How To Know The Real Mileage Of A Car
Current statistics show that about 30% of used vehicles have a negative track record. Mileage manipulation is one of the most common scams in the used car sales process. However, customers with the right information can protect themselves from this fraud when buying a used car online in the UK.
A vehicle with a history of damage or with a tampered mileage represents a high risk for the buyer, this directly affects the safety, durability, price, as well as residual value of the car.
Low economic growth in Europe has led to the second-hand vehicle market growing considerably in recent years. Buyers often make cheaper investments, but sometimes they forget about the risks involved in buying a second-hand car. The growth in the sale and purchase of used vehicles shows the need for consumers to combat fraud, with the aim of making the process safer in the short, medium and long term.
How to Detect Mileage Manipulation?
The first way to detect odometer tampering is to compare the odometer readings recorded in the different maintenance, repairs, or ITV that have been carried out on the car. Maintenance, repairs, or inspections done to the vehicle usually include a mileage reading. Any anomaly or inconsistency in the kilometers recorded in any of these documents may be a sign of manipulation and fraud. AUTOFORTRADE Vehicle Histories are another alternative for obtaining information on a car’s mileage.
AUTOFORTRADE collects mileage readings and logs from millions of vehicles, thereby alerting consumers to mileage inconsistencies and potential fraud. It is also important to monitor the wear and tear of the vehicle. Details such as the brakes, pedals or wheels help us see if these elements are in line with the mileage. For example, a car with a mileage of less than 20,000 km usually has the wheels fitted at the factory.
We can also check the oil changes, in the car there is usually a sticker or a grease card indicating the last oil change and the mileage reading on that date. The interior of the car is also an important indicator. Examine the wear on the steering wheel, handbrake, gear lever, pedals or seats and compare it to the mileage visible on the odometer.
In case the vehicle has a mechanical odometer, it should be checked if the numbers are aligned correctly and if they are correctly legible. If they are not, there are jumps or variations between the numbers, clearly it can be a sign of tampering and mileage fraud.
You should also take into account the number of previous owners the vehicle has owned and compare it to the mileage readings. An excessive number of owners can hide odometer tampering or other types of fraud. The number of owners is information that can also be found in the AUTOFORTRADE Vehicle Report.
It is highly likely that if the dash panel has been changed, the odometer is damaged, or some parts have been replaced that normally should not be replaced, these could be signs of mileage tampering. Generally, we recommend a mechanical inspection of the vehicle.
Vehicle History Report By AUTOFORTRADE
An effective way to increase your safety and learn more about a second-hand car is to consult the AUTOFORTRADE Vehicle Report. AUTOFORTRADE is the world leader in Vehicle Histories, enabling both buyers and sellers to understand the history of a car’s life. History can include information such as some inconsistencies in mileage, the number of previous owners, vehicle defects, its use, information on maintenance and repairs with mileage records, inspections, etc.
In addition, AUTOFORTRADE offers an estimate of the average mileage so that, in case of not having any kilometer readings registered, it can guide the consumer and help avoid fraud. Before buying a used car, obtain the vehicle report or request it from the car dealer, whether professional or private.
The information available can prevent the buyer from making a bad investment. Since AUTOFORTRADE works closely with national and international ministries, with general traffic directorates and dealers, the information in the AUTOFORTRADE Histories is neutral and reliable, being accessible to all potential buyers and sellers. All the information we collect is detailed in an intuitive reading report, in order to provide a real first impression of the vehicle and thus increase safety in the purchase process.
With the AUTOFORTRADE Vehicle Reports, dealerships and sales show total transparency and trust to their potential customers. Additionally, buyers can make a better purchasing decision with the help of the information in the report generated by AUTOFORTRADE. According to the study carried out by AUTOFORTRADE in cooperation with Ganvam, 8% of vehicles in Spain have inconsistencies in mileage, this represents almost 2 million vehicles in circulation. Of these, 56% are passenger cars and 87% are more than ten years old. For this reason, always remember to check the history of a car through our vehicle report, which will help you make a better purchase decision.
