A TIRE-some PROBLEM

A TIRE-some PROBLEM

Media reports, and stakeholders, are sounding the alarm over used tire recycling in Ontario.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/tires-piling-up-ontario-recycling-targets-cut-9.7025225

It’s said that changes by the Ontario government to regulations early in 2025, lowering recycling targets from 85% to 65% of used tires collected by weight, may be part of the problem.

Some are suggesting, as a result, the collection of used tires is being impacted, as companies responsible for tire recycling have stopped processing them.

This may be creating a backlog in the system.

The bottom line … some of our members may be having problems getting their used tires collected.

This will be of particular concern to UCDA members that have repair facilities, sell new tires and collect used ones or deal with third party repairers who may be reluctant to take additional supply.

Our question for members is, are you seeing this problem first-hand?

The UCDA wants to try to gauge the level of the problem.

Please tell us what you are experiencing in the marketplace with your used tires (include numbers and volumes) by emailing us at:

tires@ucda.org

BUYING AUTO INSURANCE AT DEALERSHIP

BUYING AUTO INSURANCE AT DEALERSHIP

As the UCDA has been reporting to members in Front Line, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) is proceeding with a test environment to assess the workability of allowing consumers to buy auto insurance directly at a dealership, as part of their vehicle purchase or lease.

What follows is news of an upcoming Webinar on January 14 at 10:00 a.m., to introduce dealers to the plan, and how they might participate:

Act Now: Register for FSRA’s Point-of-Sale webinar

Join the Auto Policy and Innovation Teams at the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) to learn more about how to participate in the new Point-of-Sale Test and Learn Environment (TLE) pilot and application process. The webinar is being held on January 14 at 10:00 a.m. (ET).

The Point-of-Sale program is designed to make it easier and more convenient to buy auto insurance in the province. The program will make it possible for consumers to purchase auto insurance directly at the dealership from a licensed agent or broker when they buy or lease their vehicle.

The Point-of-Sale TLE will help ensure consumers are fully informed and protected with strong safeguards in place.

During the webinar, you’ll learn:

  • The scope and duration of the TLE
  • Who is eligible to apply
  • FSRA’s expectations for applicants

Register now to reserve your spot and be part of this exciting step toward a more modern, consumer-focused auto insurance marketplace.

Holiday Hours

Holiday Hours

Dealers must be closed on December 25, 2025, Christmas Day (a Thursday this year) and January 1, 2026, New Year’s Day (also a Thursday). Staff must have those days off, with pay.

While you can be open on Boxing Day (Friday, December 26, 2025), if you are, another day off must be given to staff or they must be paid their regular pay plus time-and-half holiday pay for working that day.

The UCDA office will be closed on December 25, 26 and January 1, 2026.

UCDA searches can still be performed online at www.ucdasearches.com during the holidays, and the office will be open as usual December 22-24, and 29-31st, 2025, and reopen on January 2, 2026.

 

Happy Holidays from the UCDA!

FRONT LINE AND CANADA POST

FRONT LINE AND CANADA POST

It’s not us Canada Post, it’s you.

We have decided to end our long-standing practice of mailing a copy of Front Line to each and every Member every month.

It’s not just about saving on paper, or postage costs, or printing and handling costs, it’s also about the frustration of dealing with on again, off again service, from a postal provider that promises one thing and literally does not deliver.

We have, for many years now, also sent Front Line by email, and these days all of our Members use email. We make sure to get emails at the time any new Member joins.

Many of our Members have already opted to receive Front Line by email exclusively anyway.

As you know, Front Line comes by email in an easy to read online format and you can download an easy to read, and easy to print, PDF version.

You can also review our Front Line archives on our website at:

https://www.ucda.org/front-line-ucda/

THANKSGIVING DAY – OCTOBER 13, 2025

THANKSGIVING DAY - OCTOBER 13, 2025

Dealers are legally required to close on Thanksgiving Day, Monday, October 13th, unless located in a tourist area as designated by their local municipality.

Dealers may be open on Saturday, October 11th and, if they wish, on Sunday, October 12th.

The UCDA search facility will be closed on Thanksgiving Monday, but will be available as usual from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 11th and 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 14th.

Of course, On-line searches are available on Thanksgiving Monday at www.ucdasearches.com

CANADA POST WORKERS STRIKE

CANADA POST WORKERS STRIKE

… here we go again

Most of our members will have heard the news yesterday that the Canadian Union of Postal Workers has begun a national strike.

Canada Post’s operations have shut down, affecting millions of Canadians and businesses across the country.

During the strike, the UCDA will communicate with members by email for correspondence and invoices. Shipments will be sent by alternate carriers.

Members who normally pay invoices by cheque must make alternate arrangements.

Members can pay their invoices by credit card, by calling the UCDA office at 416.231.2600 or 1.800.268.2598.

If you want to pay by EFT, please send a request to ar@ucda.org for banking information.

Payment information is also on every invoice

We will keep you updated on the progress of any negotiations between the union and employer.

CYBER CRIME

CYBER CRIME

We are hearing from members that their emails are increasingly being hijacked. Cybercriminals have reached a level of sophistication that surprises many people.

They have been able to insert themselves into transactions midstream.

It can work like this:

A dealer offers to buy out a customer’s lease from a lessor. They have an established relationship with the lessor and communicate through email. The lessor gave the buyout amount and asked for payment by cheque.

Later, the dealer received another email, appearing to come from the lessor, stating that they now would only accept payment via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) and attached the form. The dealer proceeded with payment by EFT.

Days later, the lessor called asking where their cheque was.

The EFT had gone to criminals and not the lessor.

Practice Good Cyber Hygiene

Train your staff to avoid clicking on unsafe attachments, how to recognize spam emails, and when unsure, to ask. Don’t give crooks access to your systems in the first place:

  • All payments should require dual authorization
  • Any changes to payment methods should be confirmed by phone or in person
  • Changes to payment methods should be considered suspect, especially mid-transaction
  • Slow down and consider

Don’t Assume Anything – Be Suspicious

  • Bad guys can intercept emails
  • Bad guys can spoof emails with requests to send EFT and so on
  • These cons can be from outside or inside a dealership

Confirm before you pay

DEALER ALERT OMVIC CPD PROPOSED TO COST $99

DEALER ALERT OMVIC CPD PROPOSED TO COST $99

As UCDA Members know, OMVIC plans to launch an education requirement on renewal next year for all dealers and salespeople. Those registrants, who are not grandfathered, will take an online course called Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

You will have recently seen an OMVIC Bulletin announcing they intend to charge $99 for dealers (every year) and salespeople (every two) to take CPD.

https://www.omvic.ca/news/dealer-bulletins/continuing-professional-development-fee-consultation/

OMVIC are inviting you to make submissions on this proposal by October 8, 2025 at:

https://form.jotform.com/252395397644268

This was the UCDA’s submission:

 “Without knowing what OMVIC’s costs are for developing, delivering and administering the CPD Program, it is impossible to comment on whether a $99 fee is fair or reasonable. To us it seems very high, and it gives little comfort to hear OMVIC suggest it compares favourably with other regulated professions, assuming that is even accurate. The Law Society of Ontario has had CPD for years and charges its members $0.”

 

CHIP IN FOR CHARITY

CHIP IN FOR CHARITY!

The UCDA’s support for the fight against childhood cancers continues in 2025 with donations to mark September which is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

We are pulling out all the stops this year through our social media channels, Dealer Alerts and Front Line, to engage our Members in this fight.

We have a contest for a free foursome at the Championship Course at Osprey Valley during 2025.

UCDA Members who show us a charitable receipt by September 12, 2025 (email to memberservices@ucda.org) for a donation to one of the Charities listed below, will be entered into a contest to win that valuable prize. The winner will be announced on September 15th.

Kids Kicking Cancer (Windsor)

Childcan (London)

Help a Child Smile (Hamilton) 

Northern Ontario Families of Children with Cancer (NOFCC) 

Candlelighters Simcoe 

Ontario Parents Advocating for Children with Cancer (OPACC)

 

UCDA/DesRosiers Survey Results

UCDA/DesRosiers Survey Results

In partnership with DesRosiers Automotive Consultants (DAC), the UCDA reached out to hundreds of members to get a better understanding of trends in the automotive industry. Here is a snap shot of the first half of 2025.

Vehicle Sales in 2024 and Anticipated Sales in 2025

Overall, franchised dealers expect to sell slightly more used cars in 2025 than they did in 2024 while independent dealers, expect to sell slightly less.

Sourcing Vehicles

New and used car dealers continue to find it difficult to source used vehicles, even more so than the last 6 months of 2024.

Most franchised new dealers source their used vehicles from customer sales or trade-ins, while most independent used car dealers buy their vehicles at auctions or wholesale.

Paying for Used Vehicles

Most customers are approaching independent used car dealers with cash in hand or funding from their own sources. Customers of new car dealers are purchasing used vehicles through loans arranged at the dealership.

Prices

For both new and independent dealers, there seems to be some softening in prices for used vehicles, particularly cars. This was expected due to the tariff effect.

Interest in Used Electric Vehicles (BEVs and PHEVs)

Consumers continue to be slow to buy used electric vehicles. Franchised dealers sold more hybrids (PHEV) than full electric (BEV), while independent dealers moved few of either.

Tariffs

One of the more interesting take-aways from the survey is that tariffs have yet to really bite into exports to the U.S., with independent dealers even more bullish than franchised dealers in this area. There has been some weakening, but nothing like what was expected early on. This may have to do with the fact that the U.S. have not really started assessing non-U.S. parts in used vehicle exports at the border as of yet.

You can read the full survey here: