Nearly 2,500,000 used cars potentially have a fake mileage so this is how to spot them

Nearly 2.5 million used cars in the US are believed to have a fake mileage on their odometers – here’s how you can spot them.

We all remember the dishonest sales tactics of Mr. Wormwood in Matilda, when he would tamper with the odometers to bring them down.

Well, it turns out that this practice isn’t cosigned to the pages of Roald Dahl books – millions of cars are on the roads with false mileages.

So, here’s what to look out for so you don’t fall victim to this sadly common scam.

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Here’s what to look out for with fake mileage cars

New data from Carfax has shown that cars with fake mileage have increased in number by 14 percent since last year.

And that’s a bigger leap than it sounds – the year before only saw a 4 percent rise.

Why is this a concern?

Beyond it being straight-up dishonest and illegal to roll back a car’s odometer and sell it on, it can cause a lot of problems down the line.

If you buy a car thinking it’s got a low mileage, but it actually has high mileage, you’re in for a lot of mechanical issues – and a loss of $3,300 in value on average.

You don’t want to find yourself in this predicament, so here’s how to protect yourself.

First of all – get a full vehicle history report and check the mileage across titles, inspections, and service records.

When numbers aren’t lining up, that should be the first red flag.

There’s also physical clues that can tip you off to foul play – the pedals being more worn than they should be, or sagging seats.

If you get a trusted mechanic to give it a look over, you can give yourself some extra reassurance when shopping used cars.

Carfax also has an online tool which can save you a lot of hassle, and all you have to do is enter the car’s VIN.

It’s important to be informed when it comes to your car

Some states are being hit worse by this fake mileage epidemic, with Montana and Tennessee seeing 33 percent and 30 percent yearly increases respectively.

It’s a worrying trend, so it’s important that people be vigilant when it comes to buying used cars.

In fact, it’s important to be in the know when it comes to your car in general – whether it’s noises coming from the engine or prepping for the freezing temperatures of winter.

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