Disabled car scam

[Leftie]

Did anyone see the scam being investigated by South Yorks police on Radio 4 and in the Times today?

Disability adapted vehicles are VAT free.

Registered disabled person buys an adapted car, whips off the adaptations (which can be as slight as a knob on the steering wheel) and sells it on, pocketing the VAT and undercutting the dealer. I wonder if they took orders to your spec?

They have been buying top end Range Rovers, Maseratis anmd Lambos and making a fortune. One cluster of people have bought and sold 60 vehicles.

Seems there isn't much the authorities can do about it except stop their benefits for working as motor traders and it seems some of them have faked or over claimed their disability to get on the bandwagon.

Must go, I can feel a back pain coming on.

[Leftie]

Hendry said:

Is the "knob on a steering wheel" a disability or an adaptation?

Its the knob behind the wheel I worry about.

[Leftie]

Dracoro said:

Sorry, how does this work again;

Buy car at, say, £50k (£58k if they had to pay VAT)
Despite 0 miles if they don't use it, car is still 2nd hand so worth, what £50k tops.
So how do they make money. If it doesn't fetch £50k they lose money.

I think they may take orders at the top end, there was even some suggestion they ordered 'hard to get' vehicles (maybe they also jump the queue). Perhaps the drop on these cars isn't as much as zero mileage second owner cars. It is till money for old rope, especialy in the custionmer pays you for the car dso you just cream a few grand for going into the showroom and making the order.

[Leftie]

Sunday rags suggested the GB Para-olympic team were at the core of it, doing a deal with the car dealer and the car didn't even leave the showroom. They split the profit. One guy did 100 cars.