Unregistered Motor Vehicle seller convicted and fined

40-year-old Michael Costello of Manurewa, Auckland was convicted after a Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) investigation charged the man with one count of trading motor vehicles whilst being unregistered.

The MBIE investigation found that Mr Costello had 23 motor vehicles registered in his name from 30 October 2017 to 29 October 2018 while unregistered. The vehicles, ranging from a Holden Commodore to a Suzuki motorcycle, were subsequently, and relatively quickly, transferred into the names of other persons.

At a judge alone trial earlier this year, Mr Costello was found guilty of carrying on the business of motor vehicle trading without being registered. Mr Costello was sentenced at the Manukau District Court to a reduced fine of $5,500 and ordered to pay $500 towards legal costs.

Consumers can check whether the person they are purchasing from is a registered motor vehicle trader by accessing the public register here

Motor Vehicle Trader Register(external link)

Read the full media release here

Unregistered motor vehicle seller convicted and fined(external link) — Motor Vehicle Traders Register