Photo: American Honda (Honda US Newsroom). 2026 Honda Pilot.
OMVIC gives buyers four complaint channels: an online complaint form for registered-dealer disputes, an email address, a phone line, and a separate anonymous Crime Stoppers route for curbsiders. The registered-dealer channels share the same back-end process; the Crime Stoppers route is for people reporting suspected illegal activity.
OMVIC's filing page also lays out what a complaint is NOT for — it's not anonymous for registered-dealer disputes (OMVIC needs to be able to reach you and follow up), and it's not for private sellers (OMVIC doesn't regulate them). Knowing which channel to use is half the work.
Channel 1 — Online complaint form (registered-dealer disputes)
The online complaint form on omvic.ca is the structured path for buyers who have a dispute with an OMVIC-registered dealer and want OMVIC to review it. The form asks for the dealer name, the salesperson name (if known), the date and nature of the issue, and the supporting documents you want to attach.
Your identity is NOT anonymous on this channel. OMVIC needs to be able to follow up with you, contact the dealer, and assign a Complaint Review Specialist (CRS) to your file. The dealer has the right to know who filed the complaint and what the substance is.
Channel 2 — Email or phone (registered-dealer disputes)
Email complaints@omvic.ca and phone 1-800-943-6002 are alternative ways to start the same process. Email is useful if you have supporting documents you want to send ahead of the formal filing. Phone is useful if you want to talk through whether your situation actually falls within OMVIC's jurisdiction before you commit to the formal process.
OMVIC's standard first response to any of these channels is to give the buyer information about how to resolve the dispute directly with the dealer. If you've already tried that, say so upfront and ask for the formal complaint acknowledgement form (OCPAF).
Photo: American Honda (Honda US Newsroom). 2026 Honda Pilot.
Channel 3 — Crime Stoppers (anonymous tips on curbsiders)
If you've witnessed or have knowledge of illegal motor vehicle sales (a curbsider operating out of a small auto shop, for example), Toronto Crime Stoppers takes anonymous tips. The contact options are: call 416-222-TIPS or 1-800-222-TIPS, use the online tip form, or text TOR plus your message to CRIMES (274637).
When you submit through Crime Stoppers, you select OMVIC intake under the offence type. Your identity stays anonymous. Crime Stoppers forwards OMVIC-related tips to OMVIC for investigation. This channel is for reporting illegal activity, not for resolving a transaction dispute.
Channel 4 — Anti-curbsider hotline (suspected unregistered sellers)
OMVIC runs a separate anti-curbsider hotline at 1-888-NO-CURBS (662-8727). If you bought a vehicle you suspect was sold by an illegal motor vehicle dealer, or if you have information about unregistered motor vehicle sales, this is the channel. Email is anti-curbsider@omvic.ca.
Unlike Crime Stoppers, the anti-curbsider hotline is NOT anonymous. OMVIC needs to be able to follow up, gather evidence, and potentially pursue prosecution. The caller may need to attend provincial court. This is the channel for "I think I bought from a curbsider and I want OMVIC to investigate."
What to include in a registered-dealer complaint
- Dealer name and address (and salesperson name if you remember)
- Date of the transaction and the vehicle make / model / VIN
- A clear timeline of what happened — purchase, delivery, the issue, your attempts to resolve
- Copies of the contract, bill of sale, financing paperwork, and any correspondence
- Photos if relevant (delivery-day damage, odometer discrepancies, advertising that doesn't match the contract)
- A statement of what you want (refund, contract cancellation, repair, compensation)
Frequently asked, Vaughan edition
Is the OMVIC complaint process confidential?
OMVIC keeps the substance of the complaint confidential from the public, but the dealer will know you filed the complaint and what the specific allegations are. OMVIC needs the dealer to be able to respond to the substance of the complaint.
Can I file a complaint about a private seller?
No. OMVIC doesn't regulate private sellers. If your dispute is with a private seller, the Crime Stoppers channel is appropriate only if you suspect fraud or illegal sales activity. Otherwise, your path is civil court.
What if I'm not sure my situation falls within OMVIC's jurisdiction?
Call first. The Complaints & Inquiries Department at 1-800-943-6002 can tell you quickly whether your situation is something OMVIC can act on, or whether you need a different path (civil court, manufacturer lemon-law, your bank, the police).
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.