Author: Kshitiz Alagh

Yesterday you received a Bulletin from OMVIC, below, about their plans to introduce new educational requirements in 2026.

While the UCDA supports registrant education, and increasing professionalism in our industry, we do have concerns and we are addressing them with OMVIC while this is still in the planning stage.

OMVIC’s Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Program Plan

https://www.omvic.ca/selling/education/continuing-professional-development-program/

We are concerned that OMVIC says the course will take 4 to 6 hours to complete. We feel that is too long. We also do not know how much it will cost.

We understand the passing grade will be 80%, but you will have the opportunity to redo modules, so you can successfully complete the course without failing.

Grandfathered Registrants

Those registered before January 1, 2010, who renew after July 1, 2026 and who have not completed the Key Elements course offered by Georgian College, will need to do so prior to their renewal. Our understanding is Key Elements takes hours of self-study and costs at least $175.

Another area where the details are still being discussed revolve around dealer and salespeople registrants who have never undergone any education before. Concerns revolve around the cost, the time, and the difficulty of the test (with an 80% pass requirement, what happens to those who fail).

The UCDA has years of dealer education experience and, until recently, taught new applicants the mandatory OMVIC course. We can deliver these courses quicker and more cost effectively.

April 24, 2025

Introducing OMVIC’s Continuing Professional Development Program

The motor vehicle industry is evolving rapidly, with electrification, digital transformation, and changing consumer expectations redefining the way business is done. In this fast-paced environment, staying informed isn’t just helpful—it’s vital. A knowledgeable industry inspires trust, supports compliance, and drives long-term success.

Launching April 1, 2026, all dealers and salespersons renewing their registration on or after July 1, 2026, will be required to complete OMVIC’s Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program prior to renewal.

Why CPD Matters

In 2024, amendments were made to the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act (MVDA) giving OMVIC the authority to require ongoing continuing education for dealers and salespersons as part of their registration renewal.

That’s where CPD comes in. As the first program of its kind for Ontario’s motor vehicle sales industry, it’s setting new standards—boosting professionalism, promoting ethical practices, and fostering transparency at every step. Dealers and salespersons are the face of Ontario’s motor vehicle industry, and their expertise directly shape how consumers experience and trust the car-buying process.

Click the link below to watch an introductory video about this new initiative. 

CPD Requirements & Timing

• Dealers will complete CPD annually
• Salespersons will complete CPD every two years

CPD will need to be completed within the 90 days before a dealer or salesperson renews. This will include a mandatory assessment and passing score of 80%. Dealers and salespersons will have unlimited attempts to achieve the passing score.

There will be a fee for the required 4-6 hours of CPD dealers and salespersons will need to complete.  Fees will be based on a cost recovery model covering only the expenses involved in delivering the training and will be determined following an upcoming consultation.

Grandfathered Registrants, those registered before January 1, 2010, and have not completed the MVDA Key Elements Course offered by Georgian College, will need to do so prior to their renewal.

Flexible Online Learning

CPD will be accessible on desktop, mobile, and tablet—so you can complete your CPD requirements at your convenience.

How We’re Supporting You

OMVIC is committed to ensuring a smooth transition and will provide ongoing support, including:  

• A dedicated CPD webpage.  
• Monthly webinars & information sessions to answer all your questions.
• A province-wide road show, including visits to dealerships and industry events.
• Regular updates via email, social media, and stakeholder meetings.

Please join us on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. for a webinar and information session on the CPD Program. Register for the webinar here.

For more information, visit OMVIC’s website or email [email protected]. 

 

Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council

65 Overlea Blvd., Suite 300, Toronto ON, M4H 1P1

Tel: 416-226-3661  Fax: 416-226-9406

Toll Free: 1-800-943-6002  omvic.on.ca

 

Dealers are legally required to close on Good Friday, April 18^th and on Easter Sunday, April 20^th, unless their local municipality has passed a by-law exempting retail businesses from the requirement to close on those statutory holidays. If in doubt, check with your local municipality’s by-law department.

Dealers may be open on Saturday, April 19^th, and on Easter Monday, April 21^st, which is not a statutory holiday.

The UCDA search facility will be closed on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, but will be open as usual from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 19^th and from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, April 21^st.

On-line searches can be done all weekend at:

www.ucdasearches.com

Lien searches requested on Good Friday and Easter Sunday will be available the following day.

Effective April 1, 2025 all dealers who finance or lease passenger class vehicles (or other vehicles valued over $100,000) will be expected to:

• implement an Anti-Money Laundering compliance program
• comply with FINTRAC customer verification requirements
• be required to report a variety of types of transactions to FINTRAC   
• keep records according to FINTRAC guidelines

A financing or leasing entity is subject to the Act and associated Regulations when they engage in the financing or leasing of:

• property for business purposes, other than real property or immovables
• property valued at $100,000 or more, other than real property or immovables
• passenger vehicles in Canada

A passenger vehicle is a motor vehicle – other than an ambulance, a hearse, a motor vehicle that is clearly marked for policing activities, a motor vehicle that is clearly marked and equipped for emergency medical response activities or emergency fire response activities or a utility truck – that is designed or adapted primarily to carry no more than 10 individuals on highways and streets.

FINTRAC have signaled that, for the first year, they are going to focus on education rather than enforcement:

“In the first year following the coming into force dates, FINTRAC will put emphasis on engagement, outreach and guidance activities related to new regulatory obligations in order to foster greater awareness and understanding amongst new reporting entities. This will include industry consultation to develop guidance so new reporting entities will be well positioned to implement and mature their compliance programs.”

The FINTRAC link contains useful guidance on how you can set yourself up for compliance and avoid the fines and penalties for failing to do so by 2026:

https://fintrac-canafe.canada.ca/re-ed/lease-bail-eng

For years now, the UCDA has been asking for some flexibility to bring relief to wholesale dealers who cannot source inventory from the public. Wholesalers are restricted in their ability to buy from the public. There was no solution. Then along came COVID and the inventory restrictions and supply constraints closed even the normal avenues available to wholesalers. Dealers largely stopped selling wholesale to other dealers at all. Wholesalers were left struggling and times have been very hard for them. Now, finally, an option is presented by OMVIC. A new “dual registration” is available. You can register as both a “wholesale” and “export” dealer. This will allow you to buy vehicles from the public either for sale to other dealers in Ontario or for sale to buyers, both dealers and non-dealers, outside of Ontario. Wholesalers with a dual registration may have to pay transaction fees for sales outside of Ontario to non-dealers.  Premises restrictions apply for those who choose the dual registration. Please see the whole Bulletin from OMVIC here: https://www.omvic.ca/update-on-wholesaler-and-exporter-class-registration/ OMVIC says they will provide further details on terms, conditions, and portal access in the coming weeks. To apply and for questions or assistance contact OMVIC’s Registration Department at [email protected], or call 1-800-943-6002, extension 2.  Online registration is currently not available.

Since late November of 2024, the UCDA has been receiving calls from dealers who have released vehicles to purchasing consumers who have financed their purchases through OCM Auto Financing Group Ltd. (“OCM”) https://ocmcorporation.com/

The concerns our Members have shared with us, is that OCM is late in paying them, and they are left anxious for weeks or months, as their customers are driving vehicles they sold and released to them, and for which they have not been paid.

We discussed these concerns with OCM at the time, in hopes that funding difficulties would be swiftly resolved, but as we have continued to receive calls and emails, and as recently as this week several more, the time has come to issue a warning to UCDA Members.

If you are considering selling a vehicle to a consumer who is financing their purchase with or through OCM:

Do not release the vehicle to the consumer until you are paid.

The UCDA has always advised dealers not to deliver financed vehicles to consumers until you have the funds in your account, but we realize this is not always practical.  In such cases obtain assurance, in writing, BEFORE you deliver the vehicle as to how long you can expect to wait to receive funding and then make your decision accordingly.

For dealers who have already released their vehicle and have yet to be paid, and despite attempts to get OCM to advance funding, remain unpaid, your options are to retain legal counsel, and get advice as to registering a lien on the vehicle, possibly repossessing it from the consumer or taking legal action.

It is also good practice to explain the situation to the consumer prior to any action so they understand the circumstances and they might be able to talk to OCM as well to avoid the need for further steps.