A Bellevue couple has been fined $2,500 each by the Midland Magistrates Court for selling vehicles from their home without a licence.

Ty Mellowship and Mandy Paula Rowe were convicted in their absence on 9 April 2018 of breaching the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act and were also ordered to pay costs of $598 each.

Between July 2016 and April 2017, Mr Mellowship bought and sold five vehicles. Between June 2016 and June 2017, Ms Rowe bought seven vehicles and sold five.

Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard said the campaign to stop backyard sellers was ongoing.

“We take a dim view of people in our community who turn buying and selling vehicles into a business but don’t bother getting a licence as the law requires,” Mr Hillyard said.

“These illegal operators are robbing consumers of their rights when buying a used vehicle and undermining the legitimate businesses that do the right thing.

“We urge the community to report any unlicensed motor vehicle dealing so we can take action to stamp it out.”

Consumers can check whether a motor vehicle dealer is licensed by doing a search on the Consumer Protection website: www.consumerprotection.wa.gov.au. Unlicensed dealers can be reported by emailing consumer@dmirs.wa.gov.au or by calling 1300 30 40 54.

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Media Contact: Alan Hynd, (08) 6552 9248 / 0429 078 791 / alan.hynd@dmirs.wa.gov.au