carVertical study links vehicle damage to odometer fraud

A study by carVertical involving vehicle histories from 18 countries, including Romania, reveals that damaged vehicles are 1.5 times more likely to have had their mileage rolled back compared to undamaged ones.

In Romania, 8.7% of cars with a recorded history of damage also had modified mileage, whereas only 5.9% of cars without a damage history showed such discrepancies. Furthermore, 67.1% of vehicles in Romania with rolled-back odometers had a history of damage, compared to 57.6% of those with authentic mileage.

Across the 18 analyzed countries, 61% of vehicles with modified odometers had recorded damage, while only 47.8% of vehicles with authentic mileage had such records. Experts suggest that sellers may use illegal methods, such as reducing mileage after repairs, to increase a vehicle's market value and attractiveness to buyers.