Car Registration VIC - Plates Not Returned

Chindi on 22/08/2023 - 10:02

I (VIC resident) bought a car from a dealer from NSW. The previous owner was from VIC who sold to dealer in NSW. When I went Vicrods today to register it in VIC, to my surprise I came to know that the previous owner of the car (who sold to dealer in NSW) was from VIC and has not returned the plates. Vicroads has no proof that the earlier owner returned the plates. Vicroads is not helping at all in tracing the previous owner and I am stuck now as I am unable to register the car in VIC. What are options available to me, Can I sue/take legal action aganist dealer in NSW?

Who’s responsibility is this really and what are my options?

Hope I explained it clearly.

Automotive

Comments

  • El cheepo on 22/08/2023 - 10:06
    +3

    Have you spoken with the dealer that sold it to you yet?

    What did they say?

    • Chindi on 22/08/2023 - 10:21

      dealer ignoring and not being helpful at all

  • boomramada on 22/08/2023 - 10:09

    Can I sue/take legal action aganist dealer in NSW?

    Thats probably cost you more than just say, plates are lost or stolen ?

    • Chindi on 22/08/2023 - 10:22

      In VIC Roads system the car still seems to be registered and they asking for proof that previous owner sold the car.

      • smartazz104 on 22/08/2023 - 10:32

        Just tell them the original plates were stolen off the car and can I please have new copies… /s

        • pharkurnell on 22/08/2023 - 10:42

          That wont help if its still registered in the other persons name…

          This should be added to the popcorn thread…

      • bobbified on 22/08/2023 - 11:53
        +1

        Don't you have the sale contract to prove that you've purchased the vehicle from a licensed dealer?

      • [Deactivated] on 22/08/2023 - 13:24

        Show them the receipt from the dealer. They cannot knowingly sell stolen items so therefore must own the vehicle prior to you. The dealer should've update with VICroads that they are in the possession of the vehicle.

  • CurlCurl on 22/08/2023 - 10:59
    +2

    The dealer legally has to sell a vehicle with clear title. Call the dealer and tell him you are contacting NSW Consumer Affairs. I hope he is a licensed dealer.

  • GordonD on 22/08/2023 - 11:04
    +1

    No, OP, you didn't explain it clearly.

    Is the problem that when the car was sold to a dealer in NSW the Victorian plates weren't returned, or that registration wasn't transferred from the original owner?

    • Chindi on 22/08/2023 - 11:09

      Apologies, the registration wasn't transferred to original owner.
      This means the VIN number is registered under multiple plates (VIC and NSW)

      • MS Paint on 22/08/2023 - 11:17

        What does a PPSR show the registration status as?

        It's $2 or free via budget direct.

      • GordonD on 22/08/2023 - 11:19
        +2

        OK, if you've taken it up with the car dealer and not gotten a satisfactory response, Fair Trading is the NSW body to complain to. Won't cost anything.

        • El cheepo on 22/08/2023 - 13:12

          Just several months of your time 🫣

        • [Deactivated] on 22/08/2023 - 13:25

          Fair Trading is the NSW body to complain to. Won't cost anything.

          And you will get what you pay for. Fair trading are worse than useless, just another suck on the taxpayer.

  • Brick50 on 22/08/2023 - 11:25

    Whats the expiry of the rego? Once it expires you can register it as a new vehicle/new plates (requires vicroads inspection)

    • lgacb08 on 22/08/2023 - 11:46

      You don't want to go the route of another rwc

      • Brick50 on 22/08/2023 - 12:01

        No but if its in 2 weeks it might be ok, but without dealer contacting previous owner to sort it out I don't know what other option OP has. Maybe if they do a stat dec for Vicroads?

  • pegaxs on 22/08/2023 - 12:00

    You are establishing new registration, what have the old plates got to do with it?

    Tell them that you are the new owner and you want new plates and new registration and that they can cancel the old plates if they want, as you obviously dont have them, but you have proof that you are the current owner.

    Christ, government workers at RTA/RMS/DMR/VicRoads are all arseclowns.

  • Chindi on 22/08/2023 - 14:13

    All sorted.

    Dealer gave some hand written form and vic roads accepted it. Initialy they were asking for filling online form.

    Thanks all for the responses.

    I still feel there is a grey area when buying/selling interstate.

    Thanks all :-)

    • MS Paint on 22/08/2023 - 15:02
      +3

      This is the correct process that should have been followed from the very start. There is no grey area here, just a dealer giving you the dick around.

      • CurlCurl on 23/08/2023 - 11:35

        This is the correct process that should have been followed from the very start. There is no grey area here, just a dealer giving you the dick around.

        No grey area. The dealer stuffed up.

  • Euphemistic on 22/08/2023 - 15:29
    +1

    Was the dealer licensed?
    If you have a receipt/contract from the dealer That should be enough to prove ownership.

  • Tleyx on 23/08/2023 - 09:27

    You should have checked this before you bought it. Buyer beware

    • Euphemistic on 23/08/2023 - 10:58
      -1

      Exactly how are you supposed to check this before you buy?

      • CurlCurl on 23/08/2023 - 11:32

        Exactly how are you supposed to check this before you buy?

        Exactly.

        Also in NSW, where OP purchased the car, the dealer has to guarantee the title.

        • Euphemistic on 23/08/2023 - 12:16

          That’s my read. Assuming the dealer is licenced, you are guaranteed title. If it’s registered in NSW where you are buying from would you check all the other states rego just in case?

          • seannami on 23/08/2023 - 13:02

            @Euphemistic: There would need to be a VIN database they'd check, otherwise you could nick a car, take it to the nearest state and whoosh, it's like it never happened.

            • Euphemistic on 23/08/2023 - 14:16

              @seannami: My guess is this case the previous owner cancelled the rego but didn’t hand back the plates ‘yet’. The NSW dealer bought as unreg and registered in NSW legitimately because the vic rego had been cancelled (pending return of the plates). Then the OP went back to vic and found a technicality that the rego wasn’t fully cancelled because plates weren’t handed back to vicroads despite it being legally registered in NSW.

              If you’re buying a legitimately registered car, you aren’t going to check other states outstanding rego.

          • Tleyx on 23/08/2023 - 18:08

            @Euphemistic: They could check by contacting VicRoads like they have

            • Euphemistic on 23/08/2023 - 20:39

              @Tleyx: I suspect that privacy rules are going to prevent you from getting any info from vicroads. And how do you know which state to contact when buying a registered vehicle? Are you going to spend your time on a fishing trip with every states rego authority?

              • Tleyx on 24/08/2023 - 08:21

                @Euphemistic: Yes thats due diligence.

                Well i wouldnt do SA as i would never move there

                If you don't why complain when this happens.

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