Check Your Mileage: Many Cars With Rolled-Back Odometers Are on the Roads

California drivers are being urged to take a closer look at their odometers. New data from Carfax shows that odometer fraud is increasing across the country, with an estimated 2.45 million vehicles on U.S. roads displaying mileage that has been rolled back. That figure represents a 14% increase compared to last year.

According to KTLA, California leads the nation by a wide margin, accounting for nearly 22% of those vehicles—about 532,200 cars. Texas ranks second with roughly 333,900 affected vehicles, followed by Florida with about 109,000.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that more than 450,000 vehicles are sold each year with falsified odometer readings. For consumers, the financial consequences can be substantial. Carfax reports that buyers lose an average of $3,300 in value when they unknowingly purchase a vehicle with altered mileage, not including the added repair costs that can come from hidden wear and tear. Incorrect mileage can also affect loan terms and insurance premiums.

Carfax says consumers can reduce their risk by checking a vehicle’s mileage history using its VIN or license plate at carfax.com/odometer.

The states with the highest number of vehicles showing rolled-back odometers, according to Carfax, are:

California: 532,200
Texas: 333,900
Florida: 109,000
New York: 104,000
Illinois: 92,500
Pennsylvania: 77,400
Georgia: 76,700
Virginia: 74,000
Arizona: 69,000
North Carolina: 59,000

Cases of odometer fraud can involve elaborate schemes. In September, CBS News reported that two brothers in Maryland were sentenced to prison for defrauding car buyers out of $1.2 million. Prosecutors said that between 2016 and 2019, the pair rolled back vehicle mileages by an average of 124,000 miles, causing consumers to significantly overpay for used cars that were near or beyond their expected lifespan.

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