Odometers help to provide insight into the value of vehicles. They record the number of miles or kilometers traveled by the vehicle. Odometer readings help vehicle owners recognize when certain maintenance may be necessary. Those ratings also influence the fair market value of a vehicle on the resale market. There have always been stories and urban legends about used vehicle salesmen who drive cars backward or use power drills to manipulate the reading on the odometer. Tampering with an odometer can make a vehicle seem more attractive to buyers and can justify the salesperson setting a higher price for a used vehicle. Concerns about odometer tampering are one reason why many people look into a vehicle’s history before making a purchase. That practice hasn’t just disappeared due to the advent of digital odometers and more complicated vehicle systems. In fact, according to a recent assessment of odometer inaccuracies, tampering with odometers may actually be on the rise across California.
What does the data show?
According to research performed by Carfax, a company that provides vehicle history reports, more than 500,000 vehicles in California alone have odometers that don’t accurately reflect their mileage. That figure marks a shocking 14% increase from the previous year.
With roughly 532,200 vehicles with rolled-back odometers on the road, California’s rate of tampered-with vehicles is much higher than rates in other states. Texas, which holds second place in the Carfax report, has roughly 333,900 vehicles with inaccurate odometers. Flora, which is in third place, has just 109,000 vehicles.
Rolled-back odometers can result in consumers overpaying. Experts estimate that used vehicle buyers lose roughly $3,300 in value when buying a car with a rolled-back odometer. Buyers can also expect higher maintenance and repair costs due to more wear on the vehicle.
People who discover that they purchased a vehicle after odometer tampering may have certain rights. They could potentially hold the salesperson or dealership accountable for providing inaccurate information and manipulating the sale process.
Odometer rollback cases are often considered auto dealer fraud under California consumer protection laws. Reviewing any documentation that indicates auto dealer fraud with a skilled legal team could help those concerned that they may have overpaid for a vehicle hold a dealership accountable. Efforts to defraud consumers can justify litigation and can potentially lead to compensation for frustrated buyers.
If you believe you purchased a vehicle with a tampered odometer, you may want to speak with an experienced auto fraud attorney or schedule a consultation to review your situation.