If there's something we can't stand here at the Seniors Discount Club, it's shady deals and dishonest practices — and having our hard-earned money taken from us through scams.

Unfortunately, these tricks are nothing new, and some people have been known to cross paths with unscrupulous characters in various industries, including the used car market.

Well, thankfully, there’s good news for buyers out there! Service NSW has put its foot down on dodgy dealings and introduced a new feature designed to tackle the growing issue of odometer tampering, which has quadrupled in just two years.

The free odometer check feature was launched recently for all cars that are or have been registered in New South Wales. This brilliant initiative aims to help used-vehicle buyers steer clear of odometer fraud and avoid being conned into paying more for a car that has covered more kilometres than what's displayed on the meter.

Service NSW introduced a new feature to tackle odometer tampering. Credit: Pexels/Malte Luk.

This much-needed change comes after the state handed out $113,000 in fines and issued 103 penalty notices in 2021 and 2022 for odometer tampering, compared to just 38 penalties in 2019 and 2020.

One example is the case of NSW resident David and his son, who discovered the hard way that the odometer on the 2008 Toyota Hilux they recently purchased for $26,000 had been tampered with after using the new check.

The Hilux's odometer displayed a travel record of 188,000 kilometres. However, when David checked using the Service NSW app, he found it had travelled over 250,000 kilometres. Talk about a nasty surprise!

The revelation devastated David's son, a first-time car buyer. 'He's a young guy, and he works hard. He's just an honest kid that's been ripped off,' David told a news outlet.

The NSW Minister for Roads, John Graham, expressed his confidence in the new, free check, saying it will help buyers 'take some of the power back' from swindlers in the used car market.

'Odometer tampering is illegal and a ploy used by unscrupulous sellers to misrepresent a vehicle's value and condition,’ Graham said.

‘This practice can leave victims out of pocket, which is why making this information freely accessible is great news for buyers in the used vehicle market.’

Graham added a cheeky pop culture reference, saying, 'It didn't work in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and we don't want it to happen in NSW.'

For those in the market for a used vehicle in NSW, you can run a free check on your potential purchase to learn about its make, registration, mileage and insurance. This can be done by simply visiting the Service NSW app or website.

Here’s what you need:

• your personal details,
• a summary of the issue,
• details of the vehicle,
• details of the business/seller of the vehicle,
• and any supporting documents, such as receipts, invoices, and contracts for the vehicle.

So far, four cases of odometer tampering have already been exposed through the free check.

Key Takeaways

• Service NSW has introduced a free odometer check feature to tackle the rising cases of odometer tampering in the state.
• In 2021 and 2022, the state issued $113,000 in fines and 103 penalty notices for odometer tampering, compared to just 38 penalties in 2019 and 2020.
• The new feature aims to help used-vehicle buyers avoid being tricked into paying more for a car with higher mileage than displayed on the odometer.

If you're located outside of New South Wales, and you're eyeing a car with an owner who can't provide a convincing reason for the unusually low mileage, consider obtaining a Carsales Facts+ History Report.

It’s an all-inclusive document with a detailed history of a used car. It offers you the assurance and peace of mind you need to navigate through what can often be a stressful and challenging process.

All Carsales Facts+ History Reports contain a Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) certificate and, depending on the information returned, will also show the following:

• If there is finance and money owing on the car
• If the car has ever been written off or stolen
• If there are any odometer discrepancies (possible rollback)
• Car identification
• Car description
• Market Comparison
• Registration details
• Green star rating
• ANCAP / Safety rating

Carsales Facts+ work closely with the Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) to offer comprehensive history reports for Australian used cars. With just the VIN of a used vehicle, you can quickly receive a detailed report via email within 15 minutes.

Please keep in mind that an odometer check may not be available for every report. While they gather odometer records from various sources, the information might not always be present in the report.

Their history check service is only applicable to vehicles manufactured after 1989. Unfortunately, neither PPSR nor Facts+ can provide data for vehicles built before that year.

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We hope this article has been helpful, especially for those considering purchasing a used vehicle.

While these reports can be helpful when buying a used car, we strongly advise you to examine the vehicle's service log books thoroughly and have a direct conversation with the seller before finalising the purchase. After all, it's your hard-earned money at stake!

If you have any other tips for buying used cars, we'd love to hear them. Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below!

 

[terri]

Why do we still have a situation where each state has its own regulations. We are one country and this should be the same in every state. We need national regulations on these matters.

 

[Ronloby]

We also need to name and shame those who tamper with vehicle details prior to selling a vehicle. That should also include any vehicle retailers who do the wrong thing. It amounts to defrauding a customer looking to purchase a vehicle.

 

[Luckyus]

Before buying a used car I always have it inspected by my insurers mechanics.

 

[DEL boy]

This service should be available im all states!!!