10 States Most Likely to Sell a Used Car with a Rolled Back Odometer Update

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A recent CARFAX warning identifies these 10 states as the ones that you are most likely to buy a used car from that has a rolled back odometer.

Used Car Shopping Scam

Smart used car shoppers have to go beyond the traditional tire kick and learn how to assess a used car’s value, what used car models to avoid, and how to properly inspect a used car before buying one---especially today!

With the used car market being what it is right now, the smart used car shopper also has to have his or her BS and scam radar detectors on as well to avoid scams perpetuated by unscrupulous dealerships using the most insidious used car trick that is a growing problem and is costing consumers an average of four-thousand dollars on each used car purchase: Odometer fraud.

According to a recent CARFAX study, used car shoppers need to be aware that odometer fraud is still on the rise. and this year has been especially significant with the number of scams rising among many states anywhere from approximately 1% to nearly 14% according to their latest report.

But don’t make the mistake thinking that this is limited to just used car dealerships---private sellers as well are learning the tricks of this scam trade so as to resell their used or flipped vehicles at a greater profit. And it is an easy as buying an Asian-made odometer tool on Amazon for relatively little investment.

In fact, CARFAX experts reported:

“Odometer fraud didn’t go away with the introduction of digital odometers,” said Patrick Olsen, Editor-in-Chief for CARFAX. “We’re still seeing the number of vehicles on the road with a rolled-back odometer rise year-over-year. It takes con artists only a matter of minutes to wipe thousands and thousands of miles off a vehicle’s odometer. Add to that simplicity a market where used car prices continue to run high, and it’s an enticing situation for scam artists.”

Ten States with The Most Vehicles with Rolled Back Odometers

According to CARFAX, “Roughly 2.1 million vehicles on the road have had their odometer rolled back―up 14% since 2021, or an additional 300,000 vehicles.”

That said, here is a summary of which states they have identified as having the most vehicles with rolled back odometers:

  1. California: 469,000 (up 7.2%)
  2. Texas: 277,000 (up 12.8%)
  3. New York: 100,000 (up 9%)
  4. Florida: 85,400 (up 1.4%)
  5. Illinois: 79,000 (up 7.6%)
  6. Pennsylvania: 69,600 (up 2.1%)
  7. Georgia: 67,600 (up 4.0%)
  8. Arizona: 57,000 (up 4.8%)
  9. Virginia: 56,000 (unchanged)
  10. North Carolina: 49,000 (up 8.2%)

Odometer Fraud Warning in the News

Here’s an informative video that reveals just how much of a problem this is and why it is so easy to pull off this type of scam:

How to spot odometer rollback fraud on your used vehicle

Protecting Yourself from Odometer Scams

While odometer fraud has become a high-tech problem, the good news is that it takes a relatively low-tech solution to protect yourself from an odometer scam whether from a dealership or a personal seller.

The Office of Odometer Fraud Investigation offers these odometer fraud detection tips to protect you the next time you buy a used car.

• Ask to see the title and compare the mileage on it with the vehicle’s odometer. Be sure to examine the title closely if the mileage notation seems obscured or is not easy to read.

• Compare the mileage on the odometer with the mileage indicated on the vehicle’s maintenance or inspection records. Also, search for oil change and maintenance stickers on windows or door frames, in the glove box or under the hood.

• Examine the tires. If the odometer on your car shows 20,000 or less, it should have the original tires. (You can determine if the tires are newer than the automobile by reading the origin date in the last four digits of the Department of Transportation code on the sidewall. If, for example, those digits are 1517, the tire was made during the 15th week of 2017.)

• Look at the wear and tear on the vehicle—especially the gas, brake and clutch pedals—to be sure it seems consistent with and appropriate for the number of miles displayed on the odometer.

• Request a vehicle history report (Carfax is a good source) to check for odometer discrepancies in the vehicle’s history. If the seller does not have a vehicle history report, use the car’s VIN to order a vehicle history report online.

• If you suspect fraud, contact your state’s enforcement agency.

Resources You Can Use

To protect yourself even further, here is a useful link from Carfax that can help you discover if that used car’s odometer is lying to you as well as who to contact in your state in case of odometer fraud.

For additional articles related to used car scams, here are a few for your consideration:

• This Dealership Recently Caught Scamming Car Buyers with Odometer Fraud

• Don’t Get Scammed by a Great Looking Biodegradable Mercedes Like This Guy Did

• Scam Alert: What Dealerships Don’t Want You to Know About Used Car Inspections

Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based in Cincinnati. Experienced with early car restorations, he regularly restores older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. Follow Tim on  “Zen and the Art of DIY Car Repair” website, the Zen Mechanic blog and on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites  and Facebook for daily news and topics related to new and used cars and trucks.

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