And cars up to 5 years old can have the mileage returned. Expert: “Buyers shouldn't make decisions based on emotions”

When buying a relatively new used car, drivers expect to use it for the next few years without experiencing any major problems. Although most people expect only old vehicles to have mileage returned, a recent study proves otherwise.

And cars up to 5 years old have the mileage returned. Pexels photo

An analysis of data on mileage fraud in Romania for cars produced between 2000 and 2023 showed that the vehicles with the highest risk are those produced in 2009, but cases of mileage falsification were also discovered in cars manufactured in 2021, or 2022 and even in 2023.

Even though newer cars have less mileage returned, they are still affected by this problem: Of all vehicles manufactured in 2021, 1.7% had the mileage rolled back, 1.3% for those produced in 2022, and 1.5% for 2023.A car with returned mileage is always worth less than the seller's asking price, which means that drivers risk paying more when purchasing such vehicles. The more expensive the car, the greater the financial losses for the new owner.” say auto experts who specialize in car background checks.

In Romania, the models manufactured in 2000 had an average mileage of 107,200 km. Newer cars also show significant mileage reductions: 73,000 km on average for 2020 models, 83,000 km for 2021 models, 29,800 km for 2022 models and 35,200 km for 2023 models.

With this in mind, used car buyers should always take extra precautions when making a new purchase. It is important to know that some rogue sellers reduce the mileage more often, but do not reduce it more than what is recorded in the MOT certificates or official records. However, even if the previous owner kept the mileage relatively low, other components of the car may reveal the true mileage.

“Mileage is recorded by several car components. In some vehicles there may be as many as 100 different components recording the mileage readings. That's why it's crucial to check the car's history in authorized service centers as well. Even “clean” reports deserve a second check, so buyers shouldn't make decisions based on emotion”, explained carVertical auto expert Matas Buzelis.

The older the car, the more likely it is to have had accidents

The study also showed that in Romania, cars produced between 2008 and 2016 suffered the most damage: 62-63% of all vehicles manufactured during this period and checked on specialized websites had accident records.

Even newer cars are frequently involved in accidents: of all vehicles manufactured in 2021, 45.3% had records of damage, 45.4% for those in 2022, and 51.8% for those in 2023. The amount of damage to newer cars is significantly higher due to the expensive parts and advanced technologies they are equipped with. While the average repair cost for 2000 models was 1,700 euros, for 2020 models it reached 3,700 euros, and for 2023 models to 7,900 euros.

“A bent bumper or minor scratches do not affect the quality of the driving experience. However, if a car has been involved in a serious accident, its condition should be assessed very carefully. Some of these vehicles can pose a danger not only to the driver, but also to other road users“, explains Buzelis.

Study data from Romania and other European countries confirm that, regardless of age, the mileage of any vehicle can be manipulated and its accident history can be hidden.

Buzelis recommends that before buying a used car, it should be checked for history and inspected at an authorized service center. A common myth among drivers is that modern, new vehicles cannot be run on mileage. In reality, with the right tools, both old and relatively new cars can have their mileage tampered with.

“Fraudsters often target newer cars with high mileage because they can make more money by giving them back the mileage. The data proves this: mileage adjustments on newer cars are often higher than on older cars“says Buzelis.