Guarding Against Odometer Fraud

Nearly 200,000 used vehicles are sold each year with their odometers rolled back, potentially costing consumers more than $760 in unexpected repairs and lost value. That’s according to a study conducted by the car title-search company Carfax in Centreville, Va. Carfax found that the majority of these cars had at least 50,000 miles taken off their odometer, with 14-15 year-old models being the most susceptible to a rollback. “Odometer fraud is a calamity for car buyers,” says Carfax communications director Larry Gamache. “Consumers everywhere need to be on the lookout for odometer rollbacks and protect themselves when buying used cars.” In addition to obtaining a vehicle history report, Carfax suggests shoppers: • Check that the car’s wear and tear is consistent with the odometer reading. • Ask the seller for service records and note the mileage recorded. • Buy only from a recommended dealership or trusted seller. • Be wary of deals that seem too good to be true, or sellers who push hard for a quick sale. • Have a mechanic inspect the vehicle and check its computer.