Used car buyers face challenges with odometer fraud detection

A study by carVertical reveals that 75.8% of European used car buyers do not know how to report odometer fraud. The survey, covering nearly 8,000 drivers across 18 countries, indicates that most consumers are unaware of their legal protections or how to recover lost funds. In Portugal, carVertical found that 3.78% of analyzed vehicles showed signs of mileage tampering, with an average reduction of 92,900 kilometers. Approximately 30.3% of European buyers have already purchased a vehicle with tampered mileage or know someone who has.

In Brazil, the Detran-SP agency allows buyers in São Paulo to consult previous vehicle inspection readings using a license plate and Renavam number. This free service enables consumers to compare current dashboard readings with historical inspection data. However, authorities note that a discrepancy does not independently prove fraud, as the records only reflect specific inspection milestones rather than continuous tracking. The tool is intended as a verification aid to identify inconsistencies that require clarification before a purchase is finalized.