Gold Coast woman sentenced to 6 months imprisonment

• A Gold Coast woman has been convicted for selling cars without a motor dealer licence.
• Queenslanders are being reminded to use the Office of Fair Trading’s free online licence check when shopping for a used car.

A Gold Coast woman has been sentenced to six months imprisonment after the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) took her to court for the fourth time for selling cars without a motor dealer licence.

Emilia Lloyd, who also operated under the alias Dara Watson in advertisements to sell vehicles, was found guilty of unlicensed motor dealing in the Southport Magistrate Court on 18 May 2023. She was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for two years, and a conviction was recorded.

This wasn’t Ms Lloyd’s first run in with the law after previously being prosecuted by the OFT for selling multiple vehicles without the appropriate licence.  Her last court conviction for unlicensed motor dealing resulted in three months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.

The court heard that between July 2021 and April 2022, Ms Lloyd had placed numerous advertisements on social media platforms for the sale of vehicles.

Specific guidance on the legal requirements for motor vehicle sales and repairs is available from www.qld.gov.au/law/fair-trading or by calling 13 QGOV (13 74 68).

If consumers have purchased goods or services but have not received them and they have been unable to resolve the matter with the trader, they should lodge a complaint with the OFT online at www.qld.gov.au/fairtrading or by calling 13 QGOV (13 74 68).

Quotes attributable to Fair Trading Commissioner Victoria Thomson:

“If you are a consumer looking to buy a used car, I urge you to use the OFT’s free licence check to make sure you are buying it from a licensed dealer.

“While safety is a priority when choosing a car, it is also a large investment – and consumers should get what they pay for.

“Ms Lloyd has shown a blatant disregard for the law and this outcome should serve as a reminder to those who are trying to sell cars illegally that the OFT will take action.”

ENDS

All enquiries: 13 QGOV (13 74 68)

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