UNITY

For 42 years the UCDA has proudly gone by the name Used Car Dealer Association of Ontario.

In that time, the UCDA has been witness to massive changes in the market, in the technology and the consumers we serve. The quality of the vehicles our members sell has never been better, but ownership is getting beyond more and more people as prices rise.

Part of the reason for rising prices in the aftermarket, of course, is due to external economic forces and pressures beyond our control. Others are due to changes closer to home, from fee hikes by regulators that are grossly in excess of what is fair or reasonable, as well as costs imposed by requirements like FINTRAC compliance, taxes, overhead, and insurance.

The UCDA was founded in 1984 by 7 Ontario dealers as a not-for-profit association. The UCDA currently represents almost 5000 Members, spread through more than 500 Ontario communities. We celebrated our 40th anniversary on November 15th, 2024.

How did we do this? By staying relevant to our members and our mission; to enhance the image of the Used Vehicle Industry through the three pillars of Representation, Education, and Mediation.

We have learned, over all these years, the truth of the statement that individually dealers struggle to be heard, but collectively they cannot be ignored.

We see this played out in our advocacy on files like auto theft, our relationship with law enforcement and Crime Stoppers, our work with government and regulators, our support of charities fighting childhood cancer, our work on education and consumer dispute resolution and, just in the last year:

  • Front Line went fully digital in October of 2025
  • All new UCDA forms released
  • Our first ever UCDA Golf Tournament
  • The first dealer-wide survey on ServiceOntario since 2010
  • Promoting the UCDA message to the benefit of Members
  • Attended 20th annual Used Car Week in Toronto and partnered in the 21st
  • Attended numerous trade shows, conventions and conferences
  • Maintain an approved extended warranty list
  • Conducted media interviews
  • Designed FINTRAC for dealers
  • Led the way on Digital ID Verification
  • Fully rolled out free CPD and Key Elements Education and
  • A free flag for every single UCDA member in time for Canada Day!

 Our work with like-minded associations and partners in recycling, tires, banking, consulting, market analysis, tax, legal, and various memberships in associations like CCMTA, IATTI and CFLA places us at the forefront and at the table when motor vehicle dealers’ interests are being advanced … or threatened.

The key theme running through all of this, over all this time, is UNITY. It’s not only why the UCDA attracts so many new members, it’s why existing members in their hundreds renew their membership, year after year after year.

We felt it was high time that our name reflect this unity, celebrate it as our core strength and change our corporate name to capture the spirit of what we do here every day. We are as proud of our old name as we are our new one, the

UNITED CAR DEALERS ASSOCIATION (UCDA)

UCDA members are united in their quest to demonstrate profession-alism and agree to abide by our Code of Ethics; to do an even better job in this business than the minimum expectations placed on dealers.

You already have the UCDA logo on your wall, your window, your plate bags, and that will not change, but going forward you will know, for sure, you are part of something bigger than just your single business. You are part of a very large group, an association, that has your back.

We will not forget our past as we look to the future, and the future for the UCDA is bright, as we venture into our 5th decade serving our great members in this dynamic industry.

The UCDA Stands for Dealers

The UCDA Stands with Dealers

OMVIC NEEDS EDUCATION

As our members know, we have been offering Key Elements training since the start of the year for grandfathered registrants. We do this for FREE because, as a not-for-profit, we see this as a way to give back value to our members. OMVIC charges $202.86.

As our members also know, OMVIC’s Continuing Professional Development (CPD) began on April 1, 2026 and will affect the vast majority of registered dealers and salespeople on their next renewal cycle. OMVIC wants $99 for this from dealers every year, and salespeople every two years.

By our calculations, OMVIC will rake in over 4 million dollars from registrants as a result of all this in the coming cycle. Of course, some of this will be paid to Georgian College for Key Elements, but it sure looks like more than the “cost recovery” which OMVIC keeps telling everyone is what the fees represent.

What OMVIC doesn’t tell anyone, is what those real costs actually are. Interestingly, OMVIC’s deficit last year was just over 4 million dollars, so that may be closer to the truth of all this.

OMVIC is more concerned with your money than your education. Meanwhile, as of April 1st, the UCDA started offering CPD training

FREE of charge.

We asked OMVIC to share CPD material with us so we could make that training even better, more focused and efficient. Of course, they said NO. Maureen Harquail, OMVIC’s boss, said: “the [CPD] program is proprietary to OMVIC …”.

OMVIC is a not-for-profit organization, we’d like to see them act like it.

We asked the Ministry to help out, they have not replied, as usual.

We are not giving up on this, as dealers need it, and since they paid for it, they should have access to it.

If you are interested in any of the UCDA’s educational offerings contact education@ucda.org or call the office at 416-231-2600 or 1-800-268-2598 and ask for Val or Sukh. Please visit our website for more information at https://www.ucda.org/education/ucda-continuing-education/

CONVENIENCE DEALS

Dealers in Ontario are highly regulated. Because of this, the public trusts them and often chooses them over private sellers when buying vehicles. However, some bad actors take advantage of that trust.

The “Convenience Deal”

A “convenience deal” is a way dealers can be taken advantage of. In this type of deal, a customer comes to you with a vehicle they want to sell to a friend, family member, or even a stranger at an agreed price.

The consumer may want to run the vehicle through your books so they can help the buyer get financing or use a trade-in for tax savings.

The convenience deal is convenient for the seller, the buyer, but rarely the dealer. Why? Because you do not know the seller, you do not know the buyer and you know little to nothing about the vehicle. This is a recipe for disaster and it’s why these deals often go sideways fast.

What’s the Risk?

If you take in the vehicle and quickly sell it to the buyer, you take on full responsibility for that vehicle.

The seller may make claims about the vehicle’s condition, history, or past accidents. But unless a trusted mechanic inspects the vehicle, there is no way to know if those claims are true.

An even bigger concern is vehicle theft. Some thieves steal cars and change their Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), a process called “re-VINing.” They may use a real VIN from a similar vehicle to make the stolen car look legitimate.

When you run a history report, it may look normal because it’s tied to the real VIN, not the stolen car. If you sell a vehicle like this, you could be responsible for mechanical issues—or worse, for selling a stolen vehicle.

Avoiding Fraud: What You Need to Know

  1. Avoid Convenience Deals When Possible

Convenience deals may help others, but they put dealers at risk. The safest choice is to avoid them altogether. If you do proceed, take extra care.

  1. Inspect Every Vehicle and Run Reports

Reports and disclosure forms can help, but they are not enough. Always inspect the vehicle thoroughly. If someone is committing fraud, you cannot rely on their statements. Never skip this step, even if the customer is in a hurry.

Dealers do this whenever they buy vehicles, but may neglect to do so on a convenience deal. Do not do this! In fact, use extra care and vigilance on such deals.

  1. Run an Export Report

There is no perfect way to catch re-VINing, but an export report can help. Thieves may use VINs from vehicles that were exported out of the country.

Running a Carfax report with export data, along with an “Export Check” through the UCDA, can help flag issues. If a vehicle has been exported, it should not be in front of you for sale or trade-in.

Keep in mind, this method has limits. It only works if the thief used an exported VIN, and if that data is available. If you are unsure, contact local police (non-emergency) or Équité to inspect the vehicle for VIN tampering.

Avoid Being Duped

Avoid convenience deals when you can. If you choose to proceed, take your time and follow every step – especially if the customer is rushing you.

If something feels off, trust your instincts. You can also contact the UCDA Legal Department for advice at (416) 231-2600 or 1-800-268-2598.

 

GUIDANCE ON NOMINEE BUYERS

Dealers have a number of ways to protect themselves from the fraudulent use of nominee or ‘strawman’ buyers.

Dealers face various implications if they are not vigilant in protecting against this activity, including reprisals by manufacturers, tax concerns, regulatory exposure, loss of future opportunity and bad press. This is not to mention the consumer harm posed by the legal risks the nominees unknowingly expose themselves to, the harm to the domestic market and tax implications.

These illegal purchasers pose as legitimate consumers, but are actually part of a secret network of exporters who swiftly, after the sale, ship the unit out of Canada for big money.

Some dealers employ a contractual solution to address this. One way they do this is through the use of “non-export agreement clauses” (NEAs) which essentially restrict the buyer from exporting the vehicle they are buying for some period of time after the purchase and if they do, there is a monetary penalty. It is incorporated into, and forms part of, the vehicle purchase agreement.

These clauses have been found to be legal by courts, but in a recent case, an Ontario Court found a particular clause breached the Consumer Protection Act because it was too broadly worded.

Some minor drafting corrections would be needed to the NEA to clarify that the buyer would not be held accountable for an export that was not within their personal control.

In a lengthy ruling that never really established if the Land Rover vehicle was actually exported or by whom, the Court overturned a small claims court judgement against the consumer for $15,000.

The Court said:

“First, NEAs have been found to be enforceable on the parties.

…

There is an ambiguity if the vehicle is stolen and then exported. Would the consumer be held liable under the NEA as it was exported without their intent?

…

According to the NEA, the Appellant would be responsible under all circumstances if the vehicle is resold for export within one year of purchase. The dealership is placing the risk of the export to the consumer regardless of whether the vehicle was exported by a purchaser of the vehicle or was stolen and then exported.

…

It would be inherently wrong and contrary to public policy to enforce the NEA that transfers the risk of the export completely to the consumer even it is out of the control of the consumer.

Therefore, the court finds that the trial judge erred in law in finding that the CPA did not apply to the NEA.”

The decision is well-reasoned and logical.

The drafting of the NEA in this case was poor. Dealers who use these clauses should take note and use wording that is compliant with consumer protection legislation.

If you’d like to read the whole case, the Ontario Divisional Court case is reported here: https://tinyurl.com/5ybxj6cs

FAKE WEBSITES

In past articles, we discussed scams on Facebook Marketplace where fraudsters pretend to be car dealers to collect deposits from unsuspecting buyers. Now, these scams are becoming more advanced. Some fraudsters are using AI to copy dealership websites and steal money.

These fake websites often look exactly like real dealership sites, even showing the same vehicle listings. Like Facebook Marketplace scams, fraudsters pretend to be the dealership. This tricks customers into thinking they are dealing with a trusted seller.

They may also send documents such as credit applications, bills of sale, and other forms that are normally used when buying a car. In some cases, victims have lost as much as $80,000.

Both customers and dealers need to stay alert to avoid losing money to these scams.

Here are a few steps customers and dealers can take:

  1. Check the Website Name

Make sure the website address matches the one listed on the dealer’s OMVIC profile. While scammers can copy a website’s design, they cannot use the exact same domain name. Dealers should also make sure their OMVIC profile is always up to date and accurate.

  1. Use Clear Disclaimers

Let customers know how and where you do business. This information should be easy to find. If you do not offer remote sales, say so. If you only accept deposits in person, make that clear.

You can also add a note telling customers your correct website address. For example, “For trusted information, visit our official site at ucda.org.”

Since scammers often copy entire websites, they may copy your disclaimer too. This can help customers spot the real site.

  1. Report Suspicious Websites

It is now easy and cheap to create and advertise a website. Scammers take advantage of this. They often create fake websites and promote them through search engines. When you discover one, always report it to OMVIC, the police and the RCMP: https://tinyurl.com/8wmzn6fv

Dealers should regularly search for their business online and report any suspicious ads or websites.

  1. Stay Diligent

There is no perfect way to stop these scams. However, staying alert can help reduce the risk. Members are encouraged to contact the UCDA Legal Department for more advice on how to prevent scams:

(416) 231-2600 or 1-800-268-2598.

EXTENDED WARRANTY ADDITIONS

Last month we put out our updated list for 2026. A few entrants missed the deadline, so we are catching up now. You will see the additions underlined below.

Every couple of years or so, we reach out to extended warranty companies on our list to confirm their products are still underwritten by Ontario Insurance Companies. In Ontario, dealers can only sell warranties to consumers that are insured or registered with a secured line of credit posted with OMVIC.

The UCDA considers insured products to be the gold-standard for consumer and dealer protection, and therefore we recommend our members only sell those products.

Those that choose to agree to our terms and satisfy us, appear on our list, which we publish in Front Line and online at our extended warranty update https://www.ucda.org/dealer-faqs/extended-warranties/

Each of the companies listed below have provided the UCDA with a copy of their insurance agreement, along with written undertakings to notify the UCDA in the event the coverage is cancelled or changes are made, as well as meeting any other conditions we require.

Just because a company is not on this list does not mean they may not be insured; they either have not decided to apply or have not otherwise satisfied us. In such cases, dealers should satisfy themselves as to the nature of any company’s underwriting.

After receiving updates from insurers, here is the current, as of June 1, 2026, alphabetical list of warranty companies that have met our requirements for insurance recognition:

Use of this list is at your own risk. While the UCDA makes best efforts to verify insurance at the time of our review, there is no guarantee that any of the companies listed remain insured during the intervening period. You must satisfy yourself as to the insured status of any company whose products you offer your customers and the UCDA assumes no liability or legal responsibility for errors or omissions in this list.

Warranty Companies Recognized as Insured by UCDA As of June 1, 2026

  
Assurant Vehicle Protection Services1-800-387-0119
Avanta Dealer Services Corp.1-888-828-2682
Canada General Warranty Inc.1-866-320-8975
Caprica Protection Services, INC1-888-222-3020
Central Administrative Service Corporation, INC1-888-222-3020
First Canadian Protection Plans1-800-381-2580
Global Warranty1-800-265-1519
Guarantee VC/GVC Premium Warranty Company1-800-268-3284
KM+ Warranty Canada Inc.1-855-521-7638
Les Produits Advantage Plus Inc.1-866-666-0181
Lions Auto Protection Inc.1-888-852-2608
Lubrico Warranty1-800-668-3331
NationWide Auto Warranty1-888-674-8549
People’s Choice Warranty Ltd.1-888-284-2356
Sym-Tech i-Select Plus Coverage1-800-363-5796 Ext 2
Trisura Warranty Services Inc.1-844-995-7700
uSelect Warranty Corporation / The Profits Group1-877-692-1329
Veritas Global Protection Services, INC1-888-222-3020

 

The UCDA does not endorse any specific warranty company or product, but strongly recommends that members only offer warranties that are insured by a licensed Ontario insurer



OMVIC CURBSIDER ENFORCEMENT

One area where OMVIC has done a consistently good job is on enforcement of illegal dealing in motor vehicles, what we know as “curbsiding”. Under the Regulations to the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act this offence carries a minimum fine of $5000 as of 2023.

It takes a lot of hours to investigate and prosecute these increasingly sophisticated crooks that hide behind burner phones and fake emails to peddle their motor vehicles to unsuspecting consumers. OMVIC’s work carries on all over the province of Ontario.

The only thing more unsavoury and risky for consumers than these curbsiders, are the vehicles they sell.

Our members know as well as OMVIC that these sellers pose the greatest risk to consumers in our industry. Inevitably, the business model involves buying really cheap vehicles with stories to tell about accidents, odometer accuracy, mechanical problems, liens and title issues … not telling the buyer about these stories … and selling for much more money than they paid to buy them.

All of this while incurring none of the costs of overhead, rent, OMVIC fees, regulatory concerns and zero after-sale care or compensation fund access for buyers. In other words, zero protections offered to consumers unlike those who buy from legitimate motor vehicle sellers – registered OMVIC motor vehicle dealers.

We thought we’d share some recent good news on that front, which you can read about anytime you like, on OMVIC’s own website, here:

https://tinyurl.com/dz47vkak

Elemer Lazi Sr., Gabriella Erzsebet Lazine, and Elemer Lazi Jr., Erin/Georgetown, Conviction after Guilty Plea, on March 26, 2026, were each found guilty of multiple counts of trading in motor vehicles without being registered with OMVIC to legally sell vehicles.

The court also found them guilty of several counts of unfair practices under the Consumer Protection Act related to misleading representations to consumers.

The court imposed a total of $51,500 in fines: This included individual fines:

  • Elemer Lazi : $12,500 (MVDA) + $6,000 (CPA) = $18,500
  • Gabriella Erzsebet Lazine: $12,500 (MVDA) + $2,000 (CPA) =

$14,500

  • Elemer Lazi : $12,500 (MVDA) + $6,000 (CPA) = $18,500

Thambiratnam Vitheyatharan, Ajax, Conviction after Trial, $90,000 in fines for curbsiding, $20,000 in fines for False, Misleading or Deceptive Representations – March 12, 2026

Avinash Ganesh, Scarborough, Conviction after Trial, $30,000 in fines for curbsiding – March 11, 2026.

UCDA ANNUAL AND SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING

The United Car Dealers Association’s 2026 Annual and Special General Meeting will take place at 4:00 p.m. (E.S.T.) on the 11TH day of June 2026 at the Holiday Inn, 970 Dixon Road, Toronto, Ontario.

A review of the Association’s performance in 2025, appointment of auditors, a name change for the UCDA, and other business will take place.

Please find enclosed with this issue of Front Line, a Letter from our President, our Notice of Annual and Special General Meeting of Members, and our Proxy form with postage-paid return envelope.

In the event you cannot or do not plan to attend, we ask that you consider filling in the Proxy Form, tick the line beside Vote on #1 and #2 sign and complete below, and send it back to us at proxy@ucda.org, by fax at 1.888.490.4883 or by mail in the postage paid envelope included.

2026 UCDA CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT

In support of the fight against children’s cancer.

Once again, the UCDA is proud to extend a warm invitation to you for a day of camaraderie, competition, and networking at the UCDA Golf Tournament on Wednesday, July 8th, 2026 in support of the fight against children’s cancer.

We had so much fun, so much success, and raised so much money for charity last year, we couldn’t wait to do it again this year!

The event will be held (like last year) at the stunning backdrop of TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley, the same venue that hosted the RBC Canadian Open in 2025, and is doing so again in 2026! This promises to be as unforgettable an experience as it was last year.

Whether you’re a seasoned golfer or a novice enthusiast, this Golf Day welcomes players of all levels. Gather your friends, colleagues, and fellow golf enthusiasts for an unforgettable event.

We look forward to seeing you on the green!

Registration:

https://ucdagolftournament.com/

Sponsorship Opportunities

https://ucda.org/ucda-golf-tournament-sponsorship/

Agenda
TimeActivity
8:30 am – 9:50 amRegistration, Gifting and Breakfast
9:50 am – 10:00 amCall to Carts and Welcome Address
10:00 amShotgun Start
10:00 am – 3:00 pmOn-Course Activations
3:00 pm – 5:00 pmPost-Golf Grand Reception & Networking


 

Any questions or enquiries? Please email ldowling@ospreyvalley.com

2026 UCDA EXTENDED WARRANTY LIST

Every couple of years or so, we reach out to extended warranty companies on our list to confirm their products are still underwritten by Ontario Insurance Companies. In Ontario, dealers can only sell warranties to consumers that are insured or registered with a secured line of credit posted with OMVIC.

The UCDA considers insured products to be the gold-standard for consumer and dealer protection, and therefore we recommend our members only sell those products. For many years, we have welcomed companies that wish to participate in our list, maintained for our members, to demonstrate their insurance is proper and in good-standing, provide us with required undertakings and otherwise satisfy us as to their suitability to be on our list.

Those that choose to agree to our terms and satisfy us, appear on our list, which we publish in Front Line and online at our extended warranty update https://www.ucda.org/dealer-faqs/extended-warranties/

Each of the companies listed below have provided the UCDA with a copy of their insurance agreement, along with written undertakings to notify the UCDA in the event the coverage is cancelled or changes are made, as well as meeting any other conditions we require.

Just because a company is not on this list does not mean they may not be insured; they either have not decided to apply or have not otherwise satisfied us. In such cases, dealers should satisfy themselves as to the nature of any company’s underwriting.

After receiving updates from insurers, here is the current, as of April 2026, alphabetical list of warranty companies that have met our requirements for insurance recognition:

Use of this list is at your own risk. While the UCDA makes best efforts to verify insurance at the time of our review, there is no guarantee that any of the companies listed remain insured during the intervening period. You must satisfy yourself as to the insured status of any company whose products you offer your customers and the UCDA assumes no liability or legal responsibility

for errors or omissions in this list.

Warranty Companies Recognized as Insured by UCDA

As of April 1, 2026

CompanyPhone
Assurant Vehicle Protection Services1-800-387-0119
Avanta Dealer Services Corp1-888-828-2682
Canada General Warranty Inc.1-866-320-8975
Caprica Protection Services, Inc.1-888-222-3020
Central Administrative Service Corporation, Inc.1-888-222-3020
First Canadian Protection Plans1-800-381-2580
Global Warranty1-800-265-1519
Guarantee VC / GVC Premium Warranty Company1-800-268-3284
KM+ Warranty (Canada) Inc.1-855-521-7638
Lions Auto Protection Inc.1-888-852-2608
Lubrico Warranty1-800-668-3331
People’s Choice Warranty Ltd.1-888-284-2356
Sym-Tech i-Select Plus Coverage1-800-363-5796 Ext. 2
Trisura Warranty Services Inc.1-844-995-7700
uSelect Warranty Corporation / The Profits Group1-877-692-1329
Veritas Global Protection Services, Inc.1-888-222-3020

 

The UCDA does not endorse any specific warranty company or product, but strongly recommends that members only offer warranties that are insured by a licensed Ontario insurer.