Why would a car be re-registered twice after being imported?

[Smac01 12]

Guys,

I'm looking at buying another BMW, but can't figure something out.

It was imported from Japan in June '11 and registered in July '11.

It was then registered again in August '11 with different plates. (Only 1 month later??)

Any ideas why this would be?

(No, the seller isn't aware why....)

Reading, Km Date Source or reason Usage (avg), Km/day/year

86,281 2011, September 1st WOF inspection no travel for 2 days

86,281 2011, August 30th pre-registration check 25.71/9,360

84,841 2011, July 5th WOF inspection

84,841 2011, July 5th pre-registration check

84,897 2011, June 3rd border check

Edited October 13, 2011 by brunch

[Guest Ari Gold]

Stolen plates?

[zenetti 0]

OT: but a mate of mine just bought anew car and it came with the plate G A Y 5 0 0

He made the dealer take it off and register it again with a different plate

maybe something similar?

Edited October 13, 2011 by zenetti

[Smac01 12]

But usually simply putting new plates on doesn't require the "pre-registration check"?

[joshnz 2]

Sitting unused, lapsed and had to re-vin/reg?

[Smac01 12]

That's what I don't understand - it's was less than 2 months since the original WOF that it was put through a pre-registration check again.

Any other ideas?

Or is it one of those things you just ignore?

Edited October 13, 2011 by brunch

[M5V8 337]

That's what I don't understand - it's was less than 2 months since the original WOF that it was put through a pre-registration check again.

Any other ideas?

Or is it one of those things you just ignore?

That would depend on the cost of the car. I'd ignore if it wasn't a significant investment and the car was checked out and in good nick.

I'd stay well clear if it's a good chunk of change as any further potential owners would have the same questions.

Can the owner explain? (& the loss of 56kms since import?)

Edited October 13, 2011 by M5V8

[elmarco 56]

Insurance write off?

[Driftit 1995]

Check to see if it was flagged as damaged when it was border checked. And check to see if it required an engineers cert as part of is pre-reg check.

[sp8s 1]

Could be a simple buyer changed their mind on the first sale (finance fell through etc)

[briancol 3]

When a dealer sells a vehicle the WoF must not be older than one month.

The first WoF was when the vehicle was complied (July 5th) and the 2nd (Aug 30th) was when the vehicle was sold and being prepared for delivery. The vehicle would not have been registered at that stage and had obviously failed it's WoF check (could have been a blown bulb or something as trivial.)

The last inspsection on Sept 1st. would have been the recheck and the vehicle would have been registered by then.

[Smac01 12]

Thanks Brian - so it's probably nothing dodgy then?