How Can You Determine the Accurate Miles on a Used Car?
When you start looking for used cars to buy, it’s very important to know the accurate odometer readings to determine the price of the car. Unfortunately, many deceptive sellers will roll back the odometer to show a lower reading to get a better price for the car.
If you don’t know How to tell how many miles a car has without odometer, you can ask the dealership to check the mileage. You can ask the dealership to do the following things to show you the accurate mileage reading.
1. Odometer scanning tool
Newer vehicle stores the individual data from each car component together in the OBD or Onboard Diagnostics Port. When you plug in an odometer scanning tool, the OBD will show you every odometer reading it has recorded. You can ask the dealership to use their advanced scanning tools to show you the odometer history.
The dealers are not exempt seller disclosure in California, so if they refuse to scan the OBD, it’s best to avoid working with them. If you want a third party to check the car, you can also take it to a mechanic who offers odometer scanning services.
2. Car Key data
If the car has a remote car key, it will most likely store the odometer data in a chip inside it. You can ask the dealership to scan the key and print the odometer report from the key.
Altering the odometer reading from the key is usually much harder, so the car key data is very reliable.
3. Maintenance records
Any used car that is older than a year will likely have a few maintenance records for services like an oil change, filter change etc. Each maintenance data includes the odometer reading from that date.
You can ask the dealership to provide you with the maintenance records so that you can compare the past odometer readings with the current ones. If the dealership does not have the papers, you can also check maintenance records from a car history report.
4. Online vehicle telematics
Newer vehicles are equipped with technology which uploads the odometer data to the company’s server. You can access this data through the company’s online telematics using the vehicles’ VIN.
If you don’t know how to tell how many miles a car has without odometer, this is the best way to find out.
In conclusion
Dealers are not exempt from seller disclosure in California, so they are legally required to disclose any discrepancy in the odometer reading. But if they don’t disclose it, and you find that there is a discrepancy between the odometer reading and the odometer data, it’s best to avoid buying that car.
If you find out about the discrepancy after buying the car, you can hire an expert attorney from Allen Stewart and take legal action against the seller.
Andrew Richardson is the author of this Article. To know more about Historical odometer record please visit our website: allenstewart.com
