No, you cannot legally or ethically roll back the miles on a new car's odometer. This act is known as odometer fraud, a federal crime in the United States under the Truth in Mileage Act of 1986. Modern digital odometers, which have been standard since the 1990s, are integrated into the vehicle's central computer system, making tampering extremely difficult and easily detectable by professionals. The intent to reset an odometer to increase a car's value is illegal and can result in severe penalties, including hefty fines and imprisonment.
While odometer rollbacks were more feasible with older mechanical odometers, today's systems are designed with anti-tampering protections. A dealership or qualified mechanic can identify discrepancies by checking for signs like:
- Service Records: Official maintenance logs stored by dealerships will show the actual mileage at each service interval.
- Electronic Control Modules (ECMs): The car's engine computer often stores a mileage reading that is difficult to alter without leaving a trace.
- Wear and Tear: Physical indicators like the condition of the brake pedal, driver's seat, and steering wheel should be consistent with the displayed mileage.
The following table outlines the potential legal consequences for odometer fraud at the federal level in the U.S.:
| Penalty Type | Consequence |
|---|
| Civil Liability | Liable for up to three times the actual damages or $10,000, whichever is greater. |
| Criminal Fines | Fines of up to $100,000 per violation for individuals. |
| Imprisonment | A prison sentence of up to three years. |
| Revocation of License | For car dealers, revocation of their license to operate. |
For a car buyer, purchasing a vehicle with a rolled-back odometer means paying an inflated price for a car that may be due for costly, mileage-based maintenance. Always obtain a vehicle history report from a service like Carfax or AutoCheck and have a trusted independent mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection.
