• Unlicensed dealer ordered to pay more than $9,000 in fines and costs
• 13 vehicles sold illegally over a 16 month period
• Public plea for community to help stop backyard vehicle trading

A man who bought and sold vehicles from his Marangaroo home without a licence has been ordered to pay a total of $9,262.50 in fines and costs by the Joondalup Magistrate Court.

Hussain Al Hussein was fined $3,800 and ordered to pay costs of $5,462.50 on 30 May 2022 after being prosecuted by Consumer Protection.

Mr Al Hussein was convicted of breaching the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act after buying 14 vehicles and then selling 13 of them between January 2019 and May 2020 without having licence.

Magistrate Shackleton rejected an application for a spent conviction as he did not consider Mr Al Hussein was of good character and may re-offend. His Honour said that the public interest in knowing of the conviction outweighed him suffering the adverse effect of a conviction.

Commissioner for Consumer Protection Gary Newcombe noted that Mr Al Hussein’s conviction is the third successful prosecution of unlicensed motor vehicle dealers by the Department in recent weeks.

“We are determined to eradicate this illegal practice which deprives consumers of their legal rights and endangers their safety,” Mr Newcombe said.

“Someone who is buying and selling vehicles as a backyard business but masquerading as a private seller is seeking to profit from these illegal sales while not complying with the warranty obligations and other protections that the law provides for consumers.

“These illegal traders generally do not repair any faults in the vehicle once sold, creating safety concerns. They are also depriving legitimate licensed operators of potential sales which is grossly unfair.

“We urge the community to report any unlicensed motor vehicle dealing and help us put a stop to this illegal practice.”

Consumers can check whether a motor vehicle dealer is licensed by doing a search on the Consumer Protection website. Unlicensed dealers can be reported by emailing consumer@demirs.wa.gov.au or by calling 1300 30 40 54.

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Media Contact: Alan Hynd, (08) 6552 9248 / 0429 078 791 / alan.hynd@demirs.wa.gov.au