What are my Rights?

What are my rights?

When dealing with a licensed BC motor dealer or salesperson with respect to purchase, lease or exchange of personal use vehicles, you have the right to:

• Get the information you need to make an informed decision about the transaction you are about to make with respect to a personal use vehicle.The VSA has information on its website to help you to be prepared:
  • Vehicle Buying Checklist
  • Vehicle Buying Guide
• Expect that the licensed dealership and salesperson know and meet the requirements of the laws of BC and CanadaThe Motor Dealer Act and its regulations require dealers and salespersons to disclose information about a vehicle before it is sold. Dealers and salespersons have a duty to learn about the vehicles they are selling and disclose this information to you to the best of their knowledge. Dealers must:
  • Sell vehicles that meet the safety rules of the Motor Vehicle Act. If an unsafe vehicle is sold, it must be advertised and declared as not suitable for transportation
  • Disclose the prior use of a vehicle, including any previous use as a taxi, emergency,rental or lease vehicle
  • Make declarations about prior damages and the accuracy of the odometer
  • Tell you if the vehicle was ever registered outside of BC

The Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act prohibits dealers and salespersons from engaging in deceptive acts or practices. The law defines a deceptive act as any spoken, written or visual statement or action that could mislead a buyer and lead a reasonable person into making an error of judgment. Dealers must:

• Sell vehicles in a clear and transparent manner
• Stand behind the statements they make to you about the vehicles being sold
• Explain the terms of your purchase and let you agree or disagree to those terms
• Give you the cost of borrowing statement before you agree to the purchase, if you are leasing or financing