Becoming a Dealer or Salesperson

To become a registered dealer or salesperson, follow the application process.

New salespersons, renewals or individuals associated with a dealer application

Step 1

• Review the individual application form on the online services portal to confirm what documentation is required
• If applicants are (or have been) licensed in another Canadian jurisdiction, and would like to become registered in Ontario review our Labour Mobility Policy information

Step 2

• Request a BackCheck report. Results will be sent directly to OMVIC within 24 hours

Step 3

• Register for and complete the OMVIC Certification Course. There is a fee associated with taking this course.
• Once registered, the Automotive Business School of Canada (ABSC) will send the course information to you via courier.
• Insert the ABSC student ID in the relevant section of the individual application form. This will ensure that ABSC will send results directly to OMVIC once the course has been completed.

Note: Your application cannot be approved until you have completed the OMVIC certification course.

Step 4

• Retain a copy of the completed application and all attachments
• Notify OMVIC within five business days of any changes to the information provided for registration

Note: Applications cannot be accepted unless the certificate of dealer (section F) has been completed

Step 5

• Submit the completed application form with all required attachments online and pay the associated registration fee

Step 6

• Check your application status online. The status of a processed application will be shown for 30 days

Note: The cost of the Automotive Certification Course is not included in the OMVIC registration fee

New dealers

Important Premises information for dealer applicants:

You are not required to have a business premises before submitting your Business Application. Although a premises is required for all dealership registrations, you do not need to provide location information and the supporting documentation until the final stage of the application review process. This flexibility allows you to initiate the application process without delay and avoid paying rent/lease payments before your application review has been completed.

Step 1

• Review the pre-start section of the online business application to confirm the requirements, including mandatory documents
• Requirements include information for all officers, directors, partners, the sole proprietor, shareholders, signing authorities and individuals seeking registration as a salesperson (as applicable)

Step 2

• Submit the online business application

Step 3

• Ensure all related applications, supporting the business applications are also submitted (as in individual applications or salesperson change application)
• The business application is not ready for review until the submission of all related applications.
• Access the salesperson change notice form on our online services portal

Note: Applicants are required to be forthright and properly disclose any information to OMVIC related to past bankruptcies. OMVIC will then request an explanation of the circumstances and a copy of the statement of affairs and discharge, to determine if a lack of financial responsibility played a role. Bankruptcies rarely lead to a refusal or revocation for salespeople.

Dealership Names

Dealers have raised concerns about the use of words in a dealer’s name that may be misleading. For example, names which incorporate words or phrases such as wholesale, at cost, liquidation and factory direct may lead customers to believe that they will enjoy special pricing otherwise unavailable.

OMVIC now restricts the use of these words in dealership names and will no longer register legal or trade names which fall into this category.

Note: Although this change will not be retroactive, OMVIC will continue to closely monitor the advertising practices of dealers who have names that may not accurately describe their business. Advertising produced by (or on behalf of) such a dealer will need to prominently indicate the true nature of their business.

Reapplying for registration

The MVDA states that a dealer or salesperson whose registration is refused, revoked or refused renewal can reapply for registration if both of these conditions are met:

1. Two years have passed since the refusal, revocation, or refusal to renew
2. New or other evidence is available or it is clear that material circumstances have changed

If OMVIC’s registrar considers it in the public interest, he or she may order a temporary suspension that takes effect immediately. The dealer/salesperson can make a written appeal to the Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT). This temporary suspension expires 15 days after LAT has received the written request for a hearing; if LAT starts the hearing within that 15 days, it can extend the expiry date of the temporary suspension.

What applications are available to file online for dealers?

• Officers, directors, owners, and partners of the dealership have access to file all applications and notices online
• DAs can do the following actions online
  • File dealership’s renewal registration
  • Pay renewal fees and transaction fees
  • Review transaction and renewal request history
  • Subscribe to notifications for both the dealer and salespeople (e.g., application is approved, registration has expired)

  Refusal of registration

  • The MVDA prohibits OMVIC from registering any dealer or salesperson who does not meet the requirements of the act
  • If the requirements are not met, we cannot process the application, and the registrar is not required to issue a proposal to refuse the application
  • If the registrar wants to refuse an application for any other reason, the registrar must give the applicant written notice of a refusal setting out the reasons for the refusal

  Exemptions

  If you believe you may be exempt from OMVIC registration refer to the list of registration exemptions.