Tampering odometer readings in cars is not too complicated, and yet it is hard for an ordinary consumer to tell whether the mileage has been manipulated. Therefore, it is important to check the odometer reading from a reliable source before making the purchase.
A study conducted by the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom reveals that in Finland, odometer manipulation is rare, but there are indications of such manipulation in 5 to 17 per cent of imported used cars.
Check odometer readings for Finnish cars at Traficom
When buying a car, you should always verify the real odometer reading from a reliable source before completing the deal. In Finland, odometer readings are entered into Traficom's Transport Register in connection with inspections. Anyone can view the data using Traficom’s e-Services. Logged in users can see the most recent odometer reading for free. A more extensive history is subject to a fee.
International information exchange combats odometer tampering
If you are about to buy an imported used car, remember to check its odometer and maintenance history. You can check the data using online services provided by the registration authority at the country of origin or by requesting relevant documents from the seller of the car. Car dealers are obliged to provide all available information that may affect the price of the vehicle or the decision to buy it. If you are buying a car and suspect any criminal activity, contact the police by, for instance, reporting the suspected offence online at poliisi.fi (External link).
In cross-border car sales, preventing odometer fraud requires active exchange of information between countries. Traficom is looking into the possibility to have the odometer readings recorded in the car's country of origin entered into the Transport Register when the car is registered in Finland. This would help those buying a car verify the car’s history in a reliable manner and increase the fraudsters’ risk of getting caught. As a result, it would serve as a preventive measure for odometer tampering.
In autumn 2018, the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom studied the extent of odometer tampering both in passenger cars and vans registered for the first time in Finland and used passenger cars and vans imported to Finland. Imported cars were examined by conducting a joint pilot study with three European countries (the Netherlands, Belgium and Estonia). Overall, reduced mileages between inspections turned out to be rather rare in cars in use in Finland (0.6%). However, for cars imported to Finland, the figure rises to 5–17 per cent.
Enquiries
Elsa Paasilinna, Development Manager, tel. +358 29 5346 391, elsa.paasilinna(at)traficom.fi, Twitter: @ElsaPaasilinna (External link)
Tapio Oikarainen, Development Manager, tel. +358 29 5347 313, tapio.oikarainen(at)traficom.fi, Twitter: @oikarain (External link)
Odometer tampering in passenger cars and vans - Traficom Research Reports 17/2019 (in Finnish)