- Westminster man fined $15,300 for unlicensed dealing and odometer tampering
- Falsified an odometer reading, bought/sold 31 vehicles without a dealer's licence
- Conduct misled buyers, inflated prices and undermined legitimate businesses
A Westminster man has been convicted in the Joondalup Magistrates Court for selling a vehicle with a falsified odometer reading and for operating as an unlicensed motor vehicle dealer.
Michael Anthony Cicchino pleaded guilty and was fined $10,000, plus daily penalties totalling $4,300, for unlicensed dealing under the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act 1973 and a further $1,000 for making a false or misleading representation under the Australian Consumer Law. He was also ordered to pay $869 in costs.
The court heard Mr Cicchino sold a 2008 Mitsubishi Pajero advertised with an odometer reading of 281,000 kilometres. After purchasing the vehicle for $15,0000, the buyer later discovered – through a mechanic’s inspection and supporting service records – that the vehicle had previously recorded 392,600km in 2021. By advertising and selling the vehicle with a significantly reduced odometer reading, Mr Cicchino misled the consumer about the vehicle’s true history.
The court also heard that between July 2023 and December 2024, Mr Cicchino purchased 16 vehicles and sold 15 vehicles, generating profits of about $70,000, despite never having held a motor vehicle dealer’s licence. Evidence showed that he systematically purchased vehicles from an auction-house, registered them in his own name or in the names of family members, and resold them for profit.
In sentencing, Magistrate Maughan rejected Mr Cicchino’s claim that his vehicle dealing was a hobby rather than a business, further noting that the penalty “can’t just be a cost of doing business.”
Commissioner for Consumer Protection Trish Blake said the case demonstrated the importance of strong enforcement in the second-hand motor vehicle market.
“Odometer tampering is a serious breach of trust – it deceives buyers, inflates prices and leaves consumers exposed to significant financial losses, and can be misleading when it comes to the reliability and safety of the vehicle” Ms Blake said.
“Unlicensed dealing also harms legitimate businesses that follow the rules. When someone buys and sells vehicles at this scale without a licence, it undermines the integrity of the entire industry."
Before purchasing, used car buyers are encouraged to obtain an independent mechanical inspection, review the vehicle’s service history records and check the Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR), which may include an odometer reading check.
Consumers can check whether a motor vehicle dealer is licensed by doing a search on the Consumer Protection website. Unlicensed dealers can be reported by emailing consumer@lgirs.wa.gov.au or by calling 1300 30 40 54.
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Media Contact: cpmedia@lgirs.wa.gov.au