| Each year, more and more consumers find | | | | vehicles should have its original parts, such as |
| themselves victims of odometer tampering. With | | | | batteries, hoses and clamps, etc.o A used vehicle |
| the used car market increasing in momentum, this | | | | with less than 20,000 km should have its original |
| illegal practice has become rampant over the | | | | tires. If they were replaced, mismatched by size, |
| years and has increased the risk for used car | | | | type or brand, start asking why. |
| buyers. | | | | Digital Odometers |
| Also known as "clocking" or "busting miles," | | | | Digital odometers were created by car |
| odometer tampering fools unsuspecting buyers | | | | manufactures to slow down the problem of |
| into thinking that vehicles have a lower mileage | | | | odometer tampering. But with the advent of |
| than they actually do. This scam enables dealers | | | | technology, tampering a digital odometer is now |
| to sell a used car more than its actual value. It is | | | | very possible and even harder to detect for |
| estimated that the illicit profit from odometer | | | | unsuspecting buyers. |
| tampering sums to over billions of dollars lost per | | | | Some digital odometers are designed to show |
| year. | | | | visible signs if it has been tampered. Unusual |
| Protect yourself from this fraudulent act. Here are | | | | characters such as asterisks, line of 9's across the |
| some ways to help you determine signs of | | | | screen or missing display parts are some |
| odometer tampering: | | | | suspicious signs that used car buyers should look |
| Mechanical Odometerso Ask to see the vehicles' | | | | out for. |
| mileage disclosure statement. Dealers are required | | | | Do the math. A vehicle racks up about 20,000 to |
| to keep this record for 5 years.o Compare the | | | | 30,000 km per year. If the mileage indicated on |
| mileage on the odometer with the mileage | | | | the odometer is inconsistent with the vehicle's |
| indicated on the written disclosure statement. Also | | | | age, check out the car's history. |
| check if the mileage reading on the vehicle's title, | | | | Nothing is tamper-proof. Before you buy a used |
| service records, oil change labels etc. for signs of | | | | vehicle, it is always best to have an independent |
| alteration.o Check if the odometer shows physical | | | | mechanic conduct a thorough inspection. The |
| signs of tampering such as missing or loose | | | | odometer is only a gauge in determining a |
| screws, marks, and misaligned numbers.o | | | | vehicle's condition. With a car's complexity and |
| Scrutinize the vehicle for inconsistencies. See if | | | | sophistication, there's a lot you can't tell just by |
| the gas, brake, and clutch pedals correspond to | | | | checking one of its parts. |
| the mileage shown on the odometer. Low-mileage | | | | |