Buying off a Private Seller - ID and Rego Problems!

LNVS on 24/03/2018 - 18:17
Last edited 24/03/2018 - 18:25 by 1 other user

Hey guys

Long time lurker, first time poster looking for some advice.

Here's the lowdown:

Was looking for a used car and found one which seemed fine, so booked a pre purchase inspection/PPSR. Everything checked out fine, except a chip in the windscreen.

Negotiated the price with the seller under the agreement that we take the car to get the glass checked, and if it can be fixed then I'd pay for the repair and the remaining for the car.

Chip was fixed in 30 mins, so got ready to purchase the car. Everything seemed fine except the seller couldn't provide any identification that matched the rego. Had an international drivers license and passport that was awol (had just moved houses or something like that). Had a bank card but the name didn't totally match (too long to fit on the card apparently) and not much else. Seemed dodgy so asked them to get their license sorted out so they can prove that they were the owner of the car.

Got a message a bit later with their suggestion to transfer ownership to another person, who could then transfer ownership to us except with full documentation, as the original owner has to wait 7-10 days for their license to be reissued. I'm trying to be understanding but I'm skeptical (who wouldn't be).

Anyway… what dodgy things might they be trying to pull? Any chance I'll get that money back for the repairs if I don't follow through with the sale?

TLDR - want to buy a used car, seller can't provide ID matching rego, wants to go through a third party. Dodgy much???

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  Quantumcat on 24/03/2018 - 18:18

  You probably shouldn't have paid for the chip repair until you were handing money over for the car. Best of luck!

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  stemcell on 24/03/2018 - 18:25

  1, Does he dress like a Nigerian prince but drives a Fiat?
  2, Does he look like a pirate or one that operates amusement rides?
  3, Has he got pasty white skin, sunken drawn in eyes yet states his name is Park Jae-sang?

  If any of the above I'd pass.

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    NVS on 24/03/2018 - 18:27

    +1

    Any otherwise and you'd still go through with it? :)

    • 

      stemcell on 24/03/2018 - 18:28

      Seriously I'd walk away because the middleman could be dodgy as well, you lose the car but they keep the money :(

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  pegaxs on 24/03/2018 - 18:40

  Rego papers are not proof of ownership. A car can be registered in anyone's name. An invoice of sale is proof of ownership.

  That being said, if a car is not registered to the owner, then it looks sketchy AF…

  If the seller is trying to circumvent something and pull a dodgy paperwork deal together, then that's a red flag. Time to move on.

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  WTF on 24/03/2018 - 18:40

  Walk away and be thankful.

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  iratepirate on 24/03/2018 - 18:51

  To be safe you need to go to the registered owner, check their ID matches(doesn't have to be a DL) get them to sign the back of the registration changing it into your name. If they can't do this walk away.

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  airal3rt on 24/03/2018 - 18:52

  +3

  You uhh, you uhh, you didn't just pay for some dude to fix their windshield with a verbal agreement to buy the car later? Right? R-right, OP?

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    NVS on 24/03/2018 - 18:56

    Hahahha… no comment.

    But seriously, paid for that and pretty much went straight to signing the papers to get the car… when the rego shiftiness started. All the papers were being filled in but didn't hand over any money when they couldn't provide their ID. Can't say I saw that coming.

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  [Deactivated] on 24/03/2018 - 18:54

  maybe an international student who doesn't know the law or didn't want to pay the transfer fee, but you can't negotiate with him unless the person he bought it off is present to finalise the paperwork.

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    Randxyz123 on 24/03/2018 - 19:16

    +2

    Maybe but 2 major documents missing… When I've moved house my passport has gone from my desk draw to my pocket, to my new desk draw…

    License has never strayed from my wallet.

    It doesn't make sense.

    OP, ask the seller nicely to pay you the amount you paid in cash and find a new seller.

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  BobD on 25/03/2018 - 08:54

  +1

  I believe that NSW has a register of stolen vehicles. Have you checked that? Oh, BTW have I got a deal for you. Now there is this neat little second hand bridge just along from Circular Quay.

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  whooah1979 on 26/03/2018 - 06:14

  TLDR - want to buy a used car, seller can't provide ID matching rego, wants to go through a third party.

  In nsw the registered operator and the owner/s of the vehicle can be two different entities.

  This may help.
  http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/geared/your_car/buying/check_it_ou…
  http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/ftw/Consumers/Motor_vehicl…
  https://www.google.com/search?q=nsw+how+to+buy+a+used+car&ie…
  https://www.mynrma.com.au/cars-and-driving/buying-a-car/car-…

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  singlemalt72 on 26/03/2018 - 07:29

  Go into Service NSW together and do the transfer in person.

  • 

    singlemalt72 on 26/03/2018 - 07:30

    Or whatever state registration agency you live in