Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Council
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Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Council (AMVIC) is a non profit organization that operates in strictly in Alberta and is responsible for the administration of industry standards as outline in the Fair Trading Act of Alberta ( formerly know as the Consumer Protection Act). Although AMVIC is restricted to operate only in Alberta, most provinces do have their own respective regulatory bodies (OMVIC in Ontario; VSA in BC) withe the exception of a few that simply do not have a separate authority.
AMVIC was founded on the 12th of February 1999, with the input of the industry and legislators, and its funding comes mainly from the industry itself.
AMVIC's Mission Statement:
"AMVIC’s mission is to protect the public interest and promote trust and confidence in the motor vehicle industry through heightened awareness and the fostering of a positive exchange of information among industry stakeholders."
Complaints & Concerns
One of the main advantages of purchasing either a new or used vehicle from a dealership, is that AMVIC gives you some ease of mind.
AMVIC is responsible for enforcing regulations set by the provincial government and offering consumers an option for mediation, should you have any complaints or concerns with your purchase.
They also make sure that dealerships don’t mislead the public and engage in overly deceptive practices. AMVIC’s investigators are peace officers of the province and they do have the power of handing out fines for unfair practices.
That being said however, keep in mind that AMVICs main source of income from the industry. Dealerships are allowed to charge up to $6.25 per sale to the general public, which is then used to fund the regulatory body. So why would they slap the hand that feeds them?
Although AMVIC has been know to help resolve disagreements and has fined dealerships directly, they aren’t without their flaws:
"W5 investigates car dealership that sold consumers' vehicles but didn't give them the money" - W5
"It didn’t take long before Owen says he smelled a rat, but instead of being allowed to pursue the matter aggressively, he was pulled off the case by senior management at AMVIC"
"Alberta Vehicle Industry watchdog ousts director following review" - CBC
"The review found that the fund, created in 2012, had reached its $4-million limit. Yet very few claims had been paid to consumers, with only one, totaling $2,000, granted last year."
AMVIC Mechanical Safety Assessment
Every licensed dealership that sells a vehicle to the general public in the province of Alberta, must complete a Mechanical Safety Assessment (MSA) of the vehicle, with the exception of auctions and private sales.
The MSA guarantees that the vehicle was assessed by a licensed mechanic to the original equipment manufacturer’s specification. The MSA also has to clearly state if and any deficiencies were either repaired or not.
A dealership may not sell a vehicle “As Is”, without supplying an MSA to the consumer and clearly stating the deficiencies .