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How to spot odometer rollback before you buy a used car

A rolled-back odometer can make a worn car look thousands of dollars more valuable. Digital odometers can be altered too. Here is how to check before you pay.

How common is odometer fraud?

NHTSA estimates that more than 450,000 vehicles are sold each year in the U.S. with false odometer readings, and its study put the average overpayment at about $2,336 per car, over $1 billion a year in total. See NHTSA's odometer fraud page.

Step 1: Compare the paperwork

Ask to see the title and compare its mileage with the dashboard. Look closely if the mileage on the title is smudged, altered or hard to read.
Compare the odometer with maintenance and state inspection records, and look for oil-change stickers on the windshield, door jamb, glove box or under the hood.
Under NHTSA's current rule, model-year 2011 and newer vehicles need a written mileage disclosure on every transfer for 20 years. Make sure the seller fills it in.

Step 2: Check wear against the miles

Brake, gas and clutch pedals, the steering wheel, driver's seat bolster and floor mats should match the mileage shown.
A car showing about 20,000 miles or less would normally still have its original tires.
On an older analog odometer, crooked or gapped numbers are a red flag.
Have an independent mechanic look at it; they can often spot wear that does not fit the miles.

Step 3: Get a mileage history

Odometer readings recorded at title transfers and inspections live in vehicle history databases, not in the VIN itself. The U.S. government's NMVTIS site lists approved providers that sell title and brand history reports. If a later reading is lower than an earlier one, walk away or ask hard questions.

What VinCheck1 can and cannot do here

Our report does not include odometer, title or ownership history. It is still a useful first step: decode the VIN free to confirm the year, make, model and engine match the listing, and check recalls by make, model and year.

On this site you can decode a VIN for free to see the year, make and model. A full report costs a small one-time fee and adds factory specifications, NHTSA safety recalls, owner complaints, crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for that model and year. If we can't find your car's details, there's no charge. The report is compiled from free public U.S. government sources – the same sources you can use yourself for free – and it is not an accident, title or ownership history report.

If you think you were a victim

Contact your state attorney general or motor vehicle agency, and NHTSA's Office of Odometer Fraud Investigation at odometerfraud@dot.gov. Keep the title, bill of sale and any records showing the earlier mileage.

Frequently asked questions

Can a VIN check show odometer rollback?

A VIN decode alone cannot. Mileage readings come from title and inspection records in vehicle history databases. Order a report from an NMVTIS-approved provider and compare readings over time.

Can digital odometers be rolled back?

Yes. NHTSA notes that tampered digital odometers can be even harder to detect, so compare wear, records and history reports rather than trusting the display.

Which cars need a mileage disclosure when sold?

Under NHTSA's current rule, model-year 2011 and newer vehicles require a written odometer disclosure at transfer for 20 years. Older vehicles are generally exempt.

What should I do if I find a rollback?

Do not buy the car. If you already did, keep your paperwork and contact your state attorney general, your DMV, or NHTSA at odometerfraud@dot.gov.