Five tips that will save you from buying a car with a fake odometer reading
I once bought a MINI from a little old lady who swore the car had sat in the garage since her grandson had been overseas. Turns out grandma was a scam artist, enlisted by the driver, and the odometer had been round the clock.I was forced to replace every part of that vehicle, before selling it to a dealer for $1000. Fortunately, such horror stories can be avoided. Here’s how.
Let the government help you spot a fake
NSW Fair Trading issued fines totalling $113,000 in 2021 and 2022 to those trying to rip customers off through odometer tampering. If you live in the state, you can now use the “check the registration” function on the Service NSW website and app to access the previous three annual odometer readings.
Motoring bodies are urging other Australian states to follow NSW’s lead.
You can also purchase a history report like carsales Vehicle History Report which uses the Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) and other external sources to generate a History Report which contains vehicle information such as if there is money owing on the vehicle, if its ever been written off or if there are any odometer discrepancies.
Ask to see the logbook
Check the logbook history to make sure the odometer readings match up with service receipts. Look for inconsistencies in the paperwork, such as gaps in service history, or sudden changes of mechanic by the same owner.
If the vendor claims to have lost the logbook, be aware that this may be a red flag.
"Drivers who look after cars keep receipts and protect the logbook," says mechanic Lachlan Crawter, of Tyres & More Kyogle.
Tally car age and mileage
On average, Australians travel 12,100 km a year across all vehicles. If you’re buying a 2017 car that’s only done 30,000 km, you probably want to know more about the lifestyle habits of the people who owned it.
Were they old and infirm, or gamers who never left the house?
Use your eyes to save car dollars
Checking to see if the car is leaking oil is a no-brainer, says Crawter.
"You don’t want to be paying good money for a car that needs its engine fixed."
You should also do a thorough visual inspection of the vehicle inside and out, including the paintwork, and upholstery. Is the paintwork faded, or are the leather or fabric fittings on this supposedly low-mileage vehicle worn or ripped?
Look for signs the dashboard has been tampered with, such as screws that don’t look original or match the rest of the interior, too.
However, Crawter cautions that external appearance is not a failsafe guide to mileage.
"A country car that is covered in dust and dirt and looks a bit rough may have done low kilometres."
Don’t try to be the car expert yourself
Spending a couple of hundred dollars on a pre-purchase inspection could potentially save you thousands.
"If it is a relatively new model, a mechanic can put a scan tool on it and make sure no fault codes are coming up," says Crawter.
An expert from a company like RedBook Inspect can also help you uncover inconsistencies with the condition of the car and the mileage. If the seller seems reluctant to agree to this, walk away.
Related: Top tips for buying a used car
Related: Five questions to ask before buying a car
Related: How do I meet a potential buyer for my car?
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