Once you sign a car deal, accept an insurance settlement or pay a bill, getting it reopened is hard, and sometimes impossible. Know your rights first, and send it to us before you say yes.
Ontario has no cooling-off period when you buy or lease a car. Once you sign, the deal is binding unless the dealer failed to make certain required disclosures. If a dealer agrees to cancel, they can keep some or all of your deposit.
Motor Vehicle Dealers Act · omvic.ca
A dealer's advertised price has to include every fee they plan to charge, except HST and licensing. Products added after you agreed on a price, like warranties, rustproofing or admin fees, can be refused.
Motor Vehicle Dealers Act · omvic.ca
A Safety Standards Certificate only means the car met minimum safety standards on the day it was checked, and it's valid for 36 days. Ontario has no automatic warranty on used cars, so read what you're actually getting.
OMVIC · omvic.ca
If a shop gives you a written estimate, the final bill can't be more than 10% above it. If you agreed to a maximum instead, they can't go over that amount.
Consumer Protection Act, 2002 · ontario.ca
A shop can't do work you didn't authorize and charge you for it. If they call with "a few more things," get the new amount in writing before you say yes.
Consumer Protection Act, 2002 · cleo.on.ca
Parts and labour generally carry a warranty of at least 90 days or 5,000 km, whichever comes first. If you don't pay, the shop can keep your car, or register a lien if they've already given it back.
Consumer Protection Act, 2002 · ontario.ca
When you accept an insurer's offer and sign the release, the claim is usually closed for good. If the payout on a total loss or repair looks low, question it before you sign. Ask how they valued your car and bring your own comparable listings.
General information. Check your policy and your release form.
Once you've paid two-thirds or more of what you owe under a car financing agreement, no one can seize or resell the car without an order from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.
Ontario · ontario.ca
Wear-and-tear and excess-kilometre charges come from your lease agreement. Get the inspection report in writing and compare every charge to the contract before you pay or sign anything.
Reviewed by someone who has worked the lender side
Send it in. If we find something, we'll tell you what's at stake and take it up for you.
This page is general information, not legal advice.