A new study reveals that over 75 percent of European used car buyers would not know where to report odometer fraud. In Spain, more than three percent of checked vehicles showed signs of tampering, with little hope for financial recovery.
For many used car buyers, discovering a manipulated odometer is not just a financial setback—it’s a situation they are rarely prepared to address. According to a comprehensive study by carVertical, 75.8 percent of European drivers admit they would not know where to report a vehicle with falsified mileage. Even more telling, 87.3 percent have little or no confidence they could ever recover their lost money.
Spanish buyers face similar challenges. Between September 2024 and August 2025, carVertical’s Market Transparency Index found that 3.25 percent of Spanish vehicles checked on the platform showed signs of odometer rollback. When fraud was detected, the average reduction was 89,400 kilometers, significantly distorting a car’s value and maintenance history.
According to European Commission estimates, odometer fraud causes annual losses of around 9.6 billion euros across Europe, with cross-border used car sales being particularly vulnerable.
The issue extends beyond the act of fraud itself. Nearly a third of respondents across 18 European countries said they had either personally bought a car with a manipulated odometer or knew someone who had. Another 31.8 percent were unsure if they had ever encountered such a vehicle, while only 38 percent felt confident that neither they nor anyone in their circle had been affected.
Legal recourse is often unclear. Spain lacks a law specifically targeting odometer tampering, but deliberately altering mileage for profit can be prosecuted as fraud under Article 248 of the Penal Code. Despite this, 45.1 percent of surveyed buyers did not know the maximum penalty, and 7.1 percent believed the practice was not illegal. Only 28 percent recognized prison as a possible consequence, while 19.8 percent mentioned a minor fine. In total, 72 percent of participants failed to correctly identify the legal risks associated with this type of deception.
In Spain, recent reviews indicate that about one in twelve used cars may have a manipulated odometer, and in the first seven months of 2026, 2% of checked vehicles showed mileage discrepancies. The absence of a unified European mileage database makes it easier for fraudsters to exploit cross-border vehicle sales.
After fraud is discovered, most buyers are left without clear options. The study found that 43 percent have no faith in recovering their losses, and another 44.3 percent have little confidence. The lack of clear reporting channels and fragmented vehicle histories—especially for cars that have crossed borders—make it even harder for consumers to take action. As Matas Buzelis of carVertical notes, legal rights are of little use if buyers do not know how to exercise them.
There are a few essential steps to help avoid odometer fraud. Checking the dashboard reading alone is not enough. Buyers should cross-reference mileage with maintenance invoices, inspection records, and any available documentation. Signs of excessive wear on steering wheels, pedals, or seats that do not match the declared mileage should raise immediate suspicion. The study also highlights the need for better information sharing between European countries, as fragmented records make it easier for fraud to go undetected when vehicles move across borders.
Before finalizing a purchase, experts recommend verifying the car’s history and comparing the declared mileage with multiple sources. This approach can help spot inconsistencies before money changes hands. For further context on automotive industry risks, the recent recall of over 183,000 vehicles in China due to safety concerns shows that transparency and consumer protection remain pressing issues across the sector.
Odometer fraud is a widespread vulnerability that leaves buyers exposed and largely unsupported. The lack of awareness about where to report such crimes, combined with fragmented vehicle records and limited legal knowledge, creates an environment where deception thrives. Until authorities and industry players address these gaps, used car buyers will continue to shoulder the risk, often with little hope of justice or compensation.
