NSW Fair Trading blitz on unlicensed car dealers issues 40 fines totalling more than $130,000

Compliance blitz results in fines and warnings

A targeted NSW Government compliance crackdown on rogue car traders has resulted in more than $130,000 in fines. According to reporting by Yahoo News Australia, NSW Fair Trading's recent blitzes targeted unlicensed motor dealers and vehicle repairers, along with allegations of odometer tampering, the sale of defective vehicles, forged inspection certificates, and individuals who had never held a licence or continued operating after failing to renew required licences. ¹³

Since 1 July 2026, intelligence from consumer complaints has helped inspectors conduct almost 200 unannounced inspections of dealerships and suspected unlawful traders across Sydney, the Central Coast and regional NSW. The blitzes have produced 65 enforcement outcomes, including 15 official warnings and 40 fines totalling over $130,000, 17 of which related to unlicensed motor dealing. Mirage News carried the NSW Government's release detailing these figures. ¹³⁴⁵

Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading Anoulack Chanthivong said in the government statement: "We're targeting unlicensed, rogue operators who think they can fly under the radar by trading online, hiding in suburban backyards or advertising vehicles through social media platforms." He added: "If you're selling vehicles as a business, you need a licence. If you're winding back odometers, forging documents or misleading consumers, expect NSW Fair Trading to come knocking." ¹³

Court penalties include jail and compensation orders

The blitz follows significant court-ordered penalties against individual dealers, as detailed in the NSW Government's release carried by Mirage News and reported by Yahoo News Australia. In April 2026, an operator pleaded guilty to unlicensed motor dealing, odometer tampering, deception and using false documents, and was sentenced to 16 months' imprisonment, with the court ordering more than $45,000 in consumer compensation. ¹³

In July 2026, another operator was convicted of unlicensed motor dealing and fraud offences related to odometer tampering. An investigation found he had sold 30 vehicles with altered odometers, generating more than $194,000 in profits. He was ordered to pay more than $196,000 in compensation to 27 people and received a 20-month Intensive Corrections Order. ¹³

In August 2026, an unlicensed motor dealer was ordered to pay more than $75,000 in victim compensation after falsifying vehicle service histories and winding back odometers by a combined total of around 1.6 million kilometres, according to the government release. ¹³

OzCar fined and placed under licence conditions

Separately, in a departmental release published on 24 September 2026, NSW Fair Trading said it had fined used car dealer OzCar Pty Ltd and placed conditions on its licence after an investigation found a pattern of dishonest conduct from 2023 to 2025 across multiple NSW dealerships. Consumer complaints included being rushed or pressured into signing contracts, contracts not properly explained — including to vulnerable consumers — and vehicles sold that were not of acceptable quality. The fine imposed was the maximum available under the disciplinary action provisions. ²

Fair Trading also fined OzCar's directors Brett Anthony Dale and William James Keepkie, along with director John Startari. Licence conditions include that OzCar must not allow any employee or system to pre-complete or pre-select acceptance of a cooling-off waiver, must explain cooling-off rights to purchasers, and for 12 months must require purchasers to hand-write a statement that they understand they are waiving their cooling-off right. The company must also rectify any defects affecting safety or reliability before sale, keep written inspection and repair records for each vehicle, provide signed contract copies and implement a compliance program including staff training. NSW Fair Trading will conduct ongoing compliance visits to verify the conditions are met. ²

NSW Fair Trading Commissioner Natasha Mann said in the release: "Consumers have a right to clear information and safe vehicles. What we saw here was a pattern of behaviour which eroded customers' basic consumer protections." The disciplinary action can be viewed on the Verify NSW webpage, and affected consumers can lodge complaints with Fair Trading. ²

Odometer tampering prosecutions and tougher penalties

Odometer interference has been a sustained enforcement focus. In the March 2026 edition of its Auto Torque industry newsletter, NSW Fair Trading said it was investigating a large number of odometer tampering matters and running a criminal prosecutions program. Between October 2025 and January 2026 the agency issued 51 warning letters and 39 penalty infringement notices valued at $61,050, alongside numerous criminal prosecutions. ⁶

According to the Auto Torque newsletter, penalties for altering, removing, replacing or interfering with an odometer increased from 1 September 2025, with penalty notices rising from $1,100 to $5,500 and courts able to order fines of up to $55,000 per offence. The newsletter also describes prosecutions in which four individuals were convicted over 11 vehicles with more than two million kilometres wound back, receiving Community Corrections Orders and being ordered to pay over $138,000 in compensation. Named cases include Adam Dabbagh, ordered to pay five consumers a total of $65,670 after odometers were wound back a total of 1.1 million kilometres — including a Toyota Prado bought for $8,000 with 397,000 km and sold weeks later for $32,000 showing 107,000 km. ⁶

The same newsletter documents other outcomes: Thirumalesh Guilraj Ullal received a 12-month Community Corrections Order and paid $47,000 in compensation; Maher Naboulsi was convicted of three counts of odometer tampering and fraud involving a forged service logbook, paying $12,480 in compensation; and Dibb El Homsi, following a joint NSW Fair Trading and NSW Police investigation, pleaded guilty to multiple fraud offences, received an 18-month Intensive Correction Order and must pay $13,872 in compensation to a Queensland buyer. Disciplinary actions included the cancellation of dealer licences for Hossein Arabshahi and Atom Motorss Pty Ltd, with disqualifications of up to five years. ⁶

To help buyers detect tampering, Fair Trading's free Check a Vehicle Registration tool provides a vehicle's recorded odometer readings from the past three years where available, and the agency encourages motor dealers to use the tool when acquiring used vehicles. ⁶

How buyers can protect themselves

The enforcement action forms part of NSW Fair Trading's 'Anytime, Anywhere' compliance program, Unlicensed Compliance Program and other proactive inspections. The NSW Government is urging consumers to check a dealer's licence on the NSW Fair Trading public register before buying, and to review a vehicle's history through Service NSW, according to the government release carried by Yahoo News Australia and Mirage News. ¹³

Online selling is also subject to specific obligations. Under the Motor Dealers and Repairers Regulation 2025, as summarised in Auto Torque, a dealer is an online motor dealer if a customer can complete the entire vehicle purchase online without visiting a dealership; dealers using a website only to advertise and direct customers to physical premises are not captured. Online motor dealers must notify NSW Fair Trading at least 20 business days before commencing online sales, providing the website URL and NSW addresses for premises used to store vehicles, records or as an office. ⁶