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The garage register that writes itself.

Ontario's Highway Traffic Act requires every registered dealer to keep a garage register — a running record of every used vehicle bought and sold. It's the record most likely to fall behind on a busy lot, and one of the easiest things for an inspection to catch. Lot Jacket writes yours automatically, as cars come and go.

GARAGE REGISTER — HTA · Form 023-SR-E-217 0 entries
— EVERY VEHICLE IN & OUT, LOGGED UNDER THE MTO'S OWN HEADINGS —
DATEVEHICLEVIN (LAST 6)FROM / TOIN/OUT
JUL 022019 HONDA CIVIC LX…A48291ADESA TORONTOIN
JUL 032017 FORD F-150 XLT…C77410TRADE-IN — DEAL #241IN
JUL 052019 HONDA CIVIC LX…A48291SOLD — DEAL #243OUT
JUL 082020 TOYOTA RAV4 LE…B10937MANHEIMIN
JUL 112017 FORD F-150 XLT…C77410SOLD — DEAL #247OUT
Up to date
you didn't type any of this — the deals did ↑
The short version Yes, an electronic garage register is legal in Ontario. Pre-printed register books are no longer readily available, the MTO publishes a printable PDF, and dealers can meet the obligation electronically. Lot Jacket creates the entry from the deal itself — vehicle in, vehicle out, logged the moment it happens — and exports it the second anyone asks.

What the law actually requires

Ontario's Highway Traffic Act and the Ministry of Transportation require registered dealers to keep a complete record of each used vehicle bought and sold, so vehicles can be easily identified. That is the garage register. It sits alongside your deal files — every jacket should have a matching register entry, in and out — and it's part of the records OMVIC's inspectors work from. For what belongs in the deal file itself, see the OMVIC deal file checklist.

The book that falls behind vs. the register that can't

✗ The manual register

  • Hand-copied from deals, when someone remembers
  • Falls behind the moment the lot gets busy
  • Gaps surface at inspection time, not before
  • One book, one location, no backup

✓ The Lot Jacket register

  • Written automatically as each deal happens
  • Logged under the MTO form's own headings
  • Tied to the deal file behind every entry
  • Exportable the second OMVIC, police, or an inspector asks

One detail worth knowing before you go digital: OMVIC's record-keeping rules require the Registrar's permission to keep records off-site, including in a cloud service. A good digital system makes that conversation easy, because the records are complete, organized, and exportable on demand — ask us about it on your demo.

Straight answers

What is a garage register?
A garage register is the running record Ontario requires registered dealers to keep of every used vehicle bought and sold, so any vehicle can be identified. The requirement comes from Ontario's Highway Traffic Act and is administered through the Ministry of Transportation.
Can the garage register be electronic in Ontario?
Yes. Dealers can meet the legal obligation by keeping an electronic garage register. Pre-printed register books are no longer readily available, and the MTO provides a printable PDF version for dealers who prefer paper. Note that OMVIC's record-keeping rules require the Registrar's permission to store records off-site, including in a cloud service.
What has to be recorded in the garage register?
Each entry records a used vehicle coming into or leaving the dealer's possession under the headings on the MTO's Garage Register form, so that any vehicle the dealer has bought or sold can be traced and identified.
Does Lot Jacket replace my paper garage register?
Yes. Lot Jacket maintains an electronic garage register that writes itself as deals happen, logged under the same headings the MTO's Garage Register form requires, and you can export it the second OMVIC, police, or an inspector asks.

Watch your register write itself.

Book a free 15-minute demo, bring a real deal, and watch the register entry appear without anyone typing it.

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Sources
  1. Garage Register — OMVIC
  2. Highway Traffic Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8 — Government of Ontario
  3. Electronic Record-Keeping Guideline — OMVIC

This page is general information for Ontario used-car dealers, not legal or compliance advice. Requirements can change — always confirm the current rules with OMVIC, the MTO, or a qualified advisor.

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