Who Regulates RV Dealers in Your Province? How to Check a Licence and Complain

Buying, Ownership & Costs • Canada • Updated October 26, 2026

There is no single national regulator for RV dealers. Consumer protection is provincial and territorial, and the Government of Canada lists a consumer affairs office for each. In some provinces, a dealer-licensing body handles vehicle sales. Here is what the sources say:

• Ontario. OMVIC states that anyone engaged in motor vehicle trade, including motorcycles and RVs, must be registered with it. OMVIC's page does not list which RV types are covered, so ask whether the specific type you are buying, such as a travel trailer, is protected.
• Alberta. AMVIC said in a 2016 news release that every RV business selling in Alberta must hold an AMVIC licence, and that buyers of licensed businesses can access a consumer compensation fund. Confirm the current rules at amvic.org.
• British Columbia. The Vehicle Sales Authority of BC oversees the sale of personal-use new and used vehicles and licenses dealers and salespeople. Its page does not state whether RVs and trailers are covered, so contact the VSA to confirm. Consumer Protection BC is the provincial consumer affairs office.
• Saskatchewan. The Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority (FCAA) regulates vehicle dealing under The Consumer Protection and Business Practices Act, which requires vehicle dealers to be licensed. Confirm with the FCAA how it applies to RVs.
• Manitoba. The Consumer Protection Office accepts complaints about vehicle dealers, and Manitoba Public Insurance issues dealer and salesperson permits.
• Quebec. The Office de la protection du consommateur (OPC) handles consumer complaints.
• Atlantic provinces and territories. Use the provincial or territorial consumer affairs office in the table below.

Office names and web addresses come from the federal Office of Consumer Affairs directory. Websites move; if a link fails, search the office name.

1. Look up the dealer in your regulator's public search. OMVIC (Ontario), AMVIC (Alberta, at portal.amvic.org) and the Vehicle Sales Authority (BC) each publish one.
2. Check that the name, address and licence match the business you are dealing with, not just a similar name.
3. Call the dealer using the number from its official website and confirm the salesperson you spoke to works there. This is the best defence against fake ads that copy real dealerships; see our scams guide.
4. If your province has no public dealer search, ask the consumer protection office whether the dealer is licensed or registered, and ask the dealer for its licence number.
5. Be careful with "curbsiders": people who sell several vehicles a year while pretending to be private sellers. Ontario and Saskatchewan regulators publish warnings about them. A seller with several RVs, who will not give you a clear receipt, or who sells "on behalf of a friend", is a red flag.

It depends on your province, and none of this replaces reading your contract. The regulators describe protections such as:

• Rules on advertising and all-in pricing. Alberta's regulator said the only amounts that can be added to an advertised price are GST and financing costs.
• Clear disclosure of financing terms.
• A regulator that accepts complaints and can act against a licence.
• In some provinces, a compensation fund that buyers can claim against if a licensed dealer fails.

Buying from an unlicensed seller who is really acting as a dealer usually removes these protections. Our warranties guide explains what a manufacturer warranty and an extended contract do and do not cover.

1. Write down the problem now. Dates, what was promised, what is wrong, who you spoke to. Take photos and videos.
2. Read your documents. The bill of sale, warranty, financing contract and any pre-delivery inspection form. Our pre-delivery inspection guide helps you document defects at pickup.
3. Complain to the dealer in writing (email and a letter), explain what you want (a repair, a refund, a fix by a date), and keep copies. Ask for a response in a reasonable time, such as 10 business days.
4. Contact the manufacturer if the problem is a warranty defect. Dealers act as the manufacturer's agent for warranty work, but the manufacturer has its own customer-relations process.
5. File with your regulator or consumer office if you get no resolution. Manitoba's Consumer Protection Office, for example, asks complainants to describe the transaction, date, problem, the business's response and what you want, and to include copies of the bill of sale, contract, advertisement, warranty and correspondence.
6. Ask your credit card issuer or financing company about its dispute process if you paid by card or financed through the dealer.
7. Consider small claims court or legal advice if the amount is significant. Rules and limits vary by province.

None of this is legal advice. If you are unsure of your rights, speak to a lawyer or a legal clinic in your province.

• Advertisements and screenshots of the listing and price.
• The signed bill of sale, financing contract and warranty documents.
• Every email, text message and call note with the dealer.
• Photos and videos of defects, dated.
• Repair orders and invoices, including those from other shops.
• Receipts for any money paid, including deposits.

Check each page for the current rules, prices and dates. Rules and provider terms change.

• Federal, provincial and territorial consumer affairs offices (Government of Canada)
• OMVIC: Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council
• AMVIC: Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Council
• Vehicle Sales Authority of British Columbia
• Saskatchewan Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority
• Manitoba Consumer Protection Office: filing a complaint

• RV buying and selling scams in Canada
• RV warranties and extended protection
• RV pre-delivery inspection checklist
• Complete RV buying checklist
• Canadian RV shows: how to buy smart

Last checked: October 26, 2026. This is general information, not legal, financial or professional advice. Confirm current requirements with the organization named before you act.