Did My Audi Dealer Mess up My Car Registration?

So i had purchased a brand new 2019 Audi A3 35 TFSI MY19 back in February this year, all is good with the car until i realise when i compare motor insurance quotes using my registration number i get a different year (2018) and make year (MY18). This may be an issue for one, my insurance claims could be rejected as the car details are not the same and two when i sell my car and transfer registration. The buyer will see that it is labelled as a 2018 model instead of a 2019 model.

Upon calling my dealer, the sales person told me that the build date was Nov 2018 and the Model year or compliance date is MY19, and that is how they always register their cars. Though the registration says its a 2018 MY18 but the contract says 2019 Audi A3 35 TFSI MY19. I've done some research and i found that the 2019 definitely has 35 TFSI embossed on the back of my car which ensures i've gotten a 2019 car. If it was a 2018 model, it would have TFSI only embossed on the back.

So my question is, did my dealer screw up in the registration bit or is he correct?

Thanks for the help.

thanks to tshow for the summary.

Contract states 2019 Audi A3 MY19.
Registration says 2018 Audi A3 MY18
Car decals suggest MY19
Build date is Nov 2018

Is there a registration error?

Comments

  • +1

    The only thing wrong is your registration's model year. It should read MY19, as MY19 identifies the features and emissions technology that your vehicle comes with. This is common and probably due to your region's registration authority not having put MY19 in their system yet (as initial records for rego in many regions are digital).

    As most of the salespeople have said, the 19 on your contract refers to compliance date. As many customers have stated, it is dodgy. Even a dealer with a poor name will usually point out to the client both the build and compliance date on the contract before any signatures are made or money is transferred. Because if they point it out, they can overcome any objection to it.

    Mentioning the compliance date for most brands without the build date is stupid as it will cost the dealership significant money trying to buy that customers satisfaction later. Same with making the compliance date larger or more visible than the build date in the contract. Putting 2019 with no context in the contract is another stupid move. If anything goes wrong with that sale, the dealer is going to start on the back foot if it ends up in front of a tribunal.

    This has all been proven by the significant harm to Audi Australia's reputation that your dealership's silliness has caused. You would not have written this post making Audi Australia look bad if your dealership had acted ethically in the sales process. Luckily for Audi, most posters rightfully place blame on the dealer, not the Audi Australia.

    Do you think I wrote Audi Australia enough times for them to contact you to sort this mess out?

  • +3

    Hi guys, Long time lurker first time poster

    Was looking at this and thought a real life example would be better

    This is advertised: 2018 Audi A5 45 TFSI sport Auto quattro MY19

    https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/2018-audi-a5-45-tfs…

    From the listing

    Build Date: Oct 2018
    Compliance Date: Mar 2019

    Did a quick rego check on VicRoads website:

    Registration check
    Results for bcb092 as at 26/09/2019 21:50 AEST
    Registration number:
    BCB092
    Registration status & expiry date:
    Current - 31/07/2020
    Vehicle:
    2019 WHITE AUDI SEDAN

    In this case, car was registered based on compliance date…..

    • I like this explanation the most.

    • And advertised based on build date.

  • +1

    Contract states 2019 Audi A3 MY19.

    Have a look at the compliance plate. It will be 2019 as the plate isn't attached until the car leaves the holding yard in Aus. At a guess it will anywhere between February 2019 and now (Sep 2019). VAG do it all the time.

    Registration says 2018 Audi A3 MY18

    Does it actually say MY19? Or does it just say 2019? MY is a manufacturer designation. VAG (and Subaru and a few others) release the new MY around June-Sep of the previous year.

    Car decals suggest MY19

    I'm sure it is.

    Build date is Nov 2018

    8 weeks (minimum) from Ingolstadt to AU makes it February 2019 compliance (at best)

    The paperwork on my Skoda bounces between Nov 2007 (build date) and Jun 2008 (compliance date). I just use the 2008 date for everything. It's never been an issue. YMMV

  • -1

    You bought a 2018 Audi.

    The rest is just marketing

  • I'm in Melbourne, my car is last of its model built on December 3rd 2013, was Sold to me June 2014, it was sold to me as a 2014 Model Car. I believe it was complied sometime in January 2014. It is registered on VicRoads as a 2014 Model.
    When I purchased the car I tried looking throughout Australia for a 2014 built/2014 complied and found that the last of the models were built in that month, with the newer replacement models starting the following weeks.

  • It is an error inside your brain! All cars are sold this way!

  • Why don't you run a VIN check and compare different car reports just to be sure?

    https://vincheck.info/check/vin-check.php

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