It's not that uncommon, apparently

[madbaker]

So saith the car dealer.
A body shop will occasionally steal the dealer frame and paper to put onto a "new" car rather than getting a new one from the dealer, which entails registering that the car was in an accident.

I can just get a new set today. Easy.
But I think the car is going in the garage until the plates arrive.

Comments

*blink*

[fionnbharro.livejournal.com]

Huh?

What happened, exactly?

Not having the devious mind of your less-than-savory body shop person, I'm not so sure that I understand what's going on, here.

I *am* evil, though. Just a reminder.

Re: *blink*

[goldenstag.livejournal.com]

You? Evil? You make me laugh! Ha ha! <snicker>

Suuuuuure you are.

[madbaker.livejournal.com]

Okay, you are a selling (or re-selling) a new car. You fender-bend it. You have two choices:

1) Take it to the dealer, who will fix it but log the repairs, putting it on record as having been repaired;

or 2) Take it to a chop-shop, who will "fix" the damage untraceably, keeping its new-car value, and steal some poor schmoe's license plate frame to complete the job.

Any questions?

Re: Suuuuuure you are.

[cvirtue.livejournal.com]

A fender bender which wrecks the license plate frame, you mean?

Criminals are weird.

Re: *blink*

[goldenstag.livejournal.com]

On a more serious comment: a chop shop -- a body shop that deals with stolen cars, and in some cases "chops" them up and uses parts for other stolen cars, is most likely what himself was thinking of here. Steal a car, at the minimum repaint it, etc., then turn around and sell it.