Used Car Odometer Fraud: 7 Ways to Protect Yourself from Odometer Rollback
If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it should be a duck, right? Well, not always.
According to Carfax, mileage rollback, or the illegal act of changing the mileage readings on a vehicle to make it appear to have lower mileage, is one of the most frequent types of fraud in the used car selling process.
For example:
• Disconnecting or resetting the odometer
• Altering or changing the numbers
• Replacing the odometer without providing notice
Sneaky, huh? So how can you protect yourself from getting ripped off when you buy a car privately? Here are 7 ways to make a safe used car purchase.
7 Ways to Keep from Getting Ripped Off When Your Buy Privately
1. Compare Mileage Readings. The very first step to protecting yourself from odometer fraud is to compare the odometer mileage with the mileage number on inspection records and on vehicle maintenance records. If any mileage inconsistencies show up on those official documents, it can point to odometer fraud.
2. Vehicle Wear and Tear. Is the wear and tear on the vehicle consistent with the number of miles on the car? Brakes, tires, and car interior should all be consistent with the number of miles on the vehicle. (For example, a car with mileage of less than 20,000 miles should still have the original tires.) Examine the wear and tear of the wheel, pedals, and gear lever. Then compare them to the odometer mileage. Is it consistent with what you'd expect to see for the miles listed on the vehicle?
3. Oil Changes. Check to see when the last oil change occurred. The sticker inside the vehicle gives the date of the last oil change and the mileage. Are there any inconsistencies?
4. Traditional Odometers. For traditional mechanical odometers, make sure the numbers are aligned correctly and are readable. Crooked numbers or misaligned numbers are a red flag.
5. Research Previous Owners. You'll definitely want to research the number of previous owners the vehicle has had. An excessive number of past owners could indicate odometer fraud.
6. Inspect Odometer Area. Dash screws and scratches in the odometer area, parts that wouldn't normally be replaced, can be signs of used car mileage fraud.
7. Mechanic's Inspection. Get the car inspected by your mechanic!
Another powerful ally when buying a used car is to get a vehicle history report. It checks for:
• Mileage information and inconsistencies
• Car theft
• Number of previous owners
• The type of use
• Uncovers information through inspection and service records
Look to Carfax, AutoCheck, and National Motor Vehicle Title Information System for help. The system isn't foolproof, but besides your own sleuthing, it's another excellent tool for protecting consumers against fraud.
Alternative to Buying A Pre-Owned Privately Owned Car
If your head is spinning a little, that's understandable. However, these recommendations are far and away the best for protecting consumers against odometer rollback fraud.
If you decide that buying a car privately is too much of a headache, stop by our dealership. All of our cars receive a 75-point check inspection, including odometer fraud. We verify the mileage! And we have 30 and 90-day warranties on all of our vehicles, depending on the mileage and the year of the vehicle.
Finally, when you buy a used or new car from us, you get preferred customer scheduling in our service shop. Give us a call or just stop by. We'd be happy to help!
Â
Â
Â
Â