Tips to Avoid Buying an Unsafe Vehicle

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Buying a used vehicle can be a gamble. You might end up with a great car at a bargain price, or you might be acquiring someone else’s headache. Fortunately for folks in Ontario, Canada, there is a program to help you avoid getting an unsafe vehicle, but you still have to be smart about how you shop.

Should you buy from a dealer or from a private party

The stereotypical used car dealer as portrayed in movies and TV shows is someone who says and does anything to make a sale. In real life, the majority of car dealers have no interest in the types of shady dealings portrayed on TV. Buying from a dealer in Ontario brings with it an advantage over purchasing from a private party.

The Motor Vehicles Dealers Act applies if you purchase from a registered dealer in Ontario. Among the protections offered under the law are the following:

  • 90-day contract cancellation: The contract you sign with a dealer is binding as soon as you sign it, but the law allows you to cancel it within 90 days if you were given inaccurate information about the vehicle, including odometer reading, past use of the vehicle, warranty cancellation by the manufacturer and whether the vehicle has been branded by the Ministry of Transportation.
  • All-inclusive pricing: Other than taxes, the price you see in an advertisement should be the price you end up paying when you buy from a dealer.
  • Access to free arbitration: In the event of manufacturing defects in the vehicle you purchase, dealers must inform you of your eligibility for the Canadian Motor Vehicle Arbitration Plan to resolve them.
  • Deposit protection: A compensation fund protects the deposit or payment you make to a dealer in the event you are entitled to have it returned and the dealer refuses.

Avoid purchasing an unsafe vehicle

The Ontario Ministry of Transportation branding program is designed to help consumers avoid purchasing vehicles that could be unsafe because they were in a wreck or due to other reasons. A vehicle that has suffered damage must be branded and reported to the Ministry of Transportation.

Vehicles that are damaged in a crash, fire, flood or dismantled after being stolen and have been declared a total loss are included in the branding program. Responsibility for assigning the brand to a vehicle falls on insurance companies, recyclers, dealers and individual owners.

The following are the four brands that can be assigned to vehicles:

  • Irreparable
  • Salvage
  • Rebuilt
  • None

Vehicles branded as “irreparable” or “salvage” are unsafe for operation on public roads. Irreparable vehicles can only be used for parts, but salvage vehicles can be repaired and returned to the road provided they pass an inspection.

Locating a vehicle’s brand

Never purchase a vehicle without knowing its brand type. Brand information on a vehicle can be found in the following locations:

  • At the database maintained by the Ontario Vehicle Registration System
  • On the vehicle permit
  • In a vehicle’s history report
  • In Used Vehicle Information Packages

When purchasing a branded vehicle, it is always a good idea to have the vehicle inspected by a reputable mechanic before completing the transaction.

Personal injury lawyers ready to help

If you are injured in an accident caused by a defect in the vehicle you are driving, you might have a claim against the dealer or other entity that sold it to you. The personal injury lawyers at Diamond and Diamond have years of experience handling all types of personal injury cases. Their goal is to get you the compensation you need to get on with your life. Contact our 24/7 injury hotline at 1-800-567-HURT or visit our website to speak to someone now about your claim. Consultations are free, and we have offices located throughout Ontario.