Odometer Fraud Increases by 14% Over the Last Year

An estimated 2.45 million cars on the road likely have their odometers rolled back, representing a 14 percent increase from last year, according to vehicle history provider CARFAX.

This marks a modest 4 percent increase between 2023 and 2024.

“Odometer rollbacks occur when someone alters the mileage stored in a vehicle’s electronic systems to make it appear less driven,” explained Faisal Hasan, vice president of Data Acquisition at CARFAX. “As modern vehicles have transitioned from mechanical to digital odometers, tampering has unfortunately become more common due to the wider availability of inexpensive tools. At the same time, a car’s mileage is now recorded more often, which helps us identify discrepancies and better protect consumers.”

Data indicates that vehicles with an odometer rollback this year averaged a loss of around $3,300 in value.

Here are the top 10 states with the highest number of vehicles suspected of an odometer rollback:

States that experienced the largest increase in vehicles suspected of an odometer rollback compared to last year include:

• Montana: 33 percent
• Tennessee: 30 percent
• Arkansas: 28 percent
• Oklahoma: 25 percent
• Kansas: 24 percent
• New Jersey: 21 percent
• Florida: 20 percent

To protect themselves from odometer fraud, CARFAX recommends that drivers take the following steps:

• Do your research. A CARFAX report can provide detailed information about a vehicle’s history, including title, maintenance, and inspection records to help compare the mileage.
• Check for potential odometer fraud by entering the Vehicle Identification Number at www.carfax.com/odometer.
• Inspect for wear and tear on the gas, brake, or clutch pedals.
• Have a trusted mechanic conduct an inspection of the car before making a purchase.

Topics
Fraud

An estimated 2.45 million cars on the road likely have their odometers rolled back, representing a 14 percent increase from last year, according to vehicle history provider CARFAX.

This marks a modest 4 percent increase between 2023 and 2024.

“Odometer rollbacks occur when someone alters the mileage stored in a vehicle’s electronic systems to make it appear less driven,” explained Faisal Hasan, vice president of Data Acquisition at CARFAX. “As modern vehicles have transitioned from mechanical to digital odometers, tampering has unfortunately become more common due to the wider availability of inexpensive tools. At the same time, a car’s mileage is now recorded more often, which helps us identify discrepancies and better protect consumers.”

Data indicates that vehicles with an odometer rollback this year averaged a loss of around $3,300 in value.

Here are the top 10 states with the highest number of vehicles suspected of an odometer rollback:

States that experienced the largest increase in vehicles suspected of an odometer rollback compared to last year include:

• Montana: 33 percent
• Tennessee: 30 percent
• Arkansas: 28 percent
• Oklahoma: 25 percent
• Kansas: 24 percent
• New Jersey: 21 percent
• Florida: 20 percent

To protect themselves from odometer fraud, CARFAX recommends that drivers take the following steps:

• Do your research. A CARFAX report can provide detailed information about a vehicle’s history, including title, maintenance, and inspection records to help compare the mileage.
• Check for potential odometer fraud by entering the Vehicle Identification Number at www.carfax.com/odometer.
• Inspect for wear and tear on the gas, brake, or clutch pedals.
• Have a trusted mechanic conduct an inspection of the car before making a purchase.

Topics
Fraud