How to Guard Against Odometer Fraud

Odometer fraud is the act of knowingly rolling back the mileage on a vehicle. A study conducted by NHTSA on the prevalence of odometer fraud found that over 450,000 vehicles are sold each year with false odometer readings--at a cost of over $1 billion to car buyers. It is estimated that one in 10 vehicles has its odometer rolled back. Thankfully, there are methods available to determine if a vehicle you are interested in might have had its odometer rolled back.

Instructions

1




Measuring tire tread depth will help confirm that the odometer reading is correct.

Check the tires. If the odometer reads 25,000 miles or less, the tires should be original, and the tire tread depth should be 2/32 of an inch or greater. At 2/32, a tire is legally worn out. To measure tire tread depth, insert a tire tread depth gauge into the tire tread in multiple locations on all four tires. Most displays on tire tread depth gauges read in 1/32-inch increments. Tire tread depth gauges can be purchased online from auto parts suppliers.

2




If a seller can not produce the title, it is likely he is not being truthful about the vehicle's history.

Compare the mileage history on the title with the odometer reading. If the mileage on the title is blurry, appears to be tampered with or is obscured in any way, the odometer has likely been rolled back.

3




It is easier to visually detect odometer fraud on analog odometers.

Check if the numbers line up in nondigital (analog) odometers. Crooked or uneven numbers are good indicators of a rolled back odometer.

4




A mechanic can help you confirm a vehicle's reported mileage.

Take the vehicle to a mechanic, and ask him to check for original parts. Maintenance schedules vary by make and model, but, if an odometer reads 30,000 and the vehicle has replacement parts in it that should not have been installed until the 60,000 mile check-up, chances are that the odometer has been rolled back.

5




Running a vehicle history report will help confirm if a vehicle's odometer reading is correct.

Examine the car's vehicle history report. A vehicle history report contains a chronological history of a vehicle, including reported mileage at emission inspections, on certain service and maintenance records and when the title was transferred. The vehicle history report will, in some cases, include an alert when it is believed that the odometer was rolled back or when an inconsistent mileage reading was reported.