CIN cards needed when selling online

The Imported Motor Vehicle Industry Association (IMVIA) has warned online sellers of used cars that CIN cards must, by law, be displayed when a vehicle is being sold on a website such as Trade Me. A CIN (customer information notice) card provides details about a used motor vehicle such as actual distance travelled, details on warrant of fitness and registration, and whether or not there is a security interest on the vehicle. While most dealers display CIN cards at a physical yard, the IMVIA says that this can be overlooked when selling online. If an online advertisement allows a consumer to purchase the vehicle on the spot (such as a Buy Now or auction) then a CIN card must be displayed in the ad. CIN cards are not required in newspaper or magazine ads, or other listings online where a direct purchase is not available, as these aren’t considered a point of sale. A seller is considered a motor vehicle trader on Trade Me if he or she sells more than six motor vehicles within 12 months and thus must be registered under the Motor Vehicle Sales Act 2003. Failure to provide a CIN card is a breach of the Fair Trading Act and subject to prosecution under the Commerce Commission. Companies can be fined up to $30,000 for each breach of the Act and individuals can be fined up to $10,000. In the past, the Commerce Commission has prosecuted traders over failing to provide CIN cards when selling vehicles through Trade Me. In 2010, a Porirua dealer selling used cars through Trade Me was fined $19,200 for providing misleading information on their CIN cards. Another man was issued a warning for selling eight cars over a 12-month period without CIN cards in that same year.