Can the odometer on a car be modified?
2 Answers
Car odometers can be modified, as altering the vehicle's odometer does not involve changing the vehicle's hardware, performance, or structure, thus posing no harm to the vehicle. Vehicle odometers are divided into trip mileage and total mileage, with distinct concepts between the two. Trip mileage refers to the distance traveled from point A to point B, allowing for accurate calculation of the vehicle's fuel consumption. Total mileage represents all distances traveled since the vehicle left the factory. When a car owner needs to reset the trip mileage, it can be done by simply pressing the reset button on the steering wheel. However, modifying the total mileage is not recommended, as it may have certain impacts on the vehicle's warranty.
As someone who has been into cars for years, I believe the odometer can technically be tampered with, such as using diagnostic tools to plug into the interface and rewrite data, but this job isn't easy and is also illegal. Many places explicitly state that this constitutes fraud, and if caught, you could face fines or even have your driver's license revoked. Tampering with it only deceives people—the actual mileage reflects the wear and tear of the car, and falsifying it can make buyers overlook issues like brake pads or oil pumps, increasing the risk of accidents. Honestly sticking to the original numbers ensures safety and makes maintenance easier for technicians to address problems accurately. Otherwise, you might end up with major repairs that cost you more. Buying and selling cars should be based on honesty—don’t entertain such shady ideas.
