Tampering With An Odometer Is A Federal Crime
Buyers rely heavily on a vehicles mileage in determining a vehicles condition and value. Accurate odometer readings and disclosures, therefore, are essential for maintaining a reliable basis for determining a vehicles condition and value.
It’s because of those reasons that state and federal laws restrict both odometer tampering, and also a false odometer disclosure papers. federal laws require those seller provided a detailed odometer disclosure statement and certifies the following:
(a) the odometer reflects the actual mileage,
(b) the odometer is displaying the correct number of miles car has traveled beyond the mechanical limits of the display, or
(c) the number on the odometer is incorrect.
Other than modifying the odometer by rolling back the display, shady used vehicle dealers also ignore evidence of fraud or tampering. Sometimes, the odometer readings that have been recorded in the repair records of the vehicle are inconsistent.
One example would be where the mileage drops during one calendar year. That’s pretty much a give away that something is going on. In other cases, the seller may notice that the odometer has been tampered with by seeing missing screws or scratch marks on the odometer casing.
Such signs would put the seller on notice that the odometer may have been tampered with and would require the seller to investigate the odometer’s accuracy further. If the seller ignored these signs, it would not have a solid basis for certifying that “the odometer reflects the actual mileage.”
Buyers concerned about potential odometer inaccuracy can use Carfax, Autocheck, and other such reports to see if there are odometer discrepancies in a vehicle’s history. However, these types of reports are not always complete. In addition, some repair facilities and specialty garages inspect vehicles for odometer tampering.
If a seller does tamper with the odometer or fails to provide accurate odometer disclosures, it does so at its own peril, because the federal law imposes severe penalties on violators. Buyers should be aware, however, that the federal law does not require odometer disclosures for vehicles over ten years old.
Tags: Cars