Am I paying too much for this car?
90% of vehicle buyers ask this question when negotiating with a seller for a lower price. The first thing they examine is the vehicle’s odometer reading. Knowing that higher mileage reduces a vehicle’s market value, sellers have learned how to increase this price by simply rolling back the odometer. If you don’t want to hire an experienced specialist to detect car fraud, you should learn how to check the validity of the odometer data yourself. Here are four simple ways you can do this.
Detecting Odometer Fraud:
The first thing you should consider before estimating the true mileage is the car’s age. On average, an American vehicle drives about 12,000 miles per year. By multiplying this number by the car’s real age, you should get a figure that should be close to the one reported by the odometer. If the reported number is much lower, you should ask the seller why the car was used so infrequently. However, if the reported number is close to or even higher than this estimate, don’t relax just yet. The vehicle could have been heavily used, and there are other, more precise ways to verify the true mileage:
- Request a history check report by VIN: Every time the DMV provides a car history check, its specialists record odometer readings and verify whether they seem valid. When you request car information from reputable sources like FAXVIN, these sources contact the DMV database and present the data in the form of a straightforward report. These reports always include odometer readings. If the difference between the reported and actual mileage is significant, do not trust the seller.
- Ask when the oil was last changed: Inside any vehicle, you can find a sticker indicating the mileage at the time of the last oil change. This might not be helpful if the oil was changed recently, but if the mileage difference is minimal, there shouldn’t be a major discrepancy.
- Check the wheels and interior: Sometimes even details of the car’s interior can reveal odometer fraud. If the seller claims the vehicle has low mileage, such as 15,000 miles, but it doesn’t have its original tires, this is a red flag. Also, if some parts of the car seem worn out or shabby, it could be an indication that the mileage is not as low as claimed.
What if there is no evidence of odometer fraud?
Odometer fraud is a strictly punishable activity. Even if sellers want to commit such fraud, they think twice before altering any odometer readings. However, you should not rely on just one criterion. The VIN can be modified, parts can be replaced, and the car may have been stolen, meaning the true mileage might never be known. Also, keep in mind that even if a vehicle has low mileage, if it has suffered significant damage from water or accidents, it should not be priced at a premium. Never forget to check the ownership history as well. If the car was previously used by the police or as a taxi, you cannot rely on any of the mileage estimates.
