We are dedicated to ensuring a fair and well-informed vehicle sales marketplace by effectively overseeing dealers and salespersons. This involves routine inspections of Ontario’s 8,000 dealerships and 30,000 salespeople, maintaining a consumer complaint hotline, and diligently pursuing investigations and legal actions when instances of industry misconduct or illegal sales (such as curbsiding) arise.
To accomplish this, we set out four strategic objectives that guide organizational priority setting, resource allocation, capabilities, and budgeting requirements:
Maintain a fair, safe, and informed marketplace for motor vehicle sales in Ontario.
We will take pride in the results of our commitment to a fair marketplace, achieved through innovation, enforcement, and excellence in service.
To achieve its vision, OMVIC strives to be a diligent and modern regulator. Its work is guided and informed by beliefs and commitments including:
» Protecting consumers and acting in the public interest
» Acting respectfully and with integrity
» Taking fair, measured, and appropriate action
» Monitoring industry trends, developments, and issues
» Meaningfully engaging with consumers, registrants, and stakeholders
» Ensuring value at every consumer, registrant, and stakeholder point of contact
» Seeking the highest standards and performing best in class
» Identifying major sources of risk to consumers and executing compliance strategies to address them
» Keeping abreast of consumer needs and expectations, and factors that impact vehicle sales
» Exploring and using technologies to increase, improve and/or expedite services and registrant engagement
» Communicating clearly to inform and educate
» Maintaining a work environment that fosters learning and adapting, job satisfaction, enjoy
» Continuing to adopt the practices of a modern regulator with the intention of applying best practices, including:
• Dedication to the principles of consumer
protection, transparency, and operational
independence
• Employing risk-based compliance/
enforcement activities
• Enhancing registrant professionalism
• Improving digital processes
and automation
• Engaging stakeholders
• Employing data analytics and
effective performance measures
• Fostering a culture of innovation
We have four key areas of service to support our consumer protection mandate.
Our registration process includes careful screening of all applicants. To be registered, all applicants must meet the requirements outlined in the MVDA. Registrations are valid for a limited time, and renewals are conditional on registrants operating with honesty, integrity, financial responsibility and in accordance with the law.
Inspections are conducted regularly to examine business locations, operations and to verify that books and records are properly maintained. Investigations are launched in situations where non-compliance is suspected, and prosecutions may occur as a result.
When appropriate, we handle disputes between car buyers and dealers. The goal is to assist the parties involved in achieving a negotiated solution to avoid having to go to court.
We foster public awareness and understanding of car buyers’ rights through media and education. We also promote dealer education to enhance professionalism in the motor vehicle industry.
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