Is there a warranty for Ontario used-car sales?
Q: Is there a standard (90-day?) warranty, mandated by the provincial government, on all used-car sales from a dealership?
A: James Hamilton, manager of mediation services for the Used Car Dealers Association of Ontario (www.ucda.org) replies:
There is absolutely not a 90-day (or any specific period of days) warranty on used car sales.
Such sales are covered by the implied warranty of fitness in the Sale of Goods Act, which provides that goods will be fit for the use intended by the buyer for a reasonable time after the sale. The UCDA recommends that its member dealers consider including a dealer guarantee when selling a vehicle specifying what is covered and for how long. Many dealers also offer third-party extended warranties that cover specified repairs for various time periods. Eric Lai adds:
Conversely, when buying privately, it’s “buyer beware” as purchasers obviously get no warranty and have little recourse — other than a lawsuit — if problems arise.
Q: Why are Ontario U-haul rental vehicles permitted to have Arizona plates, rather than requiring Ontario plates (presumably they’re here continuously for more than 6 months)?
A: Ontario Transportation Ministry spokesperson Bob Nichols replies:
U-haul vehicles are registered for inter-jurisdictional travel in the State of Arizona through the International Registration Plan (IRP). IRP is a commercial vehicle registration reciprocity agreement between all U.S. states and Canadian provinces.
Under IRP, commercial carriers can register their vehicles, pay all appropriate fees and obtain authorization to travel in any or all IRP member jurisdictions through their home state or province.
The vehicle’s home jurisdiction collects all fees and taxes from the carrier and fairly distributes the appropriate fees to all jurisdictions the carrier operates in.
For example, U-haul registers its vehicles through IRP in the State of Arizona. Arizona calculates all the registration fees and taxes owed to Ontario based on the distances UHaul vehicles have travelled in our province as reported by U-haul. The state then submits the appropriate revenues to Ontario each month.
In turn, Ontario does the same thing for carriers registered in Ontario, which operate in Arizona and the other U.S. states and Canadian provinces.
Q: I transferred the slightly rusty number plates from my old car onto a used car I bought last year. The sticker is now coming up for renewal. What are my options for replacing the number plates when I go for my new validation sticker?
A: Michael Patton of the Ontario Ministry of Government Services replies:
Vehicle plates older than five years can be replaced at any Serviceontario public office counter.
Passenger vehicle replacement plates cost $20, which includes the cost of the replacement vehicle permit.
Serviceontario’s policy is to replace licence plates at no charge if there is deemed to be a manufacturing defect within five years of issuance of the plate.
If a vehicle owner wants to replace an existing personalized licence plate, with or without a graphic, the cost is $99.10. Email your non-mechanical questions to Eric Lai at wheels@thestar.ca. Due to the volume of mail, personal replies cannot be provided.