Three Pillars
The UCDA is in regular contact with the many Government Departments, Federal and Provincial, that affect dealers.
It maintains a close working relationship with the Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations and with OMVIC , the Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council, which manages the industry. In fact, the UCDA had underwritten the cost of a number of Canadian Automotive Institute students who worked in the Registrar's office on curbsiding investigations.
Liaison and coalitions with other automotive industry groups is an important activity in helping to ensure that the interests of the industry are advanced.
The UCDA participated with CADA, AARO, CVMA, AIAMC, AIA * and others, in joint approaches to both the Federal and the Ontario governments. Issues have included GST, Dealer Regulations, Import Regulations, Vehicle Permit Branding, Vehicle Safety Standards, Vehicle Emission Testing, Curbsider studies and many others.
Internationally, the UCDA is associated with the NIADA ** which provides for the free exchange of information and ideas on issues that impact all used vehicle dealers in North America.
The media have acknowledged the Association's role as the spokesgroup for the industry and the UCDA is regularly contacted for the industry's perspective on issues.
The UCDA compiles and disseminates various industry statistics to the media, Government and other interested groups. Its data on used vehicle sales and curbsider statistics is frequently requested.
*
AARO Automotive Aftermarket Retailers of Ontario
AIA Automobile Industries Association of Canada
AIAMC Association of International Automobile Manufacturers of Canada
CADA Canadian Automobile Dealers Association
CVMA Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers Association
**
NIADA National Independent Automobile Dealers Association
Dealer education has always been of paramount importance to the Association. It's seen as one of the most valuable means of creating a fair and honest marketplace for both dealers and consumers.
UCDA Members are kept up-to-date on their rights and responsibilities through meetings, e-bulletins, newsletters and classes.
We’ve offered an in-class OMVIC Certification Course for new registrants since February of 2014. Due to the current COVID-19 situation, all OMVIC Certification Classes are currently held as online webinars for the health of students and instructors. This 1-day course is offered to both new and currently registered dealers and salespeople. Attendees take the required test immediately following the classroom session. The test is administered by Georgian College and written online, which generally provides the marks to the individuals who take the test, within 48 hours. This allows those who are applying to OMVIC for a license to start the registration process right away. The classes generally sell-out very quickly. If you’re interested, contact Michelle Prince at the UCDA for dates and more information.
Through Wye Management, the UCDA also offers a 1-day Fast Start Sales Training Course for new sales people. What started as an add-on, extra day to OMVIC course students has grown to include many existing UCDA Members and their staff. This sales course is taught in plain language and guides new sales people in how to approach customers, meet their needs and ultimately, close the sale. This class is offered once per month and also sells-out quickly.
If a dealer requests it, our Director of Member Services will also gladly visit local dealerships and spend a couple of hours going through dealership processes with both management and staff. These dealer “audits” are a complimentary Member service and have proven invaluable to dealers in terms of adhering to OMVIC’s guidelines, filling out paperwork correctly and avoiding costly fines!
Understanding that dealers and salespeople are very busy, the UCDA will continue to look for ways to deliver industry education to our Members. Watch for future announcements.
Started by two highly qualified lawyers, UCDA offers a free informal mediation facility to consumers and to dealers.
It was begun to provide a means by which friction between a consumer and a dealer could be dealt with quickly and without cost to either. The goal of such a programme is to head off potential court proceedings by trying to get each party to understand their respective rights and responsibilities.
The mediation programme is not restricted to issues dealing with UCDA Members. Any consumer complaint, involving a used vehicle transaction, is accepted. Often, dealers who were not Members at the time of the mediation have joined the Association afterwards. They became aware that they could be more effective business people if they were more familiar with their rights and responsibilities.
The UCDA has also dealt with a number of cases in which consumers had, unfortunately, purchased a vehicle from a curbsider. We have been able to successfully intervene in many of them.
Most mediation is done by telephone and, more often than not, the issue is settled amicably and in hours or days. Often, the problem is simply a lack of communication.
The verbal format was chosen because its fast and many consumers are much better able to communicate their concerns verbally. It is also less intimidating to them.
The UCDA makes no charge for the service and referrals are regularly received from Automobile Clubs, newspaper ombudsmen and even the Consumer Ministry.
The UCDA's motivation, to participate in the mediation process, emanates from the Associations mission statement... to enhance the image of the used vehicle industry!
The UCDA was founded in 1984 by 7 Ontario dealers as a not-for-profit association. Managed by an Executive Director and a staff of 18, the policies and direction of the association are governed by a 9 person Board of Directors. The UCDA currently represents almost 5000 Members, spread through more than 500 Ontario communities.
The UCDA’s mission is to enhance the image of the Used Vehicle Industry, through
- Representation
- Education
- Mediation