How to Avoid Odometer Rollback Fraud

Rolling back a vehicle’s odometer is one of the most common types of vehicle fraud. Odometer rollback usually happens because the seller or the car dealer wants to increase the resale value of a vehicle with high-mileage.

It is very important for used car buyers to first check the odometer of the vehicle, as the value of the vehicle is calculated also based on its mileage. The higher the mileage of the car is the less you pay and vice versa. This is why odometer tampering is very tempting for car dealers or individual sellers.

In fact, many car dealerships make a lot of profit by rolling back the odometer. And while the car dealer makes extra money the used car buyer is stuck with a vehicle, which is not as good as the dealer presented it to be.  However, there are a few steps that a car buyer should take to avoid becoming a victim of dealer fraud.

Keep in mind that there is nothing unreasonable when you ask the car dealer to give you certain information about the history of the vehicle you intend to buy. These are some of the most important things to ask the car dealer and do yourself to avoid odometer fraud :

• Ask for or get information about vehicle title from state Department of Motor Vehicles.
• Ask the dealer for the copies of the vehicle’s odometer disclosure forms.
• Another thing to do is to look at the door frame insides for oil change stickers.
• Reviewing the inspection sticker from the vehicle’s last inspection for its mileage
• Take the vehicle to a repair shop or a mechanic you trust for examination.

There are specific odometer rollback laws in most states, which allow the car buyer to prosecute criminal cases by the Attorney General and county prosecutors.