The Canadian Motor Vehicle Arbitration Plan (CAMVAP) is a
dispute resolution program for consumers in Canada who are experiencing problems with the assembly of their vehicle or with how the manufacturer implements its new-vehicle
warranty
In contract law, a warranty is a promise which is not a condition of the contract or an innominate term: (1) it is a term "not going to the root of the contract",Hogg M. (2011). ''Promises and Contract Law: Comparative Perspectives''p. 48 Cambri ...
. CAMVAP covers new, used, owned or leased vehicles from the current
model year
The model year (sometimes abbreviated "MY") is a method of describing the version of a product which has been produced over multiple years. The model year may or may not be the same as the calendar year in which the product was manufactured.
...
and up to an additional four model years old.
CAMVAP is an
arbitration
Arbitration is a form of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) that resolves disputes outside the judiciary courts. The dispute will be decided by one or more persons (the 'arbitrators', 'arbiters' or ' arbitral tribunal'), which renders the ...
program, which is free to consumers. Hearings are held in the consumer's home community. The process normally takes less than 70 days from start to finish. Most consumers are able to handle their own case without the assistance of an attorney. The manufacturers do not use attorneys; their representatives are usually current (or retired) district parts and services representatives. A vehicle inspection is normally part of an arbitration hearing, and the arbitrator can order a technical inspection of the vehicle (at the program's expense) if necessary.
CAMVAP is available to owners and lessees of new and used vehicles that were originally purchased or leased in Canada from an authorized dealer (except for
BMW and—by extension—
MINI
The Mini is a small, two-door, four-seat car, developed as ADO15, and produced by the British Motor Corporation (BMC) and its successors, from 1959 through 2000. Minus a brief hiatus, original Minis were built for four decades and sold during ...
, the only car manufacturer which does not participate in the CAMVAP scheme). The owner (or lessee) must be a resident of Canada. Vehicles owned by businesses may be eligible if they meet certain criteria. CAMVAP is available in every
Canadian province
Within the geographical areas of Canada, the ten provinces and three territories are sub-national administrative divisions under the jurisdiction of the Canadian Constitution. In the 1867 Canadian Confederation, three provinces of British Nort ...
and territory.
CAMVAP arbitrators can order the manufacturer to:
*Buy back the vehicle
*Repair it at the manufacturer's expense
*Pay for repairs already completed
*Pay out-of-pocket expenses for items such as towing,
diagnostic testing
A medical test is a medical procedure performed to detect, diagnose, or monitor diseases, disease processes, susceptibility, or to determine a course of treatment. Medical tests such as, physical and visual exams, diagnostic imaging, geneti ...
,
rental cars and accommodations related to the vehicle's problem
The arbitrator can also clear the manufacturer of liability with respect to issues raised by the consumer.
References
External links
* {{official, http://www.camvap.ca/
Canadian Commercial Arbitration Centre (CCAC)
Automotive companies of Canada
Arbitration organizations