|
|
|
|
|
|
Odometer Rollback Scams
Rolling back a car's odometer can inflate the value of a vehicle and increase repair costs
Anyone buying a car checks the odometer because a vehicle's mileage affects its value. The higher the mileage is the less you
pay and vice versa. This makes tampering with the odometer very tempting for individuals selling cars. Rolling back the odometer
puts a little extra money in their pockets. Think about how much a car dealership could make doing this. Several unscrupulous
car dealers have been caught red handed engaging in odometer rollback scams. Their gain is your loss. The dealer makes extra money
and you are stuck with a vehicle that's not as good as you thought it was.
What Odometer Tampering Costs You
Falsifying odometer readings can be very costly to you. The first is obvious, you will pay more than you
should have for the vehicle. Another is that maintenance will cose you more than you anticipated. Older
vehicles with high mileage require frequent servicing. This is where an odometer scam will hit you
right in the pocketbook. Car repair costs add up quickly. That's one reason dealers roll back odometers.
Sometimes it's the only way they can sell high mileage vehicles.
Tampering with an odometer is a crime
Odometer tampering is forbidden by state and Federal laws. In addition, dealers and individuals selling cars are required by law to to provide
purchasers with accurate odometer information. For instance, car buyers have a right to know the total number of miles on the odometer
and must be told if that mileage reading is accurate to the best of the sellers knowledge. Tampering with the odometer to make it appear
that a car has been driven fewer miles than it actually has is illegal. It's also illegal to disconnect your odometer if the intention is
to deceive. Disconnecting an odometer to maintain car value is in violation of the law.
How to avoid Odometer Rollback Fraud:
Even if the seller appears to be honest it is a good idea to check out the car's history. You can do this by:
- Requesting a title search from the Department of Motor Vehicles.
- Asking dealers who sold the vehicle previously for copies of the vehicle's odometer disclosure forms.
- Checking oil change stickers which are usually inside the door frame.
- Checking the inspection sticker for mileage at vehicle's last inspection.
- Taking the car to a trusted mechanic for an opinion.
If you believe you have been defrauded by an odometer rollback, you may sue in federal court under the federal Motor Vehicle Information Cost
Savings Act or in state court.
In addition, most states law makes odometer rollbacks a felony. Criminal cases can be prosecuted by the Attorney General and county prosecutors.
Check with your local city or county consumer agency administrator, county prosecutor's office of consumer affairs or state Attorney General's
office for specific laws in your state on this issue.
Order a Vehicle History Report
If there is a difference between what a vehicle's odometer should read and what it actually shows you will know it
if you order a report detailing the vehicle's history from a service like CarFax or Autoheck. You can request a car's history by
submitting nothing more than its VIN number. This is really handy when someone selling a car doesn't have any documented history.
Anyone buying a used car should seriously consider requesting a vehicle history report to avoid getting burned.
More Odometer Fraud Information
FHP: Odometer Fraud Warning
Making Inroads Against Threat of Odometer Fraud
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This site is protected under both U.S. Federal copyright law and international treaties. No part of this site,
including text, layout or images, may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any method.
|
