MVRO Saw Major Wins Cross the Finish Line in 2024

December 17, 2024

As the checkered flag drops on 2024, the Motor Vehicle Retailers of Ontario (MVRO) is celebrating major advocacy wins that cuts red tape, makes it easier to enter the skilled trades and increases penalties for auto thieves.

This year’s major highlight was the continuous upgrades to the Digital Dealer Registration (DDR) program. DDR allows auto retailers to electronically register vehicles; and issue license plates and vehicle permits directly from the dealership – eliminating visits to Service Ontario.

“This year, Minister Todd McCarthy has turbocharged DDR from its humble beginnings into a world-class product, helping retailers cut red tape and deliver vehicles to customers minutes after signing on the dotted line,” said Frank Notte, Director of Government Relations for MVRO. “This innovative program has streamlined dealership operations and enhanced the overall customer experience.”

DDR now offers: registrations for new and used vehicles, joint registrations, the ability to retrieve Electronic Safety Certificates, the ability to register new and used light commercial vehicles (pickup trucks) with a Registered Gross Weight less than 3,000 kgs, the ability to register fleets for businesses and numerous video tutorials and support manuals. 

Other 2024 advocacy wins include:

1. A decision by the Ontario Government not to implement a mandatory, two day cooling-off period for all vehicle sales. This move avoids creating an administrative nightmare filled with unnecessary red tape for salespeople.
2. An amendment to the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act that extends the time period to provide a warranty seller with required warranty documentation and payments from 7 days to 30 days.
3. The passage of Bill 190, Working for Workers Five Act, 2024 which cuts red tape for future automotive technicians by creating a new pathway to enter the trades by allowing the use of “alternative criteria” that will be deemed equivalent to current academic standards. Bill 190 was passed unanimously in the Ontario Legislature on October 28, 2024.

David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development announced a further reduction in barriers for those entering the skilled trades by removing the $150 fee for apprentices taking their first Certificate of Qualification exam.

4. The passage of Bill 197, Safer Roads and Communities Act, 2024 which creates new sections under the Highway Traffic Act that suspends a person’s driver’s licence if the person is convicted of motor vehicle theft under the Criminal Code. The escalating suspension periods include a 10-year licence suspension for a first offence, a 15-year suspension for a second offence and an indefinite suspension for a third offence.
5. The passage of Bill 223, Safer Streets, Stronger Communities Act, 2024 which creates a new provincial offence for bad actors knowingly providing a false Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) for a vehicle transaction. The penalties include fines up to $100,000, jail time, and suspending a person’s driver’s licence and/or a person’s vehicle permit.

6. The passage of Bill 162, Get It Done Act, 2024 – the most pro-auto legislation passed at Queen’s Park in a generation. This legislation only allows road tolls to be implemented through legislation, rather than regulation, making it more accountable and transparent to the public. If a Minister or MPP wants to implement road tolls, they now must introduce a Bill in the Legislature, debate it and MPPs must vote on it.

Bill 162 also:

• Gives the public a direct say by mandating a referendum take place before a future provincial government is authorized to implement carbon pricing – such as a carbon tax on gasoline.

• Establishes automatic vehicle permit renewals, saving car owners 900,000 hours per year, and

• Permanently freezes driver’s licence and photo card fees, saving drivers an estimated $66 million over the next five years.

“Doug Ford is the most pro-auto Premier in Ontario’s history. This year has once again demonstrated his government’s commitment to ensuring a bright future for Ontario’s auto industry. Ontario’s new car and truck retailers look forward to continuing this momentum into next year,” said Notte.

Other Related News