Odometer Fraud in Australia: How to Detect and Avoid It
Odometer fraud — also called "clocking" — is the deliberate alteration of a vehicle's odometer to show a lower mileage than the vehicle has actually travelled. It is illegal under Australian Consumer Law, but it remains a persistent problem in the private used vehicle market.
How Odometer Fraud Works
Modern digital odometers cannot be physically "rolled back" the way older analogue odometers could with a drill. However, digital odometers can be altered using specialised diagnostic equipment. Fraudsters can connect to the vehicle's OBD-II port (the same port a mechanic uses for diagnostics) and, with the right software, modify the stored odometer value across multiple electronic control units.
A professional odometer rollback can be done in under an hour for a few hundred dollars and can add $5,000–$20,000 to a vehicle's market value by reducing perceived kilometres.
Who Is at Risk
Odometer fraud most commonly affects:
How to Detect Odometer Fraud
Check the Service History
Every service record contains the odometer reading at the time of service. If the recorded readings are inconsistent — going backwards or showing large unexplained gaps — this is a major red flag.
Check for Inconsistent Wear
The physical condition of the vehicle should be consistent with the claimed mileage:
Request the Online Service History
Many manufacturers and dealerships maintain online service records. Toyota, Mazda, Holden, and others have service history lookup tools. If the dealer's records don't match the presented history, investigate.
Run an Odometer Verification Check
Our National VIN Check Gold report ($29.95) includes odometer verification data — cross-referencing the presented odometer reading against historical records including previous service checks, state inspection records, and WOVR inspection data.
The Registration Inspection Record
State roadworthy/safety inspection records include odometer readings. If these are available, cross-reference them against the claimed reading.
What to Do If You Suspect Fraud
1. Do not purchase the vehicle
2. Document everything — photographs of the odometer, the VIN, and the listing
3. Report to the ACCC or your state's consumer affairs body
4. Report to your state's police — odometer fraud is a criminal offence
Your Protection
A National VIN Check Gold report includes odometer verification data as part of its comprehensive history check. For any vehicle where mileage significantly affects value, this is the recommended report level.