OMVIC OMVIC All-In Price Advertising and Standards 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A dealer advertises a truck for $42,000 all-in but does not include a mandatory $200 OMVIC fee in that price. When the buyer arrives, the dealer adds the $200. Is this permitted?
- Yes, OMVIC fees are government charges like HST
- No, the OMVIC consumer protection fee must be included in the all-in advertised price (Correct answer)
- Yes, if the dealer discloses the fee on the website
- Yes, as long as the fee is refundable
Correct answer: No, the OMVIC consumer protection fee must be included in the all-in advertised price
The OMVIC consumer protection fee, while mandatory, is not an HST or licensing charge — it must be absorbed into the all-in advertised price and not added at point of sale.
Question 2: Under OMVIC advertising standards, a dealer's online ad must show which of the following?
- The manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) as the primary price
- The all-in selling price as the most prominent price displayed (Correct answer)
- The base price before options are added
- The monthly payment as the primary price indicator
Correct answer: The all-in selling price as the most prominent price displayed
The all-in selling price must be the most prominently displayed price in any advertisement, ensuring consumers immediately see the true cost.
Question 3: A dealer advertises a vehicle with 'starting at $29,999' but the lowest configured vehicle actually costs $34,999 due to mandatory standard options. Under OMVIC rules:
- The 'starting at' price is acceptable for advertising
- This is a potential violation if no vehicle can actually be purchased at the advertised starting price (Correct answer)
- The ad is acceptable if the cheapest trim level technically exists
- OMVIC only regulates final transaction prices, not advertised prices
Correct answer: This is a potential violation if no vehicle can actually be purchased at the advertised starting price
Advertising a 'starting at' price that does not correspond to any purchasable vehicle is misleading and violates OMVIC's standard that advertised prices must be achievable.
Question 4: Which of the following is an example of a prohibited 'add-on' under OMVIC's all-in price advertising rule?
- Harmonized Sales Tax
- Administration or documentation processing fee (Correct answer)
- Vehicle license plate fee (actual government charge)
- Environmental handling fee paid to the government
Correct answer: Administration or documentation processing fee
Administration and documentation processing fees are dealer-generated charges that must be included in the all-in advertised price and cannot be added at delivery.
Question 5: A dealer places a $500 'paint protection' package on every vehicle without buyer consent and adds it to the bill of sale. Under OMVIC rules, this practice is:
- Acceptable if disclosed on the dealer's website
- A violation — mandatory add-ons must either be in the all-in price or be genuinely optional (Correct answer)
- Acceptable if the package improves resale value
- Acceptable if the buyer can return it within 30 days
Correct answer: A violation — mandatory add-ons must either be in the all-in price or be genuinely optional
Mandatory dealer-installed add-ons that are automatically charged to every buyer must be included in the all-in advertised price; they cannot be added separately at delivery.
Question 6: A dealership's advertisement shows a vehicle price of $18,000 in large bold text but in very fine print states '+$1,500 in dealer fees.' Under OMVIC's advertising standards:
- This is acceptable because all fees are technically disclosed somewhere in the ad
- This violates the all-in price requirement — the true selling price must be prominently disclosed (Correct answer)
- This is acceptable if the fine print meets minimum font size requirements
- This is acceptable only if the ad is in a newspaper, not online
Correct answer: This violates the all-in price requirement — the true selling price must be prominently disclosed
OMVIC requires that the all-in price be prominently and clearly displayed; burying additional fees in fine print defeats the purpose of the all-in pricing rule.
Question 7: A consumer files a complaint with OMVIC that a dealer advertised a $21,000 vehicle but charged $23,500 at the dealership. If OMVIC finds a violation, which outcome is possible?
- OMVIC issues a recommendation letter only with no further action
- OMVIC can pursue administrative action including fines and registration suspension against the dealer (Correct answer)
- OMVIC can only recommend the consumer seek legal action independently
- OMVIC fines the consumer for filing a frivolous complaint
Correct answer: OMVIC can pursue administrative action including fines and registration suspension against the dealer
OMVIC has authority to investigate advertising violations and impose administrative penalties including fines and conditions on or suspension of a dealer's registration.
OMVIC OMVIC All-In Price Advertising and Standards 2
A dealer advertises a truck for $42,000 all-in but does not include a mandatory $200 OMVIC fee in that price.
When the buyer arrives, the dealer adds the $200.
Is this permitted?