How to Avoid Clocking when Buying a used Car
Despite being illegal, car clocking - altering the odometer reading to suggest that a vehicle has travelled less miles than it really has - is a serious problem in the used car market. This can mean paying an excessive price for a used car - not to mention one which will begin to suffer serious mechanical wear-and-tear much earlier than expected.
Fortunately, there are several ways to reduce the risk that you will be defrauded by car clocking, also known as odometer fraud.
Car clocking refers to the practice of altering a vehicle's odometer so that it displays a misleading mileage. Georgia'sOffice of Consumer Protectionestimates that car clocking can result in $1500-$3000 being added to the price of a vehicle. In a now decade-old study, the U.S. government'sNational Highway Traffic Safety Administrationestimated that car clocking results in $1 billion in illegal profits every year, and that about 3.5 percent of decade-old cars have been rolled back at least once. Car clocking is illegal in many countries, and the U.S.Department of Justicehas a website summarizing federal and state laws banning the practice.
Used car purchasers can take several steps to reduce the chances they are unknowingly buying a car with a manipulated odometer. First,Georgia's consumer protection officesuggests you should carefully inspect the vehicle. It is a good idea to also have a mechanic do so too, since he or she will have a better idea of what to look for.
First, look for obvious evidence that the odometer has been tampered with, like marks, scratches, or missing screws. There may also be telltale signs the vehicle has aged far beyond what the odometer suggests, like wear and tear on the brake and accelerator pedals, the seats, and the floor mats. This part is where an experienced mechanic can be a handy assistant. Of course,Derbyshire County Councilwarns, these easily inspected pieces can also be easily replaced by would-be scammers.
Next, according to writerLewis Kingstonat Parkers, search the vehicle's records history. Some of this will be informal - for instance, you may notice old servicing records or oil change stickers during your inspection from step one. However, other records will be kept depending on where you live. Consider getting aCARFAX or AutoCheck reportbased on the VIN number, which will show its accident and service history.
It's also useful to insist upon getting a formal agreement disclosing the mileage at the time of sale. That won't guarantee protection from a scammer, but it will ensure that all of the (potentially fraudulent) claims are documented. If you feel particularly concerned, you could even contact earlier owners of the vehicle (if the current owner didn't buy it new) as well as the garages where it was supposedly serviced.
Most importantly, as with searching for a new car, if something doesn't feel quite right, always be prepared to walk away immediately. It will always be easier to find another car to buy later than to pay - and keep on paying - for a car you shouldn't really have bought in the first place.
