How To Check for Odometer Fraud When Buying a Used Car in Uganda

As the old saying goes, if something looks too good to be true, it probably is.
Each year, as many as a million used cars are sold in Japan to buyers in Africa Uganda clueless of the fact that their odometer readings have been tampered with. It is a crime to "turn back" the mileage on a car's odometer, but that doesn't stop the extremely common practice, made even easier on modern cars with digital odometer readouts.

I want to tell you a story of one Car Dealer who sold his 200,000 km 2006 Toyota Mark X on Trade Carview for US$5000, only to find the exact same car listed for sale just weeks later for US$7,500. The same individual who just bought a 200,000 km Toyota Mark X was now listing the car with just 70,000 miles on the clock.

So how do you tell if a used car has had its mileage "rolled back" ?

1. For older cars with traditional "analog" odometers, check the dashboard and instrument cluster area and look for signs of damage that would come with a hasty hack-job. Look at the pedals, steering wheel and shifter for signs of heavy wear that would not be consistent with a lower-mileage car. Also, look at the odometer gauge itself to see if the number dials are crooked or contain gaps.

2. Newer cars with digital odometers are a little trickier to feel out, though can be tampered with just as easily, if not easier. Still, telltale signs of wear are your best bet at spotting a dishonest car seller. If the car is showing mileage of 10,000 but has severely worn tires and brake pads, a red flag should go up right away.

3. Try to obtain a history report on the vehicle. You will be able to compare the mileage since the last time the car was registered until the current condition;

4. Look at the Export Certificate of that car Or Inspection Certificate - if the seller can't present one, you shouldn't be buying the car anyway , and compare mileage as of the date listed on the Export certificate with current mileage. Better still, ask for repair or maintenance records, which will also list the car's actual indicated mileage at the time the car was serviced.

5. If you have been a victim of odometer fraud, you do have a right to file a complaint directly to the Japanese Car Exporter and genuine Car dealers will always compensate cheated customers on the damages due to an incorrectly valued used car;

Whether buying a used car from a Car Exporter or private source, you should use the same high level of care and common sense that you would with any other expensive purchase.

Don't become a victim of odometer fraud, and if you do, follow through with the power of self education through awareness, and if for nothing else than to prevent the same thief from scamming someone else.