How can I be sure an odometer reading on a used car is valid?

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Verifying Odometer Readings

To be sure an odometer reading on a used car is valid, you can review service records that contain previous odometer readings, research the title history of the car, and obtain a vehicle history report.

Mileage on a used car is a big factor in determining its resale value. A used car with a high mileage record can be worth thousands less than a low mileage car of the same year and model. As a result, some people resort to rolling back the odometer on a used car in order to increase its resale value. This practice is a serious crime, and one that you need to be wary of.

Naturally, you want to be sure an odometer reading on a used car is valid. If an older used car has very few miles on it, that’s a cause for suspicion. But there won’t always be obvious signs of odometer fraud, so you need to take proper precautions.
  • Ask the seller for service records. Service records are good anyway because they’ll let you know how well the car has been maintained. Many repair shops print the odometer readings at the time of the repair, so that will give you an objective record to compare to the present odometer reading.
  • Review a vehicle history report. In addition to accidents, major repairs, and ownership history, a vehicle history report will list odometer readings.
If the present odometer reading is less than a historical reading on the vehicle history report, you might be encountering a scam. Order your vehicle history report online as a quick way to help make sure the odometer reading on your next used car is valid.

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