When buying a used car, checking mileage is one key component one is advised to look out for as it shows the distance covered.
However, recently most car dealers have devised ways to hoodwink buyers by rolling back the odometer (the odometer measures the distance covered by a car).
This discrepancy between actual mileage and the number that’s shown on the odometer is actually punishable by law in most countries.
Examples of odometer fraud include disconnecting the odometer, resetting the odometer, or altering the odometer reading.
The reason why a person selling a car or a dealership would be motivated to roll back mileage is to sell the car for a higher price than what the car is worth. The more mileage a vehicle has, the lower its resale value.
Here is How to Avoid Falling Victim to Odometer Rolling Back
Check for physical signs of odometer tampering
“Inspect the odometer to make sure that all the numbers are readable, there are no gaps between the numbers, and the numbers do not appear crooked. Any of those signs point to a high possibility that the odometer was rolled back,” Everlance, a car review site stated.
Compare odometer mileage records with mileage shown
This is essential as one is able to draw a comparison between the mileage on the odometer with the car’s vehicle maintenance records and inspection records.
Car experts argue that the vehicle’s mileage should be included in these reports, which you can add up the total to compare it with the mileage currently shown on the odometer.
Get a vehicle history report (VHR)
Also referred to as a VIN check, this a detailed document that provides vehicle information on the car’s history.
Only the vehicle identification number (VIN) is needed to obtain this report.
A vehicle history report will inform you of faulty odometer settings, and if any illegal tampering was done on the car’s odometer. It will also show the average mileage driven for each previous owner of the car.
The car looks more worn than the mileage shown
If the vehicle is showing signs of wear and tear that don’t seem ordinary with the amount of mileage it’s showing, that’s also a red flag.
You can take the car to a mechanic who is trained to notice things that you wouldn’t, such as certain parts having advanced signs of wear that don’t match up with the vehicle’s mileage.
