- Woman fined $5,000 for unlicensed motor vehicle dealing
- Sold at least 30 vehicles without a dealer’s licence
- Case linked to earlier illegal car dealing prosecution
A Western Australian woman involved in a large-scale illegal vehicle trading operation has been fined $5,000 after admitting to operating as an unlicensed motor vehicle dealer.
Dannielle Norman was sentenced in the Perth Magistrates Court on 25 September 2026 after pleading guilty to one charge of unlicensed motor vehicle dealing. She was also ordered to pay $770 in costs.
Ms Norman bought or sold at least 30 vehicles between October 2022 and March 2024, despite never holding a motor vehicle dealer’s licence, well above the statutory threshold for unlicensed dealing under the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act 1973.
The offending formed part of the same investigation that led to the prosecution of Faiez Al-Defeari, who was fined $140,000 in 2025 as the ringleader of a large-scale illegal vehicle trading operation involving written-off vehicles and odometer tampering.
Consumer Protection’s investigation found Ms Norman participated in the operation by buying, licensing and selling vehicles linked to the enterprise. The vehicles were typically purchased as written-off vehicles by Faiez Al-Defeari through online auction houses, repaired, relicensed and then sold to consumers.
Evidence gathered during the investigation, including bank records, auction house documentation, mobile phone records, email accounts and Department of Transport records, established links between the parties and the vehicle transactions.
Commissioner for Consumer Protection Trish Blake said the case highlighted the risks posed by illegal backyard car dealing.
“Unlicensed motor vehicle dealing puts consumers at risk because they may not know who they are really buying from or what history a vehicle has,” Ms Blake said.
“Many of the vehicles involved were originally purchased as written-off vehicles before being repaired and sold on. Consumers deserve to know that history before they buy, which is why licensed dealers are required to disclose when a vehicle is a repairable write-off.
“Buying or selling more than four vehicles in a 12-month period may be enough to constitute dealing under the law. In this case, Ms Norman bought or sold at least 30 vehicles despite not holding a licence.
“We will continue taking action against those who engage in unlicensed motor vehicle dealing and seek penalties that deter this type of conduct.”
Consumers can check whether a motor vehicle dealer is licensed by conducting a search on the Consumer Protection website. Suspected unlicensed dealers can be reported by email to consumer@lgirs.wa.gov.au or by calling 1300 30 40 54.
Media Contact: media@lgirs.wa.gov.au