Guidance for car dealerships

Different industries have obligations and responsibilities in regards to the Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules and the National Do Not Call List (National DNCL). Find out more about the guidelines and how to comply with the rules.

On this page

• Registration and Subscription to the National Do Not Call List
• Avoiding liability
• Situations and responsibilities
• More information
• Guidance for other industries

Registration and subscription to the National Do Not Call List

Registration and subscription to the National Do Not Call List must be done at the dealership level—not at the parent company level. Thus, prior to any unsolicited calling, the dealership must register and subscribe to the National Do Not Call List. It can then share its subscription with its employees or agents.

A parent company cannot register with or subscribe to the National Do Not Call List. Each individual dealership that engages in cold calling must register and subscribe.

Avoiding liability

The dealership is liable for the actions of its agents and employees and any lead generator that is hired. (A lead generator is a company that is hired to make telemarketing calls). Make sure your employees and any lead generators they (or you) hire are familiar with the Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules and know how to comply with them.

If a lead generator says they will take care of registering and subscribing to the National Do Not Call List, they may be non-compliant. As a result, you could be held liable for any violations that occur while they are calling on your behalf.

Situations and responsibilities (dealers, advisors, lead generators)

• Employees or agents making calls on their own behalf

  The dealership must:

  • register with the National Do Not Call List
  • maintain an internal do not call list
  • purchase a subscription to every area code the employees intend to call

  
  

  The employees and agents must:

  • ensure your dealership is registered and has purchased a subscription to the National Do Not Call List area codes that you intend to call
  • download the subscribed numbers every 31 days
  • scrub your call list against the National Do Not Call List, your personal do not call list, and the brokerage’s internal list
  • ensure you do not call any consumer telephone number on any do not call list
  • ensure that you follow all Unsolicited Telecommunication Rules
• Dealership hiring a lead generator to make telemarketing calls

  The dealership must:

  • be registered with the National Do Not Call List
  • maintain an internal do not call list
  • purchase a subscription to the Do Not Call List that includes every area code the lead generator will call on your behalf
  • provide the lead generator with:
    • the list of numbers included in your subscription
    • a copy of your dealership’s internal do not call list
  • make sure the list of numbers from the National Do Not Call List used by the lead generator is updated no later than every 31 days
  • ensure the lead generator does not call any number on either the National Do Not Call List or your internal lists
  • ensure the lead generator knows they must follow the Unsolicited Telecommunication Rules

  
  

  The lead generator must:

  • confirm your client has a valid registration and subscription to the National Do Not Call List
  • download an updated list of numbers for the subscribed area codes no later than every 31 days
  • scrub the call list against the subscribed list and the client’s internal do not call list
  • ensure you follow all Unsolicited Telecommunication Rules

More information

• Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules: Know your obligations
• Frequently asked questions about registration and subscription
• How to register with the National Do Not Call List

Guidance for other industries

• The real estate industry
• Financial dealers (investments and mutual funds) and advisors
• The insurance industry
• Mortgage brokers
• HVAC, heating and cooling, and duct cleaning companies
• All other industries

The information provided herein is guidance provided by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, and should not be considered comprehensive, nor legally binding. If you are still unsure of your compliance with the Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules, consider engaging the assistance of private regulatory legal counsel.

Date modified:

2024-02-19