2023 Author: Eric Donovan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 15:44
Keep your eyes open when buying a used car: Around every third car sold in Germany has had its speedometer tampered with in order to achieve a better sales value. Here are a few simple tips on how not to fall for a "crooked tour".
When buying a used car, speedometer tricks are unfortunately the order of the day. The manipulation of the odometer is no longer a trivial offense, but has long been a field of activity for organized criminals. This is shown not least in the case of the so-called "Tacho Mafia", which recently went into the network of the Munich criminal police and made headlines nationwide.
Online resume can help
Experts assume that one in three of the roughly seven million used cars that change hands in Germany every year have many more kilometers under their belt than the speedometer shows. The damage caused is estimated at at least 5.4 million euros.
Those who can obtain a vehicle history in the form of an online résumé for their supposed dream car from providers such as www.carfax.eu can protect themselves relatively effectively against manipulation of the odometer. It contains the most important information such as mileage, repairs, number of previous owners and accident damage to the respective car. In addition, the comparison of the specific data of the used vehicle with the database can help to "read out" references to a lowered odometer reading from typical information such as mileage and downtimes.
Expert and look at the service book
However, such résumés, which cost around 25 euros, are currently mainly available for US import vehicles. Until such a service is also available nationwide in Germany, only a close inspection of the used vehicle by a motor vehicle expert will help. This is most likely to tell from the condition of the paintwork or the degree of wear and tear of the seat cushions whether the stated mileage corresponds to reality.
Even a look in the service booklet or in the engine compartment often speaks volumes: If, for example, a service trailer is found there with an indication of an oil change carried out at mileage "123,000", the odometer reading of 78,000 kilometers can hardly be correct. At least now you should keep your hands off buying the "used one". (mid)
