When buying a new car, the first thing you’ll normally look at is the odometer, as the vehicle’s mileage will affect its value. A higher mileage will mean you pay less for the car and vice versa. This makes tampering with the vehicle’s odometer mileage very tempting to some sellers as they can pocket the profit they make from an odometer rollback. Some car dealerships have been caught red-handed in rollback scams.
Changing the vehicle’s odometer mileage has become easier than ever, allowing for such scams to flourish. The seller’s gain becomes your loss as you are stuck with a car that’s not as good as you thought. Let’s make sure you never find yourself in such a situation. Here are a few things to avoid being a victim of an odometer rollback.
Table of Contents
- What Is an Odometer rollback?
- How Can an Odometer be Adjusted?
- How to Check the Real Mileage of a Car and Avoid the Scam
- Summary
- Car Mileage Check FAQ
What Is an Odometer rollback?
Just like any other part of your vehicle, your odometer mileage can also be tampered with. Scammers have been adjusting this since cars were first invented. Before vehicle odometers turned automatic, they could be manually rolled back or reset. Odometers are now digital, and manual ones are becoming less and less seen on the road. That hasn’t stopped scammers from tampering with a vehicle’s mileage before selling it. Digital vehicle odometers can also be “rolled back” by altering the car’s circuit board and editing the mileage display to read whatever number you put in.
Contrary to some movies, your vehicle’s odometer reading cannot go backwards without being tampered with. Lowering or reversing the vehicle’s mileage can make the car appear as if it’s been used less than it actually has, increasing its monetary value.
How Can an Odometer be Adjusted?
It was commonly assumed that odometer rollback was on the decline as modern odometers were installed. It’s actually been the opposite. In fact, it’s been easier to tamper with a digital odometer when compared to older mechanical ones. Sometimes people swap out the instrument with an odometer found from a vehicle junkyard while others edit the car’s odometer. Here are some ways they do so:
Digital odometer: Using a device that plugs into your car’s computer port, people can program the mileage to show what they want. After a quick reset, the car will display the miles that were programmed into it. These devices are becoming increasingly cheap and accessible; many devices are sold for a few hundred dollars.
Some others will dismantle the vehicle’s speedometer unit to expose the circuitry of the main circuit board. This allows them to replace the memory chip, which stores all distances traveled through the car’s lifespan. They can use this method to reset the vehicle’s odometer mileage to 0 or replace it with a memory chip with fewer miles on it.
Analog odometer: Special equipment is not needed to change analog odometers, but to roll it back, there is some mechanical knowledge needed, as the odometer will have to be disassembled, the panel removed, and the dials rolled back manually.
Another method would be to jack up the rear wheels on safety stands and turn the wheels in rverse. It will take longer, but this slowly lowers the mileage numbers on the odometer.
Both methods will have signs to look out for – some may be a bit more obvious than others. Here’s what you should pay attention to and why it’s important:
Signs of a Car Odometer rollback
With analog odometers, any evident physical tampering is cause for concern. Scratch marks, fingerprints under the display, and loose screws could indicate that your odometer has been tampered with. Auto manufacturers created some safeguards in their odometers to warn people of mileage tampering. For some odometers, the number never lined up properly after they were tampered with. If you notice the numbers are slightly crooked, have uneven spacing, or are difficult to read in any way, your odometer may have been tampered with. You can also test drive the car and see if the numbers increase – a sure-fire way to see if the odometer was messed with.
It’s more difficult to easily spot digital odometer rollback, but there are a few signs to look out for. You can see whether the interior of the car (the steering wheels, driver’s seat, and the pattern on the brakes) matches the mileage and paperwork. But if you have time, it will be a good idea to have a professional look at it before purchasing it. While you’re in the vehicle, you can take a quick look for wear and tear that indicate the age of the car and an approximation for how many miles it could have traveled. You can also use this opportunity to look for service stickers that show the car’s mileage.
The Cost of Being a Victim to Mileage Rollback
As a buyer, you want to know if your vehicle will be immediately reliable or whether it needs a few repairs. You want to know how confident to be in your car before using it. Knowing how far your car has traveled can tell you how much life it has left to get you where you want to go safely.
The car’s value is also set by how much it’s already been used, and having that information will tell you whether you’re purchasing it for a fair price. Mileage rollback can make you pay more for a vehicle that has more miles than you think.
Some people may not be worried about a few extra miles on their car or paying an extra $1000 to the seller. The vehicle may look great on the outside, but if it’s a much older car, it may require more maintenance than a newer one with less mileage. You may think you’re getting a great deal only to find out that your new vehicle requires frequent trips to the mechanic.
In addition to that, you’ll need to report the actual mileage to your insurance company and/or finance company. This can result in higher financing interest rates and/or insurance premiums.
How to Check the Real Mileage of a Car and Avoid the Scam
The best person to check the real mileage of the car is a professional, as they can check each part to accurately assess the vehicle’s age. They will also have the tools to reset your odometer if needed. A trip to the car shop can be time-consuming, and there are a few things you can do before that. Here are a few easy steps on how you can check the car’s real mileage:
Do the VIN Check of a Car
Immediately check the car’s VIN (vehicle identification number). This number is unique to the car - not the make or model but the physical vehicle. With VIN checking websites, like Vingurus, you can see the full vehicle history report at different time points. You simply type in the VIN number, and you will be provided with a report with the full mileage history and whether the odometer was tampered with.
Check the Documents
You can go through the documents you were provided with to make sure they match up with the car’s history and what the seller is saying. Always request the original title and not a copy. In addition to rolling back the odometer mileage, some sellers may forge document copies to make it appear that the vehicle has fewer miles or repairs that it actually does. Take some time to go through each document and look for consistency of mileage readings. You may also contact previous owners or inspection companies to see if their answers match with the information on the documents.
Computer Diagnostics
You can check your car by clocking your odometer using diagnostic devices. Computer diagnostics will help to identify “approximate” data about the distance traveled on which you can rely on when assessing. But do not use only this method for assessment of mileage, as it may not be accurate.
Visit a Mechanic
It’s always a good idea to have a mechanic look at the vehicle, as they can immediately tell you if certain car parts were tampered with or are more worn than they should be. Mechanics can also point out whether the vehicle is internally in good condition. They have more knowledge about how many times the oil and tires should have been changed by the state of the rest of the car. All of this information can lead to an accurate statement of how many miles the vehicle has traveled. If the seller refuses to allow a mechanic to take a look at the vehicle, this is a tell-tale sign that something is amiss about the situation.
Check the Car Yourself
There are many parts you can check yourself. These suggestions are easy to do when as you’re checking the car – no special equipment is needed. A quick glance around the vehicle will tell you everything you need to know. Here are a few things to look out for:
Odometer
Most people who use their cars to get from one place to another will not need to reach the underside of their odometer reader. Fingerprints on the inside of the glass or around the odometer are evidence of tampering. This may happen if the vehicle was in an accident, and the odometer needed to be replaced, usually indicated by a sticker with the date and last reading of the old odometer. You can also ask to test drive the car – if the odometer numbers stick, it’s been tampered with.
Pedals
As soon as you first use the car, you will begin to wear down the pedals and the area around the driver’s side. These conditions indicate how long someone has used their car. If the pedals and driver’s side carpet look excessively worn, but the car has low mileage, the odometer has been tampered with.
Steering Wheel
Check how worn down the steering wheel is. With age and constant use, the top layer wears off compared to other parts of the wheel. Some people place covers if the place they live in is very hot, but this will still leave imprints on the steering wheel. Make sure the wear pattern matches up with the mileage.
Seats
What do the seats look like? Are they sunken and worn, but the car supposedly has low mileage? People rarely replace their seats, so it’s a good indicator of the car’s age. If the seat adjustment mechanism is broken or not working, it’s a sign that the vehicle is quite old.
Tires
The average pair of tires should last about 5 years of daily driving. Check the depth of the car’s tire treads. An odometer that reads 25,000 should still have the original tires with a tread depth of 2/32 of an inch (1.588mm). You may not have a ruler on hand, but if you insert a penny facing down, Abraham Lincoln’s head should be partially covered.
Inspection Stickers and Oil Change/Maintenance Receipts
Certain parts of your car receive a sticker each time they are inspected or updated. These stickers are usually found under the car’s hood or on the inside of the door. Take note of the last date it was serviced to see if it matches with the documents. If there are no service stickers or there’s sticky residue or evidence of removal where the sticker should have been, the seller probably tampered with more than just the odometer.
Summary
Odometer rollback fraud is one of the most common scams to occur to used cars. Although it can be difficult to detect, it’s not impossible to spot. Our infographic has many tips to help used car buyers quickly note odometer fraud.
What is odometer rollback?
It is the act of illegally “rolling back” or changing the vehicle’s mileage, usually to show it’s traveled fewer miles than it really has.
Why would someone do this?
Dealers can sell you a car for a higher price by tricking you into thinking the car is not as used as it seems.
It’s not worth it:
- The buyer usually ends up paying thousands of dollars in repairs – far more than what the car is actually worth.
- If you already purchased insurance, your rates can go up.
- Odometer fraud can cost American consumers over $1 billion annually.
Examples of odometer rollback:
- Resetting or removing the odometer
- Changing or altering the numbers
- Replacing the device without approval
Avoid getting scammed:
Check the Vehicle History with Vingurus for:
- Mileage history
- Mileage inconsistencies
- Odometer check
- Odometer problems
Check the dealer’s documents for consistency with:
- Maintenance records
- Inspection records
Consistency of mileage on the odometer and:
- Maintenance and inspection records
- Interior, brakes, and tires
Check the odometer for aligned, readable, and increasing numbers as you test drive.
Compare the stated mileage with the average for similar cars.
Check car mileage before you buy. Using Vingurus can help you avoid buying a car with odometer fraud.
Car Mileage Check FAQ
Which is the best way to check the used car mileage?
Use the Vingurus website to easily verify that the reported mileage is the same as what you see on the odometer. If you’re inside the vehicle already, look for evidence of tampering – scratches or fingerprints where they shouldn’t be, low odometer readings, but the vehicle looks much older. Trust your instincts.
Can a digital odometer be tampered with?
Yes. Any odometer can be changed or altered, and digital ones are no exception. There are special tools needed to tamper with digital odometers that leave little evidence. Scammers will either edit the numbers on the display or replace the memory chip with one that has fewer miles on it.
How do you tell if the mileage has been altered?
For cars with an analog odometer, check if the numbers line up properly or increase when you test drive. It’s harder to know with a car that uses a digital odometer, so be sure to check the vehicle history report to see if the mileage matches up.
How do I know if my odometer has been tampered with?
Look for fingerprints or scratches on the inside of the display – these should not be around even after a routine inspection. You can also look for signs that tell you how old the vehicle truly is (age of the seat, wear on the carpet and pedals) and see if this matches the mileage on the odometer
Is odometer fraud common in the used car market these days?
Yes, odometer fraud still occurs. It was assumed that cases of odometer rollback would decrease as more cars relied on digital odometers, but scammers have found ways to continue tricking people.