Websites that sell cars won't have to register as motor
vehicle traders now the Motor Vehicle Sales Amendment Bill
has been passed by Parliament.
The change means cars sold on sites like TradeMe won't have
to carry a consumer information notice - a law that existed
until now but wasn't enforced.
"The theory of the current situation was that each of the
175,000 motor vehicle auctions on TradeMe in the past year
would have had to include a consumer information notice, and
TradeMe provides advice to sellers that they must do this,"
former commerce minister Lianne Dalziel said during today's
third reading debate on the amendment bill.
"The reality was that TradeMe told a select committee the
Commerce Commission informed them in 2006 the requirement
would be enforced only against motor vehicle traders, and the
Ministry of Consumer Affairs recommended in 2007 that the law
be changed to remove this requirement on private sellers.
"I guess in the meantime it's only motor vehicle traders that
have been displaying the consumer information notice - the
amendment simply changes the law to catch up with the reality
of what people are doing and everyone thinks seems to make
sense."
The bill makes several other minor amendments to the Motor
Vehicle Sales Act 2003, including raising the limit on which
the Motor Vehicle Disputes Tribunal can hear claims from
$50,000 to $100,000.
Consumer Affairs Minister John Boscawen the change would
allow better access to the tribunal and future-proof the
limit.
Labour supported the bill and it passed its third reading on
a unanimous vote.
Bookmark/Search this post with:
A name, residential address, and (preferably residential) telephone number is required from readers who comment on ODT Online. These details will not be visible to site visitors.