Detecting speedometer manipulation
Are you planning to buy a used car? To avoid any unpleasant surprises, you should check the condition of the vehicle as well as the mileage. Because speedometer manipulation is a common scam. You can find out here how to protect yourself from high repair costs due to a falsified speedometer and how to uncover speedometer manipulation even as a layman.
Why is odometer manipulation a problem in used cars?
The mileage and thus the mileage are important when it comes to determining the sales value of a used car. Because the more kilometers a car has driven, the more signs of wear and tear it usually shows. And these affect the value of the used car. The problem: Fraudsters manipulate speedometers so that the displayed mileage is lower than the actual mileage. With this common scam when buying a car, they want to increase the sales price.
According to police information, about one in three used cars has a speedometer manipulation. However, criminal prosecution is difficult because the legal situation is not clear throughout Europe. Although an EU regulation was passed in 2017 to protect against odometer manipulation, it is only considered a criminal offence in a few EU countries such as Germany or France. In these countries, proven odometer manipulation can result in a fine or up to a year in prison.
The EU regulation states: The mileage is to be protected by technical solutions for new vehicle models since September 2017 and for all new cars since September 2018. According to the ADAC, however, this regulation does not yet take effect - because the traffic club found out in a random test that odometer manipulation is still possible even in new vehicles. All that is required is software and hardware such as a speedometer manipulation device, which is freely available on the Internet.
What are the consequences of odometer manipulation?
Speedometer manipulation causes a high level of economic damage – according to expert estimates, this amounts to around six billion euros per year in Germany. On average, used car buyers pay 3,000 euros more than the car is actually worth due to odometer manipulation. In addition, a manipulated mileage represents a safety risk – for example, if buyers are not correctly informed about service intervals according to mileage. This can lead to the erroneous assumption that there is still time to replace certain vehicle parts according to the mileage, such as the timing belt or the brake pads, and that the risk of accidents increases.
If change intervals are exceeded due to speedometer manipulation, this can become a danger in road traffic. The reason: Many car parts have to be replaced regularly according to mileage. If, for example, the brake pads are too worn, they no longer work properly. Therefore, the ZDK, Central Association of the German Motor Vehicle Trade, recommends having brake pads checked annually - regardless of the mileage. Exceeding the change interval can also cause expensive follow-up costs. If, for example, the timing belt breaks, there is a risk of major engine damage. This is because important valves and pistons are usually damaged in the process.
How can odometer manipulation be detected and proven?
Speedometer manipulation is difficult to prove – often even for specialist workshops and experts. But don't worry: Even laymen can do something to determine whether the mileage has been turned back. Because there are various ways to detect speedometer manipulation.
How to recognize speedometer manipulation
- Checkbook: Check the information in the checkbook for discrepancies. The car has driven an average of 12,000 kilometers per year – but significantly less in a year? This can either indicate that the car has simply been used less often in a year. Or that the speedometer was manipulated. In this case, ask the seller why the mileage is different. If the checkbook looks too new and all signatures and data have the same handwriting, it is probably a forgery.
- Reports: Check the HU and MOT reports as well as maintenance and repair reports for any abnormalities. In this way, you also protect yourself from camouflaged total losses. These reports are not available? Then contact the responsible workshop. It stores all necessary data such as repair history and mileage digitally. This allows you to track the last documented mileage and uncover discrepancies due to possible speedometer manipulation.
- Sticker: Check all the stickers in the engine compartment that indicate inspections, mileage, and the date of the inspection performed. The oil change sticker says that the next oil change is due at 160,000 kilometers - but the car supposedly only has a mileage of 100,000 kilometers? This is striking and may indicate that the mileage has been turned back. Because an oil change is due after 40,000 kilometers at the latest.
Checking the general condition of the vehicle
The general condition of the vehicle can also give an indication of the mileage. Cars with a high mileage also have higher wear and tear. This is often reflected in worn pedal rubbers or the gear shift bag. However, such parts are easy to replace. If they look very new to a used car, this may indicate that they have recently been renewed – but this does not necessarily indicate that the mileage has been turned back.
Indications of possible speedometer manipulation:
- Worn pads with low mileage
- Signs of wear on the steering wheel with low mileage
Detecting and detecting odometer manipulation | mobile.de
How to protect yourself when buying a used car
To protect yourself when buying a used car, insist on "actual mileage" and not "mileage according to the speedometer" as the information in the purchase contract. This is because the latter information is largely non-binding and does not provide any information about the actual mileage of the used car. You can also carry out a used car check with an expert or in a test centre and have the mileage checked there. Another way to protect yourself when buying a used car: Contact the previous owner and ask about the mileage when selling. You can find the details of the previous owner in the vehicle registration document, the registration certificate part 2.
Have odometer manipulation checked at the workshop appointment
You doubt that the mileage of your car is correct? Then have it checked in a specialist workshop. Professionals can also read out the maintenance interval memory. Some car manufacturers also store this data in the ignition key – a fact that hackers often forget when manipulating the odometer. In this case, the fraud is discovered during the inspection in a specialist workshop.
If there is a suspicion of manipulation, the workshop can also determine the production date of the speedometer and other control units. If these are younger than the production date of the vehicle, they have been replaced afterwards. In this case, the previous owner must be able to prove that the vehicle parts were replaced due to a defect. He can't prove that? Then the suspicion of speedometer manipulation is confirmed.
What can I do in case of fraud?
If the speedometer is demonstrably lower than the actual mileage and the seller knows about the manipulation of the mileage without informing the buyer, this is fraudulent deception. In this case, in addition to the avoidance due to fraudulent misrepresentation within the scope of the statutory warranty, you have the option of withdrawing from the purchase contract. In the case of used cars, the seller can limit this warranty to twelve months – but it only applies to purchases from a commercial dealer. After you have withdrawn from the purchase contract, you can demand that the seller repay the purchase price. In the event of proven odometer manipulation, you can also claim damages.
An example: You bought a used car for 10,000 euros, the mileage of which the seller stated as 100,000 kilometers. After the purchase, it turns out that the real mileage is 200,000 kilometers. In this case, the vehicle is only worth 5,000 euros and you are entitled to compensation for the difference.
Once the statutory warranty period has expired, it is more difficult to prove the attempted fraud by tampering with the odometer. The statute of limitations for fraud is five years. During this time, the car had several previous owners? In this case, it is unfortunately almost impossible to prove an attempt at deception, as any previous owner can be a suspect. If you suspect speedometer manipulation, it is therefore best to invoke the legal warranty in the first six months after purchase. This is because during this time, the seller has the burden of proof that there was no material defect in the sale.
On the other hand, do you suspect that the speedometer has been manipulated in the case of a private purchase? Then special caution is required. The reason: In the case of private car sales, the right of return is not always given - because private sellers can explicitly exclude the warranty. If you suspect that the mileage has been turned back, listen to your gut feeling and don't get involved in the business.
How is the mileage manipulated?
Professionals can turn back the mileage within a few minutes. In older vehicle models, the mileage on the kilometre roller is turned back mechanically with a drill, for example. Sometimes it is replaced completely and a speedometer with low mileage is used instead.
In newer cars, on the other hand, the odometer manipulation can be carried out electronically. This procedure is more difficult to detect than replacing the speedometer, because it leaves no obvious traces on the vehicle. Another problem: The speedometer manipulation devices and the required software are freely available and easy to use. A speedometer blocker is often difficult to prove. This makes it easy for fraudsters.
But speedometers are not only doctored before the sale of a used car. Mileage readings are also manipulated during use – for example, if the workshop adopts the wrong data from the vehicle's history. The result: the mileage of the vehicle appears lower. In addition to used car buyers, leasing companies, for example, are also affected by odometer manipulation, which is cheated on mileage.
source : Detecting and detecting odometer manipulation | mobile.de