THE MILES
DON'T LIE.

Odometer fraud occurs when someone alters or replaces a vehicle's odometer to display a lower mileage than the car has actually traveled. It is a federal crime under the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act. The NHTSA estimates odometer fraud costs American consumers more than $1 billion annually and affects roughly 450,000 vehicles sold each year.

Carfax estimates that 1 in 10 used vehicles on the market today has an odometer discrepancy. The problem is concentrated in high-value used vehicles — luxury sedans, pickup trucks, and SUVs where an additional 50,000 miles would meaningfully affect resale price. Private sales are at highest risk since dealers are subject to more oversight.

Gaps in mileage records are themselves a warning sign. A vehicle with very few recorded mileage data points — despite being several years old — may have had its records deliberately obscured. Our report will note the number of data points available and the average miles per year implied, which helps identify anomalies even without a direct rollback flag.

Yes. Digital odometers were once considered tamper-proof, but OBD-II programmers available for under $200 online can reset the cluster mileage on most modern vehicles in minutes. Some modules can be replaced entirely. This is precisely why cross-referencing with external records — DMV, inspections, and service data — is the only reliable way to verify true mileage.

A discrepancy flag means we found at least one mileage reading that does not logically follow from prior readings — either lower than a previous entry (a rollback) or representing an implausible jump. It does not automatically confirm fraud; an odometer instrument replacement for legitimate mechanical reasons can also cause a discontinuity. The flag is a signal to investigate further before purchasing.