Photo: American Honda (Honda US Newsroom). 2026 Honda Prologue. Part of the Car Buyer Protection Series by Henry Chen, Maple Honda, Vaughan.
OMVIC's Disclosures Guideline consolidates every disclosure obligation a registered dealer has under the MVDA, the Code of Ethics, and the Consumer Protection Act. For a buyer, it's the most important single document in the OMVIC framework — the thing that determines whether the contract you're about to sign has all the information you need to make a real decision.
Every disclosure in the guideline is a requirement, not a suggestion. The dealer's job is to put it in writing on the contract in a clear, comprehensible, and prominent way. The buyer's job is to read it before signing.
The four categories of disclosure
OMVIC's guideline groups disclosure obligations by topic. A buyer-side way to read them is in four overlapping categories — the ones that affect the vehicle, the ones that affect the buyer's situation, the ones that govern any warranty, and the ones that govern any finance or lease paperwork.
- Vehicle-specific disclosures — make, model, trim, model year, VIN, odometer reading, previous use (daily rental / police / taxi / limo), accident history and repair cost above $3,000, fire or flood damage, branding status (irreparable / salvage / rebuilt), whether the vehicle was stolen and recovered, and whether it was ever registered outside Ontario (unless Ontario-registered for the last seven consecutive years)
- Conditional disclosures — anything material that could affect the buyer's decision, even if not on the standard MVDA list
- Warranty disclosures — what's covered, what's excluded, term limits, claim limits, deductibles, the warrantor's identity, and the obligations of buyer and seller under the warranty
- Finance and lease disclosures — APR, term, payment amount and frequency, total cost of credit (or implicit finance cost on a lease), cash price, any dealer commission or reserve, end-of-lease obligation amount, and the excess-kilometre cost for any lease with an allowance under 20,000 km per year
How OMVIC expects the disclosures to appear on the contract
In writing. Verbal disclosure doesn't count, no matter how detailed the conversation. OMVIC's framework is explicit that verbal disclosure does not meet the MVDA requirement.
In a clear, comprehensible, and prominent manner. The wording and placement have to be readable and obvious. Fine print, footnotes, and conditional clauses don't satisfy the requirement.
On the contract itself. The disclosures have to be part of the document you're signing. A separate disclosure form is fine if it's referenced on the contract, but the buyer has to see it before signing.
Before you sign. OMVIC's MVDA requires the dealer to present the disclosures in a timely manner so the consumer can review them before signing the contract. If the dealer is rushing you, that's a structural problem.
Photo: American Honda (Honda US Newsroom). 2026 Honda Civic.
What OMVIC considers a 'material fact'
- Anything that could reasonably be expected to influence the buyer's decision to purchase or lease on the terms disclosed in the contract
- Includes the standard MVDA disclosures (accident history, branding, odometer) but is broader than the standard list
- Includes information specific to the buyer's situation that the dealer knows or should know (for example, a first-time buyer who needs insurance confirmation)
- Excludes information the dealer genuinely doesn't have access to (the MVDA doesn't require dealers to invent disclosures)
- Has a specific dollar threshold for accident repairs: any single incident with total repair cost above $3,000 has to be disclosed in writing on the bill of sale, even if the dealer chooses not to mention it in advertising
Why disclosure failures trigger the 90-day cancellation right
OMVIC's MVDA gives buyers a 90-day window from delivery to cancel the contract and get a full refund if the dealer failed to disclose (or failed to disclose in a timely manner) any of the following: previous use as a daily rental (unless subsequently owned by a non-dealer), police, emergency, taxi, or limo; the actual make, model, and model year; the vehicle's branding status (irreparable, salvage, rebuilt); or the actual distance the vehicle has travelled (within 5% or 1,000 km, whichever is less).
Other disclosure failures don't trigger automatic cancellation, but they're still MVDA breaches that OMVIC can pursue through the complaints process. The 90-day window is the strongest protection; the complaints process is the backup.
What OMVIC's Disclosures Guideline says about warranties
- The identity of the warrantor has to be on the contract
- The parts and labour that are covered have to be on the contract
- Any time or distance limits have to be on the contract
- The obligations of the buyer and seller under the warranty have to be on the contract
- For extended warranties sold by the dealer, the retail value of the warranty has to be separately disclosed
What this means when you're at the dealer
- Read the entire disclosure block before signing — don't skim past it
- Ask about any disclosure that isn't clear, even if it sounds technical
- Verify the disclosures against independent sources (CARFAX, Transport Canada, your own mechanic)
- If a disclosure is missing, flag it before signing — your 90-day cancellation right depends on the disclosure being wrong, not on it being absent
- Keep a copy of the contract and disclosures for at least two years after delivery — that's the window for the 90-day MVDA cancellation and the Compensation Fund claim
Frequently asked, Vaughan edition
What if the dealer discloses something verbally but not in writing?
Verbal disclosure doesn't satisfy the MVDA requirement. The disclosure has to be on the contract in writing. If the dealer told you something important but it's not on the contract, ask them to put it in writing before signing. If they refuse, that's a structural warning.
What if a material fact wasn't on the standard MVDA disclosure list?
OMVIC's Disclosures Guideline is broader than the standard list. Any fact that could reasonably influence the buyer's decision is a material fact and has to be disclosed. If the dealer knew something material and didn't disclose it, that's an MVDA breach regardless of whether it was on the standard list.
Does OMVIC enforce disclosure requirements on private sellers?
No. OMVIC only regulates registered dealers. Private sellers aren't required to make MVDA disclosures. That's one of the structural reasons private sales don't carry the same buyer protections as registered-dealer transactions.
What counts as a 'material fact' under MVDA disclosure rules?
Any fact that would influence a reasonable buyer's decision to purchase or the price they would pay. Standard material facts: prior use designation, prior damage above the threshold, odometer status (actual vs estimated vs replaced), liens, branding (salvage/rebuilt), known mechanical defects, and aftermarket modifications that affect safety or value. If you are unsure whether to disclose something, disclose it — OMVIC's rule is disclose-first.
What is the time limit for a dealer to disclose known defects?
Disclosure must happen before the contract is signed, not after. The MVDA's 'as-is' clause does not protect dealers from failing to disclose KNOWN defects — even if the dealer did not cause the defect, they must tell you about it before you sign. After delivery, undisclosed defects discovered within a reasonable time are grounds for rescission.
What happens if the dealer gives me inaccurate disclosure?
The MVDA treats inaccurate disclosure the same as non-disclosure. If the dealer represented the car as 'no accidents' but it had been in a major accident, that is a violation even if the dealer 'didn't know.' Dealers are expected to verify through Carfax and similar services. Your recourse: OMVIC complaint, rescission, or damages.
Can I waive my right to disclosure under the MVDA?
No. Disclosure is mandatory and cannot be waived by the buyer. Any clause in a contract that says 'buyer waives right to dealer disclosure' is unenforceable. This is to protect buyers from unknowingly giving up a right they may not understand.
Does the disclosure document need to be signed separately?
Yes. The disclosure form is a distinct document from the bill of sale and the purchase agreement. Both buyer and seller (or their authorized representatives) sign it, and each gets a copy. The disclosure form is your proof that the dealer disclosed specific facts — keep it for the entire ownership period.
Want me to walk through the OMVIC piece of your next deal?
If you have a quote from another store, a private sale you're considering, or just a question about how OMVIC's rules apply to your situation, send me the details. I will help you pressure-test the structure.