Dealer Fraud

It can be difficult, but not impossible to detect when a vehicle’s odometer has been altered. Here are some tips to help used car buyers detect odometer fraud:

• Ask to see the title and compare the mileage on it with the vehicle’s odometer. Be sure to examine the title closely if the mileage notation seems obscured or is not easy to read.
• Compare the mileage on the odometer with the mileage indicated on the vehicle’s maintenance or inspection records. Also, search for oil-change and maintenance stickers on windows or door frames, in the glove box or under the hood.
• Request a  Vehicle History Report to check for odometer discrepancies in the vehicle’s history. If the seller doesn’t have a vehicle history report, use the car’s VIN to order a  vehicle history report online.
• Check that the numbers on the odometer gauge are aligned correctly. If they’re crooked, contain gaps or jiggle when you bang on the dash with your hand, walk away.
• Examine the tires. If the odometer on your car shows 20,000 or less, it should have the original tires.
• Look at the wear and tear on the vehicle-especially the gas, brake and clutch pedals-to be sure it seems consistent with and appropriate for the number of miles displayed on the odometer.

Another form of auto fraud is selleing cars that have been used, rental and fleet. Up to 50% of used, rental and fleet cars may be sold with illegally rolled-back odometers according to the U.S. Department Of Transportation (DOT). Of course, even if the odometer is correct, these cars may not have been well maintained and may likely have been operated under severe conditions by rental and lease drivers.

Increasing a car’s resale value by rolling back its odometer is one of the oldest tricks in the book but there are ways for consumers to detect this scam.

• First, use CarFax or AutoCheck to request a copy of the vehicle’s history. This will include state registration and emission inspection data and a lot, lot more.
• Look for loose screws or scratch marks around the dashboard. It could be an indication of odometer tampering but it could also mean someone replaced a burnt out light.
• If the odometer is of the older, analog variety rather than digital, check that the numbers are lined up straight. Pay special attention the 10,0000 digit.
• During a test drive, watch to see if the odometer sticks.
• Look for service stickers(oil change, tune up, etc.) inside the door or under the hood that may have recorded mileage.
• Check the owner’s manual for maintenance records. If it appears that pages have been removed, you should inquire about it. This is a red flag.
• If you are buying the car from a dealer, ask if a computer check has been done to look for warranty records.
• Ask to see the official title document. Look at it carefully to see if the mileage on the document has been altered.
• Look at the date the title was issued. Be suspicious if the vehicle is being sold shortly after the title was issued. A new title could have been issued simply to hide a mileage alteration.
• Look for signs of wear. Check the carpet, steering wheel, arm rests and pedals. A lot of wear could be a sign the car has more miles on it than the odometer indicates. If any of these looks brand new, too new, it could be a sign the owner is attempting to mask the vehicle’s real age.
• Have a trusted mechanic inspect the vehicle. The inspection should include checking for signs of tampering.

Check the vehicle over thoroughly to see if the actual condition matches the mileage that is showing in the odometer.

If the vehicle has been repainted, look to see which parts have been replaced. Paint can be used by offenders to cover older parts, thus giving the vehicle a newer look.

Look in the left door frame, inside left front window, in the glove compartment, under the hood, or in the trunk, for maintenance and oil change/lube stickers that could contain accurate mileage information.

Be wary of a vehicle advertised or represented as part of a fleet that has especially low mileage.

The numbers should be aligned properly on the odometer gauge, crooked or misaligned numbers could be a sign of tampering;

You MUST be provided with a written statement of the actual mileage disclosed on the odometer at the time of purchase; if you are not given this document you may already have a claim under the Truth in Mileage Act.

Odometer fraud occurs when a seller falsely represents the actual mileage of a vehicle. Common examples of odometer fraud include situations where someone has tampered with the odometer and rolled it back, someone has replaced the odometer and failed to provide the required notice on the vehicle, or where the odometer has rolled through all the digits and started over.

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