OMVIC Licence: How to Get an Ontario Dealer Licence
How to get an OMVIC licence in Ontario — the dealer and salesperson registration steps, what OMVIC requires, and what it regulates and enforces once you're licensed.
Key takeaways
- OMVIC is the delegated authority that regulates motor vehicle retail in Ontario
- Both dealerships and individual salespersons must be OMVIC-registered to legally sell vehicles
- Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is mandatory for licensed Ontario salespersons
- OMVIC has active enforcement powers including fines, licence suspension, and prosecution
Disclaimer: This page is a general introduction to OMVIC and Ontario dealer regulation. It is not legal advice. OMVIC's specific rules, fees, and processes change over time. Always consult OMVIC's official publications for current details, and speak with a lawyer or compliance specialist for specific compliance questions.
Quick Answer
OMVIC stands for the Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council. It's the delegated administrative authority responsible for administering Ontario's Motor Vehicle Dealers Act. OMVIC licenses every motor vehicle dealer and salesperson operating in Ontario, enforces consumer protection requirements, administers mandatory training (including the Continuing Professional Development program), investigates consumer complaints, and prosecutes regulatory violations. Anyone selling vehicles in Ontario as a business — dealership or individual salesperson — needs to be OMVIC-registered.
What is OMVIC?
OMVIC is the regulator that oversees the motor vehicle retail industry in Ontario. Strictly speaking, OMVIC is a delegated administrative authority — meaning the Government of Ontario has delegated the responsibility for administering the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act to OMVIC, which is a non-profit organization funded primarily through dealer and salesperson registration fees.
OMVIC's mandate covers consumer protection in motor vehicle sales. The core responsibilities include:
- Registering and licensing all motor vehicle dealers and salespersons operating in Ontario
- Enforcing the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act and its regulations
- Investigating consumer complaints against dealers and salespersons
- Administering mandatory training programs, including the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program
- Operating the Motor Vehicle Dealers Compensation Fund, which can compensate consumers in some cases of dealer wrongdoing
- Prosecuting regulatory violations through administrative penalties or criminal charges
OMVIC is one of several provincial dealer regulators across Canada. Alberta has AMVIC, BC has the VSA, Quebec has the OPC, and other provinces have their own bodies. For the broader context, see the Canadian Dealership Compliance pillar.
How to get an OMVIC dealer licence
To sell vehicles as a business in Ontario, you need an OMVIC dealer licence — officially, registration as a motor vehicle dealer under the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act. Whether people call it a car dealer licence, an auto dealer licence, or OMVIC registration, it's the same requirement. Here's what getting one involves:
- Application and disclosure — providing business details, ownership information, and any relevant background
- Background checks — OMVIC reviews the principals of the dealership for any history that would disqualify them from registration
- Insurance and bonding — dealers may be required to maintain specific insurance coverage and post bonds
- Premises inspection — physical premises requirements include proper signage, customer-accessible offices, and document storage
- Initial registration fees — paid to OMVIC at registration and renewed periodically
- Compliance acknowledgement — the dealer must acknowledge understanding of OMVIC's rules and the obligation to comply with them
OMVIC distinguishes between several dealer registration categories — including general dealers (new or used vehicles), wholesale dealers, broker dealers, and outside (no-premises) dealers. Each category has slightly different requirements. The registration is renewed annually with continued compliance and fee payment.
Operating a dealership in Ontario without OMVIC registration is a significant offence, with penalties including fines, prosecution, and the inability to legally complete vehicle sales contracts.
How to become an OMVIC-registered salesperson
If you want to sell cars for a dealership in Ontario — sometimes searched as a car salesperson licence or car salesman licence — you need your own OMVIC registration. This is in addition to the dealership's registration: both the business and each person selling vehicles need to be licensed. For what the job pays and what the work is actually like, see our guide to becoming a car salesperson in Ontario.
Initial salesperson registration
To become an OMVIC-registered salesperson, an individual must:
- Complete the OMVIC Automotive Certification Course covering Ontario dealer law, ethical sales practices, and consumer protection
- Pass the OMVIC certification exam
- Submit a registration application with personal information and any relevant background
- Pay the registration fee
- Pass background checks (criminal record review, etc.)
- Be sponsored by an OMVIC-registered dealership (you can't be registered as a salesperson without being affiliated with a registered dealer)
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
Registered salespersons in Ontario must complete OMVIC CPD requirements on an ongoing basis. CPD is OMVIC's way of ensuring that registered salespersons stay current on regulatory changes, consumer protection requirements, and industry best practices.
CPD is now mandatory with a hard deadline: for registration renewals on or after July 1, 2026, dealers must complete the $99 REVS program annually and salespersons every two years (OMVIC's MVDA Key Elements Course is an accepted alternative). A registrant who has not completed it cannot renew — the registration expires automatically and trading is prohibited until it is resolved. For the fuller background, see the READY HUB blog post: OMVIC CPD 2026: What Ontario Dealers Need to Know.
Salesperson registration renewal
OMVIC salesperson registrations renew annually (or per the current renewal cycle), with continued compliance, CPD requirements met, and renewal fees paid. Dealerships are responsible for ensuring their salespersons maintain valid registrations — operating with an unregistered salesperson is a regulatory issue for the dealership too.
How much does an OMVIC licence cost?
OMVIC's registration fees are set by OMVIC and now adjust for inflation each spring. As of the fee schedule effective May 1, 2026, becoming a registered salesperson costs about $640 up front ($349 application plus $286.08 for the certification course, before the background check), and opening a General Dealer dealership costs $1,023 in OMVIC fees ($699 application plus the one-time $324 Compensation Fund payment) — before insurance, premises, and the $22 transaction fee on every vehicle sold. The core amounts:
Salesperson costs
- New salesperson application: $349, paid to OMVIC
- Renewal: $209 every two years, plus $99 for the required REVS continuing education
- OMVIC Certification Course: $286.08 domestic ($288.94 from September 1, 2026), paid to the Automotive Business School of Canada (ABSC) at Georgian College — this is not included in the OMVIC registration fee
- BackCheck report: a criminal background check, at your own cost
Dealer costs
- New dealer application: $699, paid to OMVIC
- Annual renewal: $401, plus $99 for REVS continuing education
- Compensation Fund: a one-time $324 fee
- Transaction fee: $22 per motor vehicle sold or leased
- Other costs: any required insurance or bonding, plus the cost of compliant business premises
These are the figures OMVIC published for 2026; always confirm the current amounts on OMVIC's fees page before budgeting.
How long does OMVIC registration take?
OMVIC doesn't publish a fixed approval timeline. For salespersons, the main gating factor is the OMVIC Certification Course — your application can't be approved until you've completed it — plus a BackCheck report, which OMVIC receives within about 24 hours. Once your course is done and your application and documents are complete, OMVIC reviews the file; plan for the course completion time plus OMVIC's processing, rather than a same-week turnaround.
OMVIC mandatory disclosures
OMVIC enforces strict consumer protection rules around vehicle sales, including several categories of mandatory disclosure. Dealers must disclose to buyers any of the following that apply to a vehicle being sold:
- Accident or damage history — if the dealer knows the vehicle has been involved in an accident with damage exceeding a specified threshold, this must be disclosed
- Branded titles — vehicles previously declared salvage, rebuilt, or written off must be disclosed
- Prior use — vehicles previously used as taxis, police vehicles, emergency vehicles, daily rentals, or driver education vehicles
- Odometer accuracy — if there is reason to believe the odometer reading may not reflect actual mileage
- Out-of-province history — vehicles previously registered outside Ontario, particularly if from a flood-affected jurisdiction
- Material defects — known mechanical or structural issues affecting the vehicle's safety or value
The all-in pricing rule is another major OMVIC requirement: advertised prices must include all fees, charges, and levies the customer would pay (excluding HST and licensing). Adding "freight," "PDI," or "documentation fees" on top of an advertised price is a violation.
This is a summary — the full list, the disclosure thresholds (including the $3,000 accident repair rule), and the buyer's 90-day cancellation right for non-disclosure are covered in our dedicated guide to OMVIC mandatory disclosures.
OMVIC enforcement and penalties
OMVIC has active enforcement powers and uses them. The most common enforcement actions include:
- Administrative monetary penalties (fines) for specific violations of the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act and regulations
- Licence conditions or restrictions imposed on dealerships or individual salespersons
- Licence suspension or revocation for serious or repeated violations
- Prosecution through provincial courts for offences under the Act
- Public reporting of disciplinary actions on the OMVIC website (visible to consumers researching dealerships)
Most enforcement actions start with consumer complaints. OMVIC investigates each complaint, contacting the dealership for a response, reviewing documentation, and determining whether a violation occurred. Compliance-minded dealerships maintain comprehensive documentation specifically because they know complaints will be investigated against the records they can produce.
Prevention is dramatically less expensive than enforcement. The dealerships that invest in clear processes, accurate disclosures, well-trained staff, and good documentation rarely face OMVIC actions. The dealerships that don't tend to find OMVIC quickly.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get an OMVIC licence?
There are two paths. To register a dealership, you submit a business application with ownership details, pass background checks on the principals, meet insurance and premises requirements, and pay the registration fees. To register as a salesperson, you complete the OMVIC Automotive Certification Course, pass the exam and a background check, get sponsored by an OMVIC-registered dealership, and pay your registration fee. OMVIC publishes the current forms, fees, and processing times on omvic.ca.
How many cars can I sell in Ontario without an OMVIC licence?
There is no set number that makes it legal. If you are buying and selling vehicles for profit as a business, you must be registered with OMVIC regardless of how many you sell. Selling your own personal vehicles occasionally is fine, but repeatedly buying vehicles to resell without registration — known as curbsiding — is illegal in Ontario, and OMVIC actively investigates and prosecutes it.
What are the requirements for an OMVIC dealer licence?
An OMVIC dealer registration generally requires a business application with ownership and disclosure details, background checks on the principals, any required insurance or bonding, compliant business premises (proper signage, a customer-accessible office, and document storage), payment of registration fees, and acknowledgement of the obligation to comply with the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act. Requirements vary slightly by dealer category (general, wholesale, broker, or outside dealer).
What does OMVIC stand for?
OMVIC stands for the Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council. It's the delegated administrative authority responsible for administering Ontario's Motor Vehicle Dealers Act and regulating the motor vehicle retail industry in Ontario.
Do I need an OMVIC licence to sell cars in Ontario?
Yes. Both motor vehicle dealerships and individual salespersons must be registered with OMVIC to legally sell vehicles in Ontario. Operating without proper OMVIC registration is a significant regulatory offence.
What is the OMVIC certification course?
The OMVIC Automotive Certification Course is the mandatory training program that prospective salespersons must complete before they can be registered to sell vehicles in Ontario. It covers Ontario dealer law, ethical sales practices, consumer protection requirements, and the salesperson's regulatory obligations. It is delivered as self-study by the Automotive Business School of Canada at Georgian College, costs $286.08 for domestic students ($288.94 from September 1, 2026), and ends in an open-book exam of 60 multiple-choice questions in 90 minutes with 80% to pass. The certificate is valid for two years for registration purposes.
What is OMVIC CPD?
CPD stands for Continuing Professional Development. It's OMVIC's ongoing training requirement for registered Ontario salespersons, designed to keep them current on regulatory changes, consumer protection updates, and industry best practices. CPD requirements have evolved over time and salespersons who fail to complete required CPD risk having their registration suspended.
What disclosures does OMVIC require?
OMVIC requires dealerships to disclose known accident history, branded titles (salvage/rebuilt), prior use as a taxi/police/emergency/rental/driver-ed vehicle, odometer accuracy concerns, out-of-province history, and known material defects. The all-in pricing rule also requires advertised prices to include all fees except HST and licensing.
What happens if a customer files an OMVIC complaint?
OMVIC investigates each complaint, typically by contacting the dealership for a response, reviewing documentation, and determining whether a violation of the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act occurred. Outcomes range from no action (if no violation is found) to fines, licence conditions, suspension, or prosecution depending on the severity. Maintaining good documentation is the best protection against complaints.
The bottom line
OMVIC is the regulator every Ontario dealership needs to take seriously. Compliance isn't a checkbox exercise — it's the operational discipline that protects the dealership from complaints, enforcement actions, and the reputational damage that comes with public disciplinary records. The dealerships that invest in clear processes, accurate disclosures, and well-trained staff rarely have OMVIC problems.
For Ontario dealerships, OMVIC compliance isn't separate from operations — it's woven into trade-in disclosures, vehicle listings, contract documentation, salesperson training, and customer communication. Software that supports compliance with built-in audit trails and disclosure tracking is an investment that pays for itself the first time it prevents a complaint from becoming a violation.
Related reading
Workflow software with compliance baked in
READY HUB is built for Canadian dealerships, with workflow patterns that support OMVIC disclosure requirements, audit trails, and the documentation discipline that protects you from complaints. Every interaction logged, every disclosure tracked, every step accountable.