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If you buy a used car, you have to be very careful that you don't end up with a scammer. It's not just private sellers who tend to portray the car as better or more valuable than it really is. Unfortunately, there are also enough dubious dealers who, among other things, manipulate the display on the speedometer to their advantage. “How to protect yourself from speedometer fraud” is therefore definitely an important topic.
Put a stop to swindlers
Most dubious sellers assume that you are not interested in articles that have the title “How to protect yourself from speedometer fraud”. That's why more and more fraudsters are becoming careless when manipulating the speedometer. This is exactly the opportunity for informed and attentive buyers to uncover the fraud and look for another seller or car.
Did you already know that on average every third used car has a defect that the seller would prefer to keep quiet? This fact alone says a lot about how exactly buyers should examine the car and all the existing key data. First of all, don't believe anyone, do your own research. If you come across a dishonest dealer during a purchase who wants to sell you a car for too much money and under false pretenses, you should call in the police. This way you can protect not only yourself, but also other unsuspecting customers from being ripped off when buying a car.
The odometer reading - an important factor when buying
Who valuable a used car Ultimately, it depends primarily on the age and condition of the car. The more often the trolley has been used, the more likely it is that components are already worn or will still wear out. This is precisely why the odometer reading is so important when evaluating a car. So it makes sense to take a look at this number under the dashboard before you strike.
Sellers take advantage of this fact by changing the odometer reading. In plain language, this means: It is led to believe that the car has been driven much less often or over much shorter distances than is actually the case. This procedure definitely counts as fraud, because the meter reading of the speedometer may expressly not be changed by hand. Unfortunately, not everyone adheres to this.
Recognize the first clues immediately
If a car costs far too little at first glance, then you should be skeptical per se. Sometimes the current owner doesn't know the real value of the car and has actually miscalculated. In that case, you could be getting a real bargain. However, a price that is too low can also indicate that the seller is hiding something from you. A fake odometer reading is particularly common in this context. Take a close look at the car: Does the external condition correspond to the mileage? If not, it may be because the car has not been well maintained or has been permanently parked outside in poor conditions. But it could also be the wrong odometer reading.
Take a closer look at the interior of the car
You can also protect yourself against fraud by taking a closer look at the inside of the car. There are various places here that age very quickly with frequent use. The best example in this context: the steering wheel looks worn. This can happen when a car has passed through multiple hands or has been driven frequently. A problem only arises when the mileage does not match the worn steering wheel. The coating on the pedals is also worth a second look. Since it is quite dark in the footwell, you should shine there with a smartphone or a flashlight. Do the pedals look badly worn? In this case, too, a low odometer reading does not fit into the picture.
service book says more than a thousand words
If the private or commercial dealer cannot give you a service booklet or at least show you, you should be skeptical per se. If you look into the service booklet, you would probably quickly notice that the data does not match the car on offer. This is exactly why scammers are not interested in giving you this document. In this case, too, do not be dazzled by nice words from the seller or excuses, but rather refrain from buying.
If you are given the service booklet, you can view the mileage and the corresponding date in detail. Do the entries appear authentic? And do they even match the odometer reading in the vehicle and the information in the advertisement? If so, everything is fine. If there is anything unclear, ask the seller specifically.
Of course, you can easily falsify a service booklet or its contents. Therefore, take a close look at both the entries themselves and the stamp. Does the print still look brand new, even though the maintenance intervals were long and the first entries were made years ago? In that case, caution is advised.
Insist on written evidence
If you want to be on the safe side, simply have the seller confirm in writing that he is speaking the truth. The actual mileage - i.e. the speedometer reading - must be part of the contract. The sales contract, in turn, has to be signed by the buyer and seller. Of course, you can never be completely sure that the seller will provide false information here as well. But many fraudsters shy away from including this content in the contract if they have something to hide.
Experts ask for advice
If you want to be absolutely sure that the display on the speedometer is correct, you should visit a workshop before making your final purchase. After a short check, the on-site specialist can tell you whether the odometer reading is fake or correct. If the seller has something against this measure, you should refrain from buying. In principle, it is also possible to have the speedometer checked at the workshop only after it has been purchased. If it is actually fraud, you have the right to withdraw from the contract anyway.
In that case, however, you should be absolutely sure that the information about the seller is correct. Otherwise it will be difficult to find them. In addition, it can happen that the seller does not simply take back the car, but denies the tampering with the speedometer. Then you would face the legal path. If the case goes to court, it can be expensive and tedious. And all of this just to end up without a new car? So it is better to have the speedometer checked by a specialist right away and only then get involved in the trade.
Digital tools for testing the vehicle
If you do not want to drive to the workshop, nor are you sure about the external and internal signs of the true age of the car, then only one thing can help: digital vehicle diagnostics. In order to be able to do this, the car must still be relatively new. The diagnosis cannot be carried out on a vintage or youngtimer. There are adapters on the market that enable laypersons to access the electronics on board the car. With the help of an associated app, you can then find out what the real mileage of the car is. Practical: In the course of this, other facts can also be found out. The error memory covers some weak points that the seller might want to hide from you.
In all of the above measures to protect against speedometer fraud, one principle always applies: The measures can only be carried out if the private or commercial seller cooperates with you. When it comes to the topic of “How to protect yourself from speedometer fraud”, one thing is ultimately important. You have to have a good feeling about the seller. Ultimately, buying a used car is always a matter of trust.