Odometer Rolled Back On a Used Car

[Carlisabadman986]

If the seller was guilty of intentionally doing something nefarious why would he initiate contact to buy the car back?

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by Carlisabadman986

If the seller was guilty of intentionally doing something nefarious why would he initiate contact to buy the car back?

In some states with odometer tampering laws, sometimes the seller has no choice but to buy the car back or go to jail. DMV's are really cracking down on this offense., which is commercial fraud.

[CoBeerToad]

If that's the case, tell the seller they can buy the car back at whatever price you want. They have to pay it or go to jail, so they can't refuse.

[Giller]

Originally Posted by CoBeerToad

If that's the case, tell the seller they can buy the car back at whatever price you want. They have to pay it or go to jail, so they can't refuse.

The seller only has to buy the car back at the price he paid. That's what JFP just said - "buy the car back". I do think the seller could be liable for some of the additional costs the buyer incured - but that might differ state to state.

The seller could then go back to who sold him the car for those costs and any other costs he outlaid since he purchased it.

Much of this comes down to who changed and knew about the change to the odometer. It could go back a number of owners.

Weird though that the DMV knew of the issue but CarFax didn't? They get much of their info from the DMV so not sure what happened there - unless no one bothered to get the CarFax for this vehicle.

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by Giller

The seller only has to buy the car back at the price he paid. That's what JFP just said - "buy the car back". I do think the seller could be liable for some of the additional costs the buyer incured - but that might differ state to state.

The seller could then go back to who sold him the car for those costs and any other costs he outlaid since he purchased it.

Much of this comes down to who changed and knew about the change to the odometer. It could go back a number of owners.

Weird though that the DMV knew of the issue but CarFax didn't? They get much of their info from the DMV so not sure what happened there - unless no one bothered to get the CarFax for this vehicle.

Many states, mine included, require you state the car's mileage at every registration renewal. This goes into the DMV data base, and when the car is sold, the title also has to have the mileage on it at time of sale. Match the two records, and you have a discrepancy.

Carfax has always been somewhat questionable on how current (and accurate) their information actually is. I had a family member total a car that was scrapped by the insurer, and three years later it was still listed on Carfax as a low mileage one owner car with no accident history.