A Magistrate has reminded the community that the licensing of motor vehicle dealers in WA is "not just red tape" as he fined a Rivervale man $4,000 for illegal sales while being unlicensed.
Viktor Aleksoski was also ordered to pay costs of $744.50 when he pleaded guilty in the Perth Magistrates Court on 30 April 2021 to breaching the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act. From January 2019 to May 2020, Mr Aleksoski had purchased 42 vehicles and sold 41 vehicles, mostly via online trading platforms Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree without a licence.
Magistrate Huston said the safety and protection of consumers were important and unlicensed dealers created an uneven playing field by not providing warranties for consumers.
Commissioner for Consumer Protection Lanie Chopping said illegal operators steal an unfair advantage over legitimate operators who do the right thing.
"Licensed dealers who pay the costs of licensing and complying with the law are put at a disadvantage when they have to compete with illegal operators who do not offer consumers the benefits they are entitled to," Ms Chopping said.
"The vehicles they sell may not be roadworthy and consumers don't get the added benefit of a warranty should something go wrong after the sale.
"While the transaction might appear to be a private sale, when four or more vehicles are sold in a 12 month period the seller needs to be licensed and comply with their legal obligations.
"Anyone who suspects someone is buying and selling vehicles without a licence is urged to report them to us so we can investigate."
Consumers can check whether a motor vehicle dealer is licensed by doing a search on the Consumer Protection website: www.consumerprotection.wa.gov.au
