Check The Mileage Before You Buy The Car

A Low Number Isn’t The Whole Story:

The dashboard says 61,000 miles, but a service receipt from two years ago says 84,000. One of those numbers needs an explanation. It might be a typo or a replacement instrument panel. It could also be odometer rollback, when someone changes the reading to make a car appear to have traveled fewer miles than it has.

A lower reading can make a used car seem like a better deal. But the dashboard gives you only one number, not the car’s history. The best time to check whether that number makes sense is before you agree on a price or hand over a deposit.

Put The Readings In Date Order:

Ask to see the title and any service or inspection records. Match the vehicle identification number, or VIN, on the title to the one on the car. Then check that any record with a VIN refers to the same vehicle. You don’t want to compare the dashboard with a receipt from another car.

Write down each date and mileage, starting with the oldest. A car that sat unused might show almost no change between two visits. A reading that drops sharply is different. Ask the seller to explain the drop and show you a record that supports the explanation. If they say the instrument panel was replaced, ask for the repair invoice and check what it says about the mileage.

Know What A History Report Can Miss:

In the United States, you can use the VIN to get a report from an approved provider for the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System, or NMVTIS. The report can help you check title and odometer information, but it isn’t designed to list routine repairs or maintenance. Keep looking for dated service records even if the report shows no obvious problem.

Look at the car, too. Heavy wear on the pedals of a car advertised as low-mileage is a reason to ask questions, not proof of fraud. Have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you buy. The history report and the inspection do different jobs: one shows what was recorded, and the other shows what condition the car is in now.

Keep Your Money Until The Miles Add Up:

If you find a mismatch, give the seller a chance to clear it up with paperwork. A missing receipt doesn’t prove anything, but an earlier reading that’s higher than today’s deserves more than a verbal assurance. If the records still don’t add up, walk away. If you suspect tampering, save the listing and any records you received, then contact your state’s enforcement agency. Another car may take longer to find, but you won’t have to pay a low-mileage price for mileage you can’t verify.