Buying a Second Hand Car without Rego Paper

LbunnyCC on 05/12/2014 - 10:27

Hi there,

I am thinking to buy a second hand car from a seller who has lost her Rego Paper (i.e at the back of the page where both buyer & seller need to sign and fill in the agreed price for the vehicle. Just wondering if anyone has experienced this situation before? How did you deal with the seller in this situation?

Also, another problem with this seller is - currently she has relocated to WA and she has left her the car to her family member. So, I will be dealing with the family member when doing the inspection and the paper work. Also, I will only be negotiating the final price with her over the phone. So, do you guys have any suggestions of what sort of documents I should request from the seller before finalising the deal?

Please feel free to share your experience and opinions here :) Thanks!

Automotive

Comments

  • the-mal on 05/12/2014 - 10:42
    +7

    Ask her to get new rego papers from RMS. If she isn't able to physically pick them up due to her being in WA she can ring RMS and arrange for a family member to pick up the papers with her authority. Although I would've thought if it's her name on the rego paper it'll have to be her signature that sells the car to you.

    Ring RMS yourself and alert them to the situation and ask them what to do.

    Also, do a Vehicle History Check on it: http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/geared/your_car/buying/check_it_ou…

    That'll give you the status of the rego, current and previous owners etc.

  • [Deactivated] on 05/12/2014 - 11:34
    +3

    Instead of paying $21 for a vehicle check this one is $4: https://transact.ppsr.gov.au/ppsr/SearchForMotorVehicle?v=Se…

  • knk on 05/12/2014 - 11:53
    +3

    Yeah get the check as minty has mentioned, absolves you from responsibility of buying a stolen car I believe.

    In vic when you buy or sell an unregistered vehicle all you have to do is give a handwritten / signed receipt. I'd cite their drivers license number.

    Keep in mind there will be additional costs and efforts in re-registering the vehicle, including a physical examination by vicroads or your states respective body. Unless it's a bargain I wouldn't bother.

  • bunnyCC on 05/12/2014 - 12:11

    Thanks for the replies. I have done both VIN check from RMS website and the PPSR check. The car is not written off nor it is a stolen car.

    the-mal : Yes, I was thinking to ask her to pick up the new rego paper from RMS but the thing is I can't have her to sign and send back the real copy to me only if I ask her to post it.. ( but I am thinking to buy it tmrw).

    so, if I provide a Bill of Sale with seller's full name, driver license, her residental address, VIN number and also having her to agree and sign for the statement that " I do hereby transfer full ownership of thi vehicle to the buyer. I certify that this vehicle, at the time of sale, is free from all encumbrances, taxes, fees except as those specific on the title or listed, and that I (Seller) will defend and be held fully responsible for such lawful claims with respect to the vehicle ….. "

    would this be good enough as a proof to show RMS about the transfer of Rego? With the "Bill of Sale" I can get her to sign and email me back so I will have a copy.

    So, what do you guys think?

    • knk on 05/12/2014 - 12:16

      Sounds like you've got it all covered. I'd want an original not something that had been emailed though just in case there are any issues with that?

      Just make sure it's cheap enough to be worth the muck around, and that you know how much it's going to cost to get the thing roadworthy. It can really blow out if you aren't too sure what you're looking at and don't do the work yourself.

      Good luck.

  • [Deactivated] on 05/12/2014 - 12:24
    +1

    Should get her to add a statement that she authorizes somebody to sell the car for her.

  • jaybmate on 05/12/2014 - 13:53

    In Victoria you can just print it off the vic roads website and just fill the forms in. Bit of an issue if they are in WA though. guess they can post it ?

  • Cave Fire on 05/12/2014 - 14:03
    +2

    This sounds dodgy and is one of the common things to look out for when buying used cars. If there is something wrong with the car, you have little or no recourse as the family member can say "they didn't know about it" etc. There is also a scam where the overseas/interstate buyer wants you to wire money to them rather than cash.
    If you do go through with it, make the seller or agent goes with you to the transport department versus paying getting forms and hoping it all works out. Pretty sure they will want hard copies of the paperwork, so better to wait for these…

    • mskeggs on 05/12/2014 - 15:35
      +1

      I agree this sounds pretty dodgy. How much is at risk here?
      I might take the chance for an $800 bomb, but not for a $15k vehicle.

      I would definitely get a replacement rego papers.

  • boonanza on 05/12/2014 - 21:53
    +1

    Good luck but it sounds like something isn't quite right to me

  • Colombian on 06/12/2014 - 12:14
    +1

    I have had the same experience but quite the opposite way. I put and ad in Gumtree to sell my old car for $1400. 2 hours later I got a web sms (I could not reply to) offering for my car but that he was interstate and asked me to give my bank account details so he could wire me the money and send somebody to pick up the car. The scammer asked me to reply the sms via email.

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