If you are planning to buy a used car or truck, one thing you should look out for is odometer tampering. Often, people try to increase the car’s resale value by tampering the Odometer. There are different means by which fraudsters alter the Analog or Digital Odometer to hide facts regarding car’s mileage. Anyway, there are ways and means to detect and find out if there has been any foul play.  Here are a few tips you may follow to identify any tampering in Analog or Digital Odometer.

Tips to detect Odometer Tampering

Analog Odometer Tampering Signs:

Relatively older Used Cars will possess an Analog Odometer. Here are the signs you should look for in Analog Odometers:

• Check whether you see any misaligned digits. Check closely for numbers of larger denomination.
• Check if there are any screws missing in the dashboard near the gauge cluster
• Check whether the dashboard is used or whether it is new. Check whether the instrument panel has been replaced.

Digital Odometer Tampering Signs:

Most modern vehicles possess a Digital Odometer. Here are a few signs which will reveal to you digital tampering.

• Examine car tires with regard to wear and tear, if the four tires match one another as well as the original company sales specifications.
•  Inspect the seat, gas pedal, brake pedal and upholstery deterioration.
•  Conduct an automobile history report which reveals the automobile’s paper trail since it pertains to odometer issues, accidents, title brand as well as frame damage.
•  Conduct an engine as well as transmission fluid analysis. Experts examine the fluid by parts-per-million, evaluating data comparing with original maker’s specifications to determine how the car was maintained.
•  By carrying out these inspections, you can determine if an automobile’s engine or transmission parts have been raced, overheated, filled with additives to conceal mechanical issues or flooded.

Some additional checks which will help you ensure that you are getting value for your money are also mentioned.

• If you are planning to buy a certain Used Car, make sure to get it checked by a trusted mechanic.
• Take a test drive of the car. During the test drive, check whether the Odometer sticks.
• Check whether the car has any service stickers of oil change or tune up. These may reveal the car’s true age.
• Look out for the vehicle’s title. See whether the mileage seems altered on the title.
• Also check for the date when the title was issued. See whether the car was sold as soon as the title was issued. This might as well raise a red flag.
• Check for signs of wear and deterioration all over the vehicle. Check the carpets, dashboard, upholstery, arm rests, seats, pedals and steering wheels. Often they reveal the true age of the car.

If you detect any flaw or signs of fraud, it is always better to avoid the deal. Fraudsters tamper with the Odometer to increase the car’s resale value and make it appear relatively new. Cars with tampered Odometers have a very high chance of being cars which have had a troublesome history. Buying cars without conducting the proper checks may make you pay heavily on repairs later. These minor checks and words of caution can save you a great deal of money.

The Quick Fix

The intelligent buyer decides what he wants in advance and asks the relevant questions to get answers to his satisfaction.  Salesmen want to hurry the buyer into closing a deal at the earliest and make all kinds of promises to secure the order.  His ammunition consists of one-time offers, haggling, and promises for on-the-spot delivery.  The customer should state what he wants and what kind of money he is willing to spend.  If they have what the customer wants, fine.  If not, there are other sellers.

Staying Guarded

When at a car dealer’s showroom, the buyer should try and stick to just one auto professional, instead of being shunted between different people.  The astute buyer is one that decides who would be the best person to provide him with the information he is seeking and only approach him.

Car dealer scams to avoid

1. Advertising Gimmicks

Most car dealers make tall claims and promises with extras thrown in for good measure and display a great looking model to attract customers.  The customer is in for a surprise when he arrives at the showroom and is shown a lesser model and is coerced into buying it.  The smart customer should just walk away from such a trap.

2. The Hidden Bill

Prior to signing anything, the shrewd car buyer must ensure there are no hidden extras added to the final invoice.  He should read through the details to make sure the regular add ons like rust-proofing, extra-cleaning, alarms, fabric protection, etc are not being charged as extras.  The auto dealer will charge very steeply for doing the VIN (Vehicle Information Number) etching too.  It is far cheaper if the buyer gets a DIY kit and makes it at home.

3. Being held at ransom

The buyer needs to beware of auto professionals who ask for their current car keys to “test-drive” or use some such excuse to keep the buyer from escaping their sales pitch.

The surge in customer complaints against used-car dealers and their salesmen is on the rise.  Also, car sales volumes have dipped and are expected to decline over the next couple of years.  It is a daunting task for the dealers to ensure they get their customers to return.

The wise buyer should also seek his loan officer’s advice on how much he can prudently spend before buying a new car.