Buying a Used Car? Check the Odometer for Tampering

Purchasing a pre-owned vehicle raises several important questions — such as the mileage it has accumulated, which significantly affects the selling price — potentially leading to a higher cost if the car's instruments have been tampered with.

Examine more carefully as odometers are becoming a common target for scammers who alter the numbers to make a vehicle appear to have been driven less than it actually has - thereby increasing the car's value by thousands of dollars.

Odometer fraud involves disconnecting, resetting, or modifying a car's odometer with the goal of changing the displayed mileage.

Even though this practice is against the law, it is challenging to verify, with manipulation being "extremely simple." Vehicles can quickly be adjusted to show a specific mileage reading, according to motoring organizations like Germany's ADAC.

You have limited ability to address this, but remain alert to signs of potential fraud.

Inconsistencies in repair invoices, documentation, and oil change labels or tags.

The mileage recorded on invoices and test reports must consistently align with the passage of time. "If there are missing documents or if unusually low mileage is observed during specific periods, this should be examined more thoroughly," says Maike Willeitner from ADAC.

If an oil change is recommended for a specific vehicle by 40,000 kilometers at the latest, and the car currently has 100,000 kilometers on the odometer, entering the next oil change as "due at 180,000 kilometers" indicates an error, according to ADAC.

What did the prior owner mention? When purchasing a vehicle from a used car dealership, you have the option to reach out to the previous owner and inquire about the most recent odometer reading. However, any communication or exchange of contact information should only occur with the prior owner's approval.

Nevertheless, a dealer purchase invoice — with the cost hidden and personal details removed — can offer details regarding the real mileage, according to Willeitner.

Signs of use

Examine the vehicle closely. Does the condition of the seats, steering wheel, or gear shift correspond with the mileage shown on the odometer? Keep in mind that the vehicle's past usage is also important. A car that has mainly been driven for short trips, which lead to more wear and tear, might appear more aged even if it has lower mileage.

On the other hand, a vehicle that has accumulated a high mileage, but mostly through extended trips where it was operated with care, might exhibit less evidence of damage.

Ask specifically about the exact odometer reading when making a purchase. Do not rely on the seller's claims like "mileage shown" or "as per the odometer," but instead request the "true mileage," according to ADAC.

Have the error and maintenance interval memory checked at a service center. Some of the error records that can be retrieved there include mileage data – however, these should not exceed the overall mileage shown on the dashboard.

This could appear to involve extensive investigation, but it might be beneficial for you. In Germany, the ADAC reports that nearly a third of all used vehicles have tampered mileage readings, as estimated by the police. On average, this can illegally increase the car's value by around €3,000.

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