News room/ Press Releases
Media Contacts
For more information on the Commission des services juridiques, members of the media should contact Mr Nadine Koussa, Communications responsible at 514-873-3562 ext: 5249.
Press Releases
Press Releases 2008
Montreal, May 8, 2008.- Purchasing a used vehicle can be a wise move, but there can be plenty of unfortunate consequences if the buyer neglects to make certain checks. That's why CAA-Quebec, the Commission des services juridiques du Québec and the Register of Personal and Movable Real Rights (RDPRM) are partnering to make consumers aware that a well-planned approach is not only useful - it's a must.
Roadworthy, but… Anyone thinking of purchasing a used vehicle must be aware that repairs may have been made to it, either due to normal wear and tear or because it was damaged in an accident. Always ask the seller to see the invoices for repairs done recently; this will give you an idea of what to expect in terms of maintenance costs, along with a general idea of the vehicle's condition.
« There are all kinds of things to be checked pretty much simultaneously, but in terms of the mechanics, if you're still interested in buying after taking the vehicle out for a test drive, it's essential that you have it inspected by a reliable mechanic or at any of CAA-Quebec's (www.caaquebec.com) technical inspection centres, » emphasizes Sophie Gagnon, CAA-Quebec's Senior Director, Public and Government Relations.
Odometer tampering - The number of kilometres a used vehicle has travelled, of course, is one of the key factors in setting the sale price. Some buyers, unfortunately, discover that the odometer on the vehicle they've bought has been tampered with and they've paid far too much - but by that time, it's too late. One way to avoid this situation is to get a clear picture of the odometer readings by looking into the vehicle's chain of ownership; that is, the information on its former owners. That information can be obtained, for example, by consulting the record of the vehicle available on Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) website at www.saaq.gouv.qc.ca.
A practical checklist - Before buying a used vehicle, you need to investigate its past - including whether it is still under warranty. You should also find out as much as you can about the seller. The checklist developed by the Commission des services juridiques, which has been available for a year at www.csj.qc.ca and in legal aid offices throughout Quebec, is an invaluable tool to help with this process.
« With our free checklist in hand, buyers can quickly become aware of the key aspects to verify, to ensure their rights are respected and to avoid legal troubles, » explains Gilles Daoust, the Commission's director of litigation and research.
Trouble-free history? Consulting the Register of Personal and Movable Real Rights, known by its French initials RDPRM (Registre des droits personnels et réels mobiliers), is another vital step, which will determine whether there are any outstanding rights on the vehicle you are thinking of buying.
'Basically, the RDPRM allows the buyer to ascertain that the vehicle is free of debt and therefore can't be seized by a creditor of a previous owner,' notes Charles Dorion, Communications Manager with the Ministère de la Justice du Québec's Direction des registres et de la certification (www.rdprm.gouv.qc.ca). 'You should definitely avail yourself of this protection - unless you want to inherit somebody else's debt.'
The Commission des services juridiques, created in 1972, ensures that legal aid services are provided to eligible individuals who apply for them. The RDPRM, created in 1994 under the Civil Code and administered by the Ministère de la Justice, is a public register in which rights on road vehicles, among other movable property, are recorded. CAA-Quebec, a not-for-profit organization founded in 1904, provides automotive, travel, residential and financial services, benefits and privileges to its 935,000 members.
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Information:
CAA-Quebec
Montreal Roxanne Héroux
514 861-7111, ext. 3210
Québec
Philippe St-Pierre
418 624-2424, ext. 2418
Commission des services juridiques
Marie-Noëlle Trottier
514 873-3562
RDPRM (Ministère de la Justice)
Charles Dorion
514 864-2413