Dealers buy tax-dodgers
July 14th, 2009 by Richard Aucock
ROAD tax dodgers are now helping solve the used car shortage, thanks to a new car auction site.
Newport Auctions is to officially start selling cars seized for unpaid road tax.
There are over 100,000 of them every year. They’re held for 14 days and, if not claimed, are then crushed.
However, Newport has started seeking the most economically viable for resale, and puts them onto the market.
These car auctions will be held fortnightly, with around 150 cars being sold on each night.
MD Jon Collingbourne said he was delighted to win the contract.
‘When we started the trial last year, we didn’t know what to expect. Since then, we have been staggered at the quality and variety of the stock available to us.
‘We have access to all makes and models, and the majority of stock is clean, tidy and less than eight years old. Each vehicle is fully valeted and supplied with a V5 document. The majority will be supplied with a new set of keys.
‘Obviously the DVLA does not want to feed the problem of unlicensed vehicles on the roads. They were impressed by our quality control system, which ensures that every successful bidder has provided us with full photographic and address identification, so that we can register the car in their name before releasing it,’ he added.
Not close to Newport? Fear not – the company also has an online auction system, and can then arrange for cars to be delivered to you.
Tim Cowen of NSL added that ‘some of the untaxed vehicles we seize are very good cars, and we are very pleased to be working with Newport Auctions to help make these available to law-abiding drivers.
When and where? Alternate Tuesdays in the month, down at Newport Auctions.
Tags: newport auctions