With Commissioner for Consumer Protection Penny Lipscombe

Aside from your home, your car is likely to be your biggest asset. Unlicensed motor vehicle dealers can pose a huge, unnecessary risk to your vehicle and to the safety of your family. Buying a vehicle from an unlicensed dealer increases the risk of it being substandard, dangerous and possibly unroadworthy. By engaging the services of an unlicensed dealer, you may also be foregoing your consumer rights to a remedy on the vehicle if something goes wrong.

You can protect yourself by doing some simple checks.

Before you buy your car:

1. Do your research – find out the safety rating of the vehicle, check with the Personal Property Securities Register (ppsr.gov.au) to ensure the vehicle hasn’t been written off, is unregistered or has money owing on it.

2. Check that the seller is licensed – ask to see their Motor Vehicle Dealer’s licence (MDL). If you are unsure whether the person you are buying from is licensed, visit Consumer Protection’s licence and registration search.

Anyone in Western Australia who is involved in the buying and selling of motor vehicles for commercial gain must hold a valid dealer’s licence.

What should you do if you find an unlicensed ‘dodgy’ dealer?

On September 30, Consumer Protection released a campaign aimed at increasing the number of licensed motor vehicle dealers and decreasing the number of backyard, “dodgy” dealers. Consumers are being urged to only use the services of a licensed motor vehicle dealer.

Help protect yourself and others on the road by reporting unlicensed dealers to Consumer Protection on 1300 30 40 54.

For more information, please visit the Consumer Protection website.

Penny Lipscombe

Commissioner for Consumer Protection