The Painful Truth About Purchasing Vehicles Online
Buying vehicles online can result in huge financial loss as was the case when a 2018 Toyota Etios Cross was purchased on a well-known online platform.
The Etios was sold as a 2013 model complete with registration papers that were in fact false. The customer paid R75,000 – the price of the vehicle was market related and not a “too good to be true” deal. She only established that something was amiss when she made an enquiry regarding a service plan for this vehicle and came to the realisation that the vehicle in question was a cloned one. DataDotSA were called in and able to establish the true identity of the vehicle through the use of microdots. Unfortunately for this innocent customer she had already done an EFT and as a result has lost all her money.
Further investigation has revealed that the vehicle was stolen in July 2019 and was insured with a well-known insurer at the time of loss. Thanks to DataDot the Insurance Company will be able to recuperate some of the loss but the customer faces a large financial loss.
This is once again an example of why consumers should be cautious about buying vehicles online without the necessary checks and why it is important to avoid Private to Private deals without confirming the vehicles authenticity. So how can you – the consumer – avoid making a mistake like this:
Never purchase a vehicle online without checking the true identity of the vehicle. This can be done by contacting DataDot on 044-874-0836. We will advise you where your nearest accredited microdot fitment centre is. They will do a physical check on the vehicle and provide you with a microdot confirmation certificate.
Alternatively, ALWAYS purchase your vehicle from a reputable motor dealership.