Red Flags on Car with Missing Plates and Price One Third of Market Price?

Found a listing for a used car (not for parts) in Perth where description says that there is nothing wrong with vehicle (regular service, no damages or scratches, clean title) but a couple of things are raising red flags.

I noticed that the photos posted do not show a number plate. Usually in such postings the number plates will be blurred out or drawn over to hide them but here they are completely missing (Front and back) and it doesn't seem like number plates were ever affixed in the first place (usually it is noticeable due to scratches and stuff). Also, the other red flag is that asking price is almost 1/3rd of the price these usually go for.

Is it worth checking with the seller? What could be the possible reasons for such a low price and missing number plate? How can I check if it's a stolen vehicle or something?

Please advise how to proceed, if at all.

Comments

  • +2

    Link?

  • +3

    Ask for VIN

  • +7

    IF it's too good to be true, it usually is…. steer clear.

    Ask yourself if you would sell your own vehicle for 1/3 of the market price.

    • +9

      Maybe if you worked on an oil rig?
      .

      • +3

        Or it could be a visiting Nigerian Prince that is trying to sell his campervan car before he fly's back to Nigeria on his private 747-8I that is gold painted.

      • Is having a Car on an Oil Rig:

        a) Viable?

        b) Safe?

        c) Necessary?

        d) A Status Symbol?

        I guess refueling (if required) would be convenient…

        Otherwise it would be about as useful as a teapot made of chocolate.

        • +2

          Hmmmm chocolate… I’ll buy!

        • +1

          I guess refueling (if required) would be convenient…

          Not really, cars don’t run well on crude oil.

  • +2

    Go for it newbie and let us know how the too good to be true the deal turns out.

  • +3

    We're not looking forward to your next post - how do I get my money back…


    My advice - Buffet's quote: If you don't know who the patsy in the room is, then you're the patsy.

    Give it a miss.

  • +1

    Sounds like a bargain. Go for it.

  • +1

    Bargain of the century. Buy it quickly before Muzeeb beats you to it!

    • +1

      Just booked my ticket to Perth to drive back to Vic. PPSR came back as finance owing and on the WOVR so pretty exciting times in the household.

      • +2

        Lesson learnt for OP. Buy first and ask later!

      • +1

        But does it come with roof racks for a kayak?

  • OP: blah blah blah

    OzB: Did you do a PPSR?

    https://imgur.com/a/vZilqXb

  • One of two things right now. It’s either a great deal and nothing is wrong - but you’ve already missed the deal because someone else got it first or it’s a scam/not legit.

    If it’s 1/3 the market value it’s either written off and can’t be registered (probably gone swimming it it looks straight) or it can be registered but something else is seriously wrong (it went swimming uninsured).

    • Or maybe has finance owing? So asking price + finance owing = normal market price?

      • Noone in their right mind would advertise like that. But then, I’ve seen some pretty ordinary adds online.

  • No plates? Maybe it's not registered. Maybe it can't be registered for some reason.

  • The plates could be explained by the seller not wanting to post plates online and/or has moved rego to another car (dodgy fake plates going around atm). Could the seller have gone to trade it in, changed their mind and put it up for the trade in value (which is notoriously crap)?

  • +1

    Depends what it is.
    Is it 20k instead of 60k, or 2k instead of 6k?
    If its cheap, it probably has expired rego and not worth the hassle of getting a RWC and registration for it. Doesn't necessarily mean its a bad deal, but if you don't know much about cars its probably not worth the hassle and risk anyway.

    • +1

      but if you don't know much about cars its probably not worth the hassle and risk anyway.

      So much this. If you have to ask the question, you definitely don’t know enough about cars to be buying something in this condition.

      If you know enough about cars, you go inspect in person then decide from there.

  • It's probably on Facebook marketplace, from a hacked profile, and the car doesn't exist. Most people figure this out in a few seconds.

  • ikea sells plates for $0.98 each

  • Wasn't in Wolf Creek was it ?¿

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