| Crime is everywhere and all around us. Not all | | | | than it actually has. It is also illegal to disable your |
| crime is requires the use of stun guns or pepper | | | | odometer with the intent to deceive. Disabling an |
| spray to thwart a potential assault or robbery. | | | | odometer to maintain a car's value is illegal. |
| Some crimes are perpetrated by white collar or | | | | How to Avoid Odometer Rollback Fraud |
| blue collar people who take advantage of others | | | | Even if the seller has a good reputation, it is a |
| when they least expect it. | | | | good idea to do your homework by checking out |
| Rolling back a vehicle's odometer can raise the | | | | the car's history. You can do this by: |
| value of a car and increase the cost of car | | | | • Requesting a title search from your state's |
| repairs. This is a crime involving moral turpitude. | | | | Department of Motor Vehicles. |
| Every car buyer should always check the | | | | • Asking sellers who sold the vehicle |
| odometer because a vehicle's mileage is indicative | | | | previously for copies of the vehicle's odometer |
| of its value. In general, the higher the mileage the | | | | disclosure forms. |
| less you pay for the car. This makes tampering | | | | • Checking oil change stickers which are |
| with the odometer a temptation for people | | | | usually inside the door frame. |
| looking to sell their cars. Rolling back the odometer | | | | • Checking the inspection sticker for mileage |
| allows the seller to pocket some extra money. | | | | at the car's last inspection. |
| Several crooked car dealers have been known to | | | | • Taking the car to a trusted mechanic for an |
| be engaging in odometer rollback schemes. They | | | | opinion. |
| profit from your loss. The dealer earns extra | | | | If you think you have been defrauded by an |
| money while you are stuck with a car that is not | | | | odometer rollback scheme, you may sue in |
| as good as you thought it was. | | | | federal court under the federal Motor Vehicle |
| What Odometer Tampering Costs You | | | | Information Cost Savings act or in state court. |
| Falsifying the odometer can be very expensive | | | | Furthermore, many states have laws that make |
| for the buyer. First of all, the buyer will pay more | | | | it a felony to rollback an odometer. Criminal cases |
| than they should have for the car. Secondly, the | | | | can be prosecuted by the Attorney General and |
| maintenance will cost the buyer more than he | | | | county prosecutors. |
| anticipated. Older cars with high mileage will need | | | | Check with your local city or county consumer |
| frequent servicing. This is where the crime of | | | | agency, county prosecutor's office of consumer |
| odometer tampering will hit your checkbook. Car | | | | affairs or state Attorney General's office for |
| repairs can add up quickly. This is one reason that | | | | specific laws in your state regarding this issue. |
| dealers roll back odometers. Some of the time, | | | | Running a Vehicle History Report |
| this is the only way they sell high mileage cars. | | | | If there is a difference between what a vehicle's |
| Odometer Tampering is a Crime | | | | odometer should read and what it actually shows, |
| Currently, federal and state laws have legislation | | | | you will know it if you run a vehicle history report |
| that forbid the tampering of odometers. Dealers | | | | through or With these services, all you have to |
| and private sellers are required by law to provide | | | | do is input the car's vehicle identification number |
| the buyers with accurate odometer readings. For | | | | (VIN). This can come in handy when someone |
| example, the car buyer has the right to know if | | | | selling you a car does not have any |
| the total number of miles on the odometer and | | | | documentation on the car's history. |
| must be told if the mileage reading is accurate. It | | | | Anybody buying a used car should seriously |
| is illegal to tamper with an odometer to make it | | | | consider using or to avoid getting scammed. |
| appear that the car has been driven fewer miles | | | | |