More than 2.14 million vehicles on U.S. roads are estimated to have rolled-back odometers. This illegal practice inflates a car's value, so buyers pay more for vehicles that may be far closer to costly repairs than they think.
However, after just a few weeks on the road, you could face expensive fixes–shocks and struts, brake rotors, spark plugs, tires, fuel filters, and other wallet-draining repairs.
What Is an Odometer?
An odometer is an instrument that records the total distance traveled by a vehicle. The term comes from Greek words meaning "path" and "measure." You can check a car's mileage on the dashboard. On cars with a multi-information display, you may need to toggle display modes using a selector knob or steering-wheel controls to see the current reading.
Before you buy, it helps to understand the basics of how odometers work to see how vehicle odometer fraud can occur:
Mechanical Odometers
Mechanical odometers were the main type used in cars built through much of the 20th century and are increasingly rare in newer models.
The odometer was often integrated with the speedometer and driven by a flexible cable connected to the transmission output. The spinning cable rotated a magnet in the speedometer head, moving the needle via a drag cup, and the same input drove a small gear train that advanced the numbered drums showing mileage.
If you were to take apart a mechanical speedometer, you'd find the odometer linked to the drive cable by gears that turn the numbered drums displaying mileage.
Because the unit had many moving parts, analog odometers required precise calibration to measure distance accurately. Plastic gears that advanced the odometer could also wear over time.
Historically, vehicles 10 years old or older were exempt from federal odometer disclosure at transfer. As the U.S. fleet aged, a federal rule finalized in 2019 (effective January 1, 2021) extended the disclosure requirement to 20 years for model year 2011 and newer vehicles.
Digital Odometers
Digital odometers have been around since the 1970s but became commonplace in the early 2000s. Modern systems read vehicle speed from a transmission-mounted vehicle speed sensor and/or wheel-speed (ABS) sensors. The electronic control unit (ECU) tallies wheel revolutions against tire circumference to compute distance and relays the result to the digital display.
Because the ECU calculates distance using tire size and revolutions, changes such as fitting larger wheels can introduce slight error. Still, the display provides the official mileage reading for the vehicle.
Why Is the Mileage Important?
Mileage indicates how heavily a car has been used and the wear and tear it has accumulated. You can also spot unusually rapid use. For instance, if a 2018 Honda Civic shows 100,000 miles after three years, that's over 33,000 miles per year–well above average and not "gently used."
Mileage goes hand in hand with value: with more use, critical parts wear and require replacement. That may lead you to ask:
What is acceptable mileage? It depends on the model and maintenance. Some vehicles reach 500,000 miles; a few make it to 1 million. Generally, cars that have surpassed 200,000 miles sell for significantly less than when they were new.
Why Do People Roll Back Odometers?
Money is the main motivation. If a seller rolls back the mileage from 100,000 to 10,000, the car may appear nearly new–less than many drivers accumulate in a year. The seller can add thousands of dollars to the listing price.
Low-mileage cars often sell faster, even at the same price as similar model-year vehicles with more miles. There are always unscrupulous sellers ready to exploit this by rolling back odometers.
This practice is illegal. If you buy a car and later discover the odometer was tampered with, you have legal remedies. Some dealers may offer to unwind the sale or compensate you; otherwise, you can pursue action under applicable laws.
Reputable dealers work to ensure their inventory does not include rolled-back vehicles because of the legal consequences. Still, don't take anyone's word for it–verify.
How Common is Rollback?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 450,000 vehicles are sold each year with false odometer readings, costing U.S. consumers over $1 billion annually.
Bottom line: Sellers must disclose a vehicle's odometer reading at transfer and indicate when the reading is inaccurate (for example, when the odometer has been repaired, replaced, or has exceeded its mechanical limits), as required by federal and state rules.
Nearly half a million vehicles (450,000) are sold annually with manipulated odometer readings (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration).
Odometer Fraud Statistics by State
Some states report significantly higher levels of odometer tampering than others. The table below highlights where rollback incidents are most common, giving drivers a clearer picture of where extra caution is advised when shopping for a used car.
| # | State | Vehicles | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 437,600 | ↑ 2% |
| 2 | Texas | 245,600 | ↑ 15% |
| 3 | New York | 91,720 | ↑ 4% |
| 4 | Florida | 84,200 | ↑ 12% |
| 5 | Illinois | 73,400 | ↑ 5% |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | 68,200 | ↑ 5% |
| 7 | Georgia | 65,000 | ↑ 1% |
| 8 | Virginia | 56,000 | ↑ 2% |
| 9 | Arizona | 54,400 | ↑ 12% |
| 10 | North Carolina | 45,300 | ↑ 7% |
How to Detect Rollback?
Odometer rollback often goes undetected. Some sellers shave off "only" tens of thousands of miles (e.g., from 200,000 to 150,000), leaving the condition looking plausible. Approach every used car with healthy skepticism.
There are many ways to detect rollback. Three key methods are:
- Getting a history report;
- Running computer diagnostics;
- Performing a physical inspection for excessive wear.
Let's get to it:
Run a FAXVIN Report
When you check mileage by VIN on FAXVIN, your report shows past odometer readings recorded at title and registration events. The mileage checker can calculate average mileage per year and flag potential rollbacks when detected.
Always compare the current odometer reading to the historical pattern. For example, if the last recorded mileage two years ago was 50,000 but today's reading is only 55,000 on a car reportedly driven daily, that inconsistency warrants deeper investigation.
A mileage/VIN check is a must-have for other reasons, too. Reports can surface outstanding liens, accidents, and recorded damage–critical context for negotiating the best deal.
Examples
Curious what an odometer history check looks like? The sample image below shows the disclosed odometer readings from prior registration records. Note that odometer disclosures occur when a car changes ownership or during renewals.
Computer Diagnostics
On many modern cars, altering what the instrument cluster displays can be easier than you'd expect–yet the true mileage may also be stored in other modules (for example, body, seat-memory, or parking-assist controllers).
Computer diagnostics involve reading values stored in those modules. These readings should be close to the cluster, though they may not be synchronized in real time.
No mileage reading is 100% perfect. Changes like larger-diameter wheels can introduce small errors. Cross-check service records and previously reported readings for the most accurate picture.
Check the Car Yourself and for Free
There are several telltale signs of an artificially low odometer reading. Use these as clues–then confirm with a VIN-based odometer check.
Windshield
The windshield can hint at mileage. At highway speeds, sand and stones slowly pit the glass, creating tiny dots that reduce clarity–especially in direct sunlight.
After roughly 30,000–50,000 miles you may see isolated marks. Around 100,000, more spots appear along with wiper traces. By 200,000, brush marks are more etched and small chips more numerous. Multiple large chips can suggest higher mileage.
Pedals
The brake pedal is a reliable wear indicator and is rarely replaced. Rubber surfaces wear smooth with use; by ~100,000 miles some flattening or loss of tread pattern is expected.
Steering Wheel
Steering-wheel surfaces wear with hand contact. Ensure the wear pattern aligns with the claimed mileage–low-mileage cars should not have heavily worn wheels.
Driver Seat
Seat condition tracks use. Flattened foam, torn leather/fabric, or broken adjusters suggest a hard-used vehicle. Some models' seats wear more quickly, so research typical wear for the specific vehicle.
Quick Facts
- Odometer fraud is the illegal practice of rolling back a vehicle's odometer to make it show fewer miles than it actually has.
- Estimated cost to U.S. consumers exceeds $1 billion per year.
Conclusion
The temptation to make a quick profit drives some sellers to roll back mileage. With inexpensive tools, they can make a car appear less used–leaving you with the risk.
Protect yourself: order a history report, inspect the vehicle thoroughly, and run a diagnostic scan to compare mileage stored in modules and check for hidden fault codes (e.g., a pending "check engine" alert). Follow these steps and you're far more likely to land a solid, reliable vehicle.
Additional Resources for Drivers
- NHTSA: Odometer Fraud – how to spot, prevent, and report
- VehicleHistory.gov (NMVTIS): Consumer vehicle history & title info
- FTC: Buying a Used Car From a Dealer
- FTC: What to Know When Buying a Used Car Online
- U.S. Department of Justice: Odometer Fraud (background & enforcement)
Frequently Asked Questions
Odometer vs. Mileage
What Is Good Mileage for a Used Car?
How Much Mileage Is Too Much?
What Is High Mileage for a Motorcycle?
Is Odometer Rollback Illegal in the U.S.?
How Do Odometers Work?
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