How can I know if the odometer was reset?

When buying a used car, you're facing a few risks that you need to pay attention to. One of the main issues is the possibility of odometer fraud. The number of miles on the odometer is one of the influencing factors that affect buying and selling used cars. People selling their used cars may tamper with odometers.

They do that because they want to make more money, or simply because lower mileage helps sell faster. It gives the appearance of a less-used vehicle with more life left in it and fewer repairs in the future.

The number of miles on the odometer can actually tell you a lot about the car you are going to purchase. It warns you about upcoming maintenance and potential repairs, the life expectancy of the car, how well the car was looked after, and the overall value.

With that being said, what can you do as a buyer to protect yourself from odometer mileage fraud? How can you know if the odometer was reset? We recommend that you check out the following points we put together to help you out.

Check service history mileage

One of the important and obvious things to do is to check service history mileage. Every time a car is brought into a garage, the vehicle mileage is written on the repair order. Look back at the vehicle service history for mileage readings. Ask the seller for their maintenance records. Each receipt should have the mileage and date in it. Additionally, follow the service history to see if the current mileage makes sense. If the car has a good documented service history, then you don't have to worry about the odometer mileage fraud.

Compare the year of the car and the current mileage

This one is a very simple step. Just do the math. Look at the year of the car and compare it to the current mileage. For example, if the car is five years old but has far fewer than 60,000 miles, then there may be cause for concern.

Ask to see the original certificate of title

If the seller shows you a photocopy on hand, ask to see the original title. You need to see it in order to compare the recorded mileage on the title with the current odometer reading. The title should show the mileage on a clean background. In some cases, a photocopy might be the only title available. If so, make sure the mileage reading is clearly legible and compare the mileage font with the rest of the document, because font needs to be consistent, otherwise something may be wrong.

Ask for oil change and maintenance receipts and inspection sticker

This step is necessary so you can compare the mileage on the receipts to the one on the odometer. The inspection stickers are usually on door frames or windows. Remember to take note of unusual gaps in dates or mileage.

Check the condition of the car

While having a rough interior and low mileage odometer is something to worry about, it is not always a case of odometer fraud. However, you need to be on the safe side. First of all, inspect the brake and gas pedals for abnormal wear. If the mileage on the odometer is low while the brake and gas pedals are worn through, then there may be cause for concern. Moreover, check the carpets and seats for excessive wear. These are quite durable until tens of thousands of miles have been driven. If they are excessively worn yet the odometer shows low mileage, consider the possibility of odometer reset.

Have your car Scouted

If you suspect odometer mileage was reset, have the car Scouted! Given that it is hard for you to know if the odometer has actually been reset or not, you can book a Scout package and thanks to our report you will get to understand if the odometer was reset. In our pre-purchase inspection we examine the car for wear and tear, we know what parts are original and which ones are replaced, therefore, we would know the car's condition and compare it to the mileage shown on the odometer.