Research from Carfax has revealed that there are now more cars on U.S. roads with rolled-back odometers than ever before.
More than 1.9 million vehicles in the U.S. have rolled-back odometers, a 7 per cent increase over 2021, Carfax reports. This comes despite many newer vehicles coming fitted with digital odometers that many people incorrectly think are harder to alter.
Carfax data reveals that California is home to the most vehicles with rolled-back odometers, totaling some 437,600 vehicles. It is followed by Texas with 245,600 vehicles, New York with 91,720 vehicles, Florida with 84,200 vehicles, and Illinois with 73,400 vehicles. Each of the 10 states with the highest number of vehicles with rolled-back odometers saw increases over the past year.
Read: NHTSA Makes Odometer Disclosure For Up To 20 Years Mandatory From January 1st
“Many people think odometer fraud disappeared with the invention of digital odometers but that couldn’t be further from the truth,” Carfax public relations director Emilie Voss said. “We’re still seeing the number of vehicles on the road with a rolled-back odometer rise year-over-year.”
Consumers lose an average of $4,00 in vehicle value when buying a vehicle with a rolled-back odometer. Unexpected maintenance costs could also sting buyers, particularly if major maintenance items need to be repaired or replaced earlier than a vehicle’s indicated mileage may suggest. Carfax notes that most odometer tampering incidents see tens of thousands of miles eliminated from a vehicle’s odometer.
It’s not just unexpected maintenance costs that could impact your hip pocket. If you finance a vehicle and later find out that the odometer had been rolled back, your interest rate could increase after you inform the finance company of the true mileage.
Carfax says there are a number of ways consumers can avoid buying a vehicle with a rolled-back odometer. Taking a used vehicle to a mechanic is always a good idea as they may notice advanced signs of wear on parts or components that contrast with the stated mileage. Insisting that the seller provides a Carfax Vehicle History Report is also a smart move.
