Odometer fraud is on the rise across the U.S., with more than 2.14 million vehicles potentially affected this year, according to CARFAX. The figure represents an 18% increase since 2021 and an additional 82,000 vehicles compared to 2023, the previous record-setting year.
"Odometer rollbacks can occur when an unscrupulous owner or seller of a car alters the miles that display on a car's gauge cluster," said Faisal Hasan, vice president of data and public policy at CARFAX. "This might be done as a way to avoid mileage charges in a vehicle lease or to dramatically increase the value of a car. Today's technology makes rolling an odometer back easier than ever."
The manipulation, often done to inflate a car’s value or evade lease mileage charges, leaves unsuspecting buyers vulnerable. According to CARFAX, victims lose an average of $4,000 in vehicle value and face additional unexpected repair costs and potential safety risks.
"I located a beautiful Chevy 4x4 Truck that sounded perfect: Low miles, great condition, etc. When I ran the CARFAX on the vehicle, I discovered the truck had approximately 180,000 miles rather than the 108,000 stated," said Jimmy Hendon, a driver in Atlanta. "The mileage was so far off from the accurate mileage that it was crazy. CARFAX saved me thousands of dollars and no telling how many headaches."
The states with the highest incidences of odometer fraud are also seeing sharp increases. Virginia led the spike in 2023, with a 11.7% rise in odometer rollbacks, followed by Arizona (8.0%) and Florida (6.4%). In fact, nine of the top 10 states recorded year-over-year growth in such cases.
With odometer rollbacks becoming easier due to advancements in technology, CARFAX urges buyers to remain vigilant by obtaining vehicle history reports and inspecting records thoroughly.
