Curbstoning
The illegal practice of selling vehicles for profit while posing as a private seller to avoid dealer licensing, disclosure, and tax obligations.
A curbstoner flips cars without a dealer licence, listing them as a private individual to sidestep regulation, consumer disclosure, and sales tax. Buyers lose the protections a licensed dealer must provide and often inherit hidden liens or undisclosed damage. Regulators such as OMVIC actively pursue curbstoning, and a private listing that always seems to have several cars for sale is a common warning sign.
Related terms
Bill of Sale
The legal document that records the transfer of a vehicle from seller to buyer, listing the parties, the vehicle, the price, and the terms of the sale.
ComplianceOMVIC
The Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council, the regulator that licenses and oversees motor vehicle dealers and salespeople in Ontario.