Where to Check the Actual Mileage of a Car?
2 Answers
Car's actual mileage can be checked through an OBD computer or via the maintenance records at a 4S store. Below is relevant information about car mileage: 1. Introduction: The car odometer displays the vehicle's speed in km/h (kilometers per hour). It consists of two gauges: a speedometer and an odometer. It is generally located directly in front of the driver's position. Identification methods include determining wear and tear or checking the vehicle's maintenance records at a 4S store. 2. Principle: Traditional speedometers are mechanical. A typical mechanical odometer is connected to a flexible shaft containing a steel cable. The other end of the flexible shaft is connected to a gear in the transmission. The rotation of the gear drives the steel cable to rotate, which in turn rotates a magnet inside the odometer's housing. The housing is connected to the pointer and, via a hairspring, positions the pointer at zero. The speed of the magnet's rotation affects the magnitude of the magnetic field lines, disrupting the balance and thereby moving the pointer.
I remember when I first considered buying a used car, checking the actual mileage was the biggest headache. Based on my experience, I take a multi-pronged approach: First, use the vehicle's VIN to check on a vehicle history report website like Carfax, which shows mileage updates over the past few years. Second, don't overlook maintenance records—every service visit to a dealership logs the mileage, so flipping through the manual or contacting the original dealer can reveal this. Third, during the test drive, personally observe if the odometer runs smoothly; if the numbers jump inconsistently, it might have been tampered with. Fourth, some local transportation authority websites offer free queries—just enter the license plate, and they pull data from annual inspections. Fifth, purchase a used diagnostic tool or scan with an app, but make sure to choose a reliable paid service. Relying on just one method is prone to errors. Last year, I helped a friend check a used car: the VIN report showed 150,000 km, but the maintenance records indicated only 80,000 km. We eventually uncovered odometer fraud, which was a huge help.
