How to find out the real mileage of a car

How to check car mileage

Buying a car second-hand is a sure way to save money. However, there is always a risk of falling for the bait of cunning sellers who want to earn as much as possible through deception. When buying a car, the main thing you should pay attention to is the number of former owners, the absence of restrictions and debts, the year of manufacture, the technical condition of the vehicle and, of course, the mileage. With the latter, it is very easy to confuse a naive buyer. Cases of incorrect mileage in the odometer are quite common. After all, it is possible to hide the real mileage of a car even with the help of an ordinary screwdriver.

In this article we will tell you how to independently check whether the mileage is incorrect, and not fall into the clutches of evil scammers.

Content

Check car mileage using documents

To calculate the actual mileage of a car, you must first of all take the car’s service book and title. There you will see the year of manufacture of the vehicle. Based on the fact that on average a car travels about 15-16 thousand kilometers per year, we can draw a conclusion by correlating these data with the year of manufacture. Let's say the odometer shows 70 thousand kilometers on a 2007 car. Based on the above, we make a calculation. Over the entire period, the car had to travel approximately 160 thousand kilometers. It follows that the arrow of the device shows incorrectly.
We recommend that you read the document indicating the last oil change. There may also be a catch here. This brochure usually indicates at what mileage the replacement was made. Let's say you like a car, the odometer shows 60-odd thousand kilometers. Look at the brochure and see that the oil was changed at 110 thousand. The conclusion emerges on its own.
In addition to the year of manufacture of the car, you can also check the mileage in the service book. As a rule, after performing scheduled maintenance, technicians put a mileage mark.
In the vehicle passport you will find information about what make the car is. German used cars are usually sold after 100-150 thousand kilometers. If the mileage is less, then the indicators were twisted.

Check using computer methods

How to find out the mileage of a car? Perhaps there is simply no simpler way to check the odometer. You will need a laptop and an OBD-2 USB cable. The cost of such a cord will not be more than 400 rubles. We suggest using it to connect to the electronic control unit, which will show the actual mileage of the car upon purchase. Some “craftsmen” can reset data in the electronic unit. Therefore, you should be careful.
How else can I check the mileage? Mileage traveled can be determined by looking at individual small systems. For example, a light control unit, which most often cannot be overwritten.

Check using technical means

How to calculate mileage based on the technical characteristics of a car? Take a good look and determine how evenly the numbers on the odometer are located in relation to each other. If they dance “some into the forest, some for firewood,” then the hand of the twister has already been here. But apparently, inexperienced and unkempt, leaving behind traces.
Open the hood and check all components. The replaced peripheral parts will tell you about the mileage of the car.
When buying a car, listen to the sounds made by the bearings from the gearbox. Any knocking or unstable operation of the synchronizers will be familiar to you. Is it worth the purchase?

Check by indirect signs

If you are allowed to inspect the dashboard from the inside, you will immediately notice abrasions and damage on some parts - bolts, rivets, housing.
Also, the deceiver will be given away by worn-out elements of the car interior. For example, holes in the back of the seat usually appear when the car's mileage reaches 200 thousand kilometers. If there are covers on the seats, take the time to remove them. Often they cover up unwanted roughness.
The seller claims that the actual mileage is low? Make sure the brake discs have never been replaced. Otherwise, this fact also does not speak in favor of the seller.
If you want to calculate your mileage, don't forget to look at the windshield. Deep chips and scratches will indicate that the car has been in use for a very long time.
This is evidenced by the condition of the plastic in the cabin. Even with the most careful handling, the driver and passengers touch the door handles, gear knob and parking brake. They will help determine the actual mileage of the car.

Check using the Internet

The Autocode service will provide assistance in matters of vehicle history. Determining the mileage of a car when purchasing is very convenient. You can check primary information about the car here for free by filling in the state number in the frame. After that, in just a few seconds you will be provided with a brief report about the car you are interested in - year of production, vehicle category, steering wheel location, type, power and engine size.

To find out complete information, including the mileage of your vehicle, you will have to pay a little. The cost of one full report on the website is 349 rubles. But it’s certainly cheaper than overpaying a cunning seller. Moreover, for this money you will learn almost everything about the car: whether it was involved in an accident, whether it was registered in a taxi, whether it was left as collateral, whether it was wanted. In addition, information about mileage, owner status, customs history and technical data will become available to you. inspection.

How to use the Autocode report to find out if you are being deceived:

In the mileages section, look at the recording date and value. These data are calculated on the basis of diagnostic cards during maintenance. It should be remembered that technical inspection is carried out after three and five years from the date of purchase of the car. From the fifth year of use is carried out annually. You can also undergo MOT by paying for it from an insurance agent on the Internet. In this case, the owner himself indicates the mileage, which is entered into the diagnostic card.
The report also indicates mileage based on insurance repair calculations. The service receives this data from insurance companies. When an insured event occurred, the owner contacted the insurance company. The car was inspected by a specialist, the mileage was determined, and based on the inspection results, a calculation of repair and restoration work was carried out. All this data can be seen in the Autocode report.

Pay attention to the point about working in a taxi. If the car was used as a way of income, then its mileage will be appropriate.

In the history of fines section, it is easy to check in which region and for what the car owner received the fine. Based on this data, you can also guess the mileage and compare it with the words of the seller.

You can find out the history of the car directly at the transaction. To do this, use the Autocode application on Android or iPhone.

Check with specialists

If you liked the car, but some doubts still torment your soul, then it is better to resort to the services of professional service centers. At dealership centers service and will see when the car was removed from warranty and conduct computer diagnostics. It will help you find out the mileage of the car. And in addition, it will let you know whether third-party devices have been connected to this device. This will give you confidence in your purchase.
How else can you calculate car mileage with the help of a specialist? Alternatively, you can contact any trustworthy car service center and ask a technician to inspect the engine. A proper inspection will help check the actual mileage based on the indicators shown by its compression. It is also possible to test the CO level there. For cars with high mileage, these figures will increase by two or more times.

Most often, the mileage of a high-mileage car is reduced by a quarter for various reasons. Including to avoid undergoing the most expensive maintenance with a mileage of 90 to 100 thousand kilometers. However, twisting can not only help ill-wishers profit from an inexperienced driver, but will also affect the vehicle in the future. So, without knowing the actual mileage, you are unlikely to be able to change the oil or update other car parts on time. Follow the advice and be careful so that your purchase is a joy.

avtoexperts.ru

Buying a used car is playing a lottery, where the chances of getting a “pig in a poke” are high. No matter how carefully the machine is checked, there is always a risk of encountering certain problems. One of them is the twisted run. Many resellers, and often the owners themselves, resort to such fraud in order to sell their “iron horse” more profitably. Is it possible to determine the twisted run and how to do it? We will talk about the features and nuances in detail in our material.

There is no need to be afraid of high mileage. After all, what matters is not how much the car has driven, but its condition!

A very important factor is careful driving and timely maintenance of the car. If you treat a car like a “cart,” then by 100,000 it will look like “a washcloth.” Driving on bad roads, ignoring bumps and potholes not only destroys the suspension, but also negatively affects the fastening of parts in the engine compartment (engine mounts suffer, the fastening of hoses and pipes wears out), they hit the body, forcing the shock absorbers to work up to the bump stop, and also leads to the appearance of squeaking plastic in the cabin.

If the owner changed the oil every 7,000-10,000 km, regularly visited a service station, and repaired all breakdowns on time, then there is no need to be afraid of a mileage of even 150-250,000 km. It’s another matter if the owner drove 90,000, while changing the oil every 15-20 thousand, and violated the regulations for changing other fluids (for example, gearbox oil, brake fluid, antifreeze), then the condition of the car will be much worse.

Today there are 2 types of odometers - mechanical and electronic. In the first, the mileage is twisted as follows: the instrument panel is removed and the cable is turned in the opposite direction using an electric drill.

Everything is much easier electronically - all actions can be performed using a scanner and computer, erasing the data from the logbook. However, if this is not done by professionals, then in many modern cars a file with a copy of the mileage remains in the ECU.

Before inspecting the car, it is recommended to study all its weaknesses and “diseases”. This will allow you to create the most objective picture about a particular car. For example, on a 7th generation Honda Accord, the nameplate on the steering wheel wears off at 120,000, which is perceived by some buyers as a three-fold increase in mileage.

Therefore, checking a car for “honest” mileage is carried out according to a number of indirect signs - the presence of documents, assessment of paintwork and interior trim elements.

Method number 1. We check the documents - service sheet, visit to an official dealer

The ideal option is to have a sheet with service notes from an authorized dealer. You can also visit it in person and inquire about the history of the car. The presence of such data will give you 95% confidence that the mileage is honest. However, as a rule, a similar option is possible with a car up to 10-12 years old. Unfortunately, it does not apply to older cars imported from other countries. If the car was brought from the USA or Japan, then the documents include an auction sheet, which indicates the exact mileage of the car. But, as a rule, it is simply “lost” in our country. Cars from the USA and Canada can be checked via the Internet using special services.

If the owner of a 3-5 year old car has “lost” the service book, does not have a sheet with service marks, and is not eager to go to an official dealer, it is worth thinking about such a purchase.

Method number 2. We carry out computer diagnostics

Connecting a professional scanner to the car, which is 100% available from an official dealer, will allow you to diagnose a number of parameters:

• Presence and integrity of airbags;

• Correct operation of diagnostic sensors;

• Condition of electronics and main electronic control units;

• And much more.

But, most importantly, with its help you can find the mileage log in the ECU. More and more manufacturers duplicate the file with the mileage log, so erasing it from the odometer does not mean that it will be erased from the log. This is especially true for German manufacturers, who every year come up with new ways to protect customers from dishonest fraud.

Method No. 3. Pay attention to the external condition and body

The presence of chips, cracks, stains, abrasions and other paintwork defects on the body indicates that the mileage is clearly over 100,000 km. Many owners carry out painting or polishing. This can be detected using a thickness gauge.

It wouldn’t hurt to take a look at the thresholds and floors, checking their condition. Feel free to touch the doors for play and assess the degree of wear of the fastening bolts and hinges. All glass must be original with the factory mark. If some glass is not original, then you need to identify the reason for its replacement. If, for example, the windshield was replaced due to chips, then there is nothing to worry about, but if after an accident, then there is reason to think about it.

The condition of the headlights also indirectly indicates the mileage. As a rule, they become cloudy after 100-120 thousand. It is simply impossible to see cloudy headlights on a mileage of 50,000!

Method number 4. Inspecting the salon

There are a lot of things inside the car that may indicate the authenticity of the mileage.

1. Dashboard. We are looking for traces of removal or replacement. If we find any, and the owner denies any repair work involving the removal of the panel, then in 99% of cases the mileage was incorrect.

2. Pedals. The worse the condition of the rubber bands, the greater the mileage. It is very strange to see pedals polished to metal with a mileage of 70,000. You should also be wary if you see new rubber bands on the odometer at 200,000. Often they try to hide the real condition of the pedals with pads. Don't be shy, take them off and look.

3. Steering wheel. Traces remain from daily use. If the steering wheel is leather, then by assessing its condition you can determine the mileage as accurately as possible. Remade leather for 60,000 or the presence of a non-standard steering wheel will make you think seriously.

4. Seat upholstery. The degree of wear on the steering wheel and driver's seat should be approximately the same. Fabric seats get quite “tired” at 120-150 thousand. Before sale, dry cleaning is done, but this only removes dirt. Look at the bottom edge of the upholstery, bending the chair all the way or lifting it using a microlift, evaluate its color and texture with that on top. Leather seats wear out after 150 thousand, the paint peels off and the varnish cracks. After 200,000, holes may appear on some models. A good indicator will be the condition of the threads and seams. Sometimes the seats can be tinted. To check this, just stretch the skin and it will become noticeable.

The upholstery of the Japanese is much more “gentle” than that of the Germans. For example, the interior of a VW Toureg with a mileage of 200,000 may look 4+, while the Japanese one will be pretty worn out .

5. Condition of the levers. We look at the scuffs of the gearbox handle and parking brake. As a rule, they are rarely changed and can serve as an excellent indicator of mileage. Pay attention to the ignition switch; if it is loose, this indicates a high mileage.

6. Scuffs of plastic and buttons. The more scratches and traces of use on the plastic, the longer (or carelessly) the car was used. Erased inscriptions or drawings on the buttons are a guarantee that the car has driven more than 200,000. And in premium cars, often even with such a mileage, all the drawings are often without scuffs.

7. Electronics. As a rule, up to 100,000 even the most sophisticated cars rarely have problems with this. Check how the air conditioning, windshield wipers, turn signals, etc. work.

Replacing all the interior elements and giving the car a “fresh” look is an expensive pleasure, which is not profitable even for car businessmen, since the costs will not cover the profit. There are situations when you come across an almost new salon. But don’t rush to rejoice! It could be a “transformer” - a car assembled from several cars. Therefore, before purchasing a car, it is recommended to inspect all body seams, and also contact qualified bodybuilders.

Checking a car yourself before purchasing is the best solution that will save money and also provide some practical experience. After inspecting literally 5-6 cars, you will already be able to weed out the “junk” and each time the inspection procedure will be faster and more efficient. You should understand that you will have to look and travel quite a lot. Sometimes 20-30 copies are not the limit when searching for the desired option!

Determining the actual mileage when buying a car

A used car carries with it many years of operating history. There are a lot of secrets in the life of a car that the previous owner is in no hurry to talk about. The experienced eye of a car repairman immediately sees the deception. Devices allow you to measure certain characteristics. It is quite difficult to measure the mileage of a car if it has been twisted. According to some general signs, dishonest sellers cannot hide the real mileage. You can check the actual mileage of your car using practical notes from car repair specialists.

Determining the true kilometers of a used car

The car's mileage is calculated on the instrument panel. Drivers are accustomed to determining the number of kilometers or miles using the odometer. An odometer is a device that converts the rotation of a wheel into a reading on a scale. Devices are divided according to the sensor design:

Mechanical . They were used in the initial versions of the car and have a drum indicator.
Electronic . Pulses are read from the sensor and supplied to the electronic control unit. There it is transformed into a form convenient for perception. The screen displays miles, kilometers, meters.
Electromechanical . They are a design with a mechanical and electronic sensor. The electronic converts the mechanical readings and transmits the signal to the display installed on the driver’s panel.

When buying a used car, the mileage on the panel does not always correspond to the real one. The reasons are:

malfunction of the measuring system;
lack of device;
fraud (rewinding odometer readings).

In such situations, the question arises: “How to determine the real mileage of a car?” Below are indirect signs that determine the age and mileage of a car.

Methods for adjusting kilometer readings

Vehicle mileage can be adjusted in the following ways:

They are twisted with a cable using an electric motor. A method that does not require deep knowledge of the car. It is enough to unhook the cable from the gearbox.
Using the program, the odometer chip is reflashed. This type of work requires high qualifications and knowledge of electronics.
Barbarian method. By disassembling the panel, set the required combination on the reel with numbers. How to find out the real mileage of the car in this case - there are traces of tampering on the dashboard seals , so you can determine that the meter has been wound up.

In some countries, rolling back the odometer is not illegal. For a few dollars, the adjustment service will be provided at a used car dealership. In modern machine models, manufacturers provide data storage in different places. There was no attempt to protect mileage data on used cars. The manufacturer did not announce how to check the actual mileage of the car.

In early model used cars with an electronic mileage system, the adjustment is made by connecting a laptop to the panel connectors. The information is deleted programmatically and traces of the odometer being rolled back cannot be detected. In later versions of machines there is protection:

electronic;
software;
physical (several data storage points).

Indirect signs of counter winding

By some signs of obsolescence of interior materials, you can recognize the fact that the counting device has been wound. Such facts include appearance, obsolescence of materials, wear and tear of mechanisms and machine components. They try to draw conclusions about winding after weighing all the signs together. Let's look at how to check a car's mileage using indirect evidence.

Interior wear and tear

Having owned a car for several years, it is impossible to avoid the natural wear and tear of the main interior elements:

Worn door handles and panel buttons. The driver is the main user of transport. During the day, the handles experience impact when exiting and landing. Wear of such elements is inevitable.
Worn gear lever and worn brake and accelerator pedals.
Stiff rubber bands on the windows and a dented driver or passenger seat. It is not cost-effective to replace all the accessories on a used car before selling it.
Under the driver's mat, over time, there is a decent trace of abrasion of the upholstery in the place of the foot under the gas pedal. If the upholstery is worn in this place, we can say with confidence that the car’s mileage is more than 30 thousand kilometers.
The plastic under the steering column is worn out with a mileage of 50 thousand or more. This rule applies to domestic cars.
Upholstery and floor. Replacing upholstery is expensive and time consuming. The absence of abrasions and heavy wear indicate that the odometer has been rolled back.

Appearance of transport

The condition of the body and its elements allows you to visually recognize the fact that the odometer has been rolled up. The erased paint on the door handles indicates a decent amount of experience. On the hood, after several years of use, chips and scratches remain on the paintwork. Such wear is inevitable and from its absence we can conclude that the car is in good condition with low mileage.

This sign works if the body has no traces of fresh paint. Traces of paint are identified by sagging in the area of the door hinges, hood and trunk. After painting, the interior metal painted elements differ in color from the body.

Traces of decent corrosion on the sills and fenders indicate prolonged exposure to moisture on the metal. You should take into account the presence of rust on the bottom of the car. If it is present, then hidden cavities of rotted metal are possible. You should refuse such a purchase.

Over the years, paint wear remains at the point where the sealing elements come into contact. A decent mileage is indicated by paint chips in the hinge area. The fastening of the trunk and hood lock is worn. The metal part of the lock tongue has grooves that form when driving on uneven roads.

The door locks have mechanical scuffs up to a millimeter deep and the paint is completely worn off. Imported car models do not have such latches; instead, hinges with a built-in door position locking mechanism are used.

The condition of car windows deteriorates over time. The driver changes the windshield often. The condition of the side windows, mirrors and rear windows should be taken into account during inspection. The headlight glasses have the worst wear and tear from dirt flying from under the wheels of passing cars.

The bumper is the main element that takes on the main loads from flying stones and sand. The appearance and condition of the paint on it indicate long-term neglect of the car.

Attention should be paid to the marking of body elements and parts. The marking code contains the year of manufacture of the part. Markings are present on body elements:

If, according to the seller, the built-in stereo system is original, then you should look at the marking on it with the year of manufacture.

Transport hubs

Let's look at how to determine mileage based on component units. The seller does not have the opportunity to replace all worn-out items; this will entail unnecessary expenses and he will not receive any profit from the sale. The main parts that catch the eye are replaced.

The timing belt is changed after service every hundred thousand kilometers. If the odometer reading is lower, remove the valve block cover. A worn belt shows actual mileage. If there is a new timing belt, then you should think about the veracity of the seller’s words.

Engine diagnostics require the participation of service personnel and instruments. Compression measurements are below normal by 1-1.5 kg/cm3, the presence of oil in the exhaust indicates a mileage of 50 thousand kilometers or more. In modern cars, the control unit is built into the engine as a separate element. In it, manufacturers store information about the total mileage of the car.

You can view this data if you have a special device or service personnel. Do not disdain a full diagnosis at a service center. The price of the car is significantly higher than the cost of inspection.

Deviations in the operation of the gearbox indicate a mileage exceeding 70 thousand kilometers. A mechanical gearbox is characterized by asymmetrical operation of compensators. The machine has an unclear switching of steps.

Inspecting the shock absorber boots and struts allows you to assess the previous driver’s attitude towards the car. The engine compartment will tell you about the life of the car. The exhaust pipe rusts after a hundred thousand kilometers. The collector acquires a reddish coating after 25 thousand.

If the front part of the radiator is dirty and deformed and the rubber tubes are stiff, then the car has run over 50 thousand. Rust on the radiator indicates that the vehicle has been in use for more than 200 thousand kilometers.

The VIN number will help you check the release date. A theft check and a deposit will not be superfluous. If the car was serviced at a service center, consult about the technical condition and timing of maintenance. Over ten years of ownership and operation, even if the car was parked in a garage, the rubber bands and gaskets of the car wear out. With low mileage, such cars have disadvantages. The reliability of the components is comparable to the reliability of a five-year-old car with a hundred thousand mileage.

When choosing a used car, you have to take into account all the signs of obsolescence of materials. And if more than half of the defects have accumulated, then the car’s mileage has exceeded one hundred thousand and the odometer is twisted. Car owners differ in their attitude towards service. There are rare examples on the secondary market that are in the condition of a new car. Such goods are snapped up instantly. And if you come across such a car, then you can consider it a great success. Preliminary diagnostics of components and parts using modern tools prevent mistakes

How to find out if the mileage on a car is incorrect

According to some sources, 90% of cars operated and sold on the domestic market of the Russian Federation have incorrect mileage.

This phenomenon also occurs on imported cars imported from abroad. It is curious that actual mileage may differ from the odometer readings, either up or down. How to check the actual mileage of a car? In what cases is it corrected?

The odometer readings are twisted downward to unreasonably inflate the price when selling a car, in order to hide the fact of working in a taxi and provide the buyer with false information about the technical condition of the car.

The mileage may be increased in order to convince the buyer that expensive routine maintenance has already been carried out. A similar procedure is also carried out on corporate cars in order to receive compensation for fuel and lubricants.

Electronic speedometer readings are reset or adjusted using a computer and special software. Knowing about technologies for reducing speedometer readings, you can get an idea of the basic principles for determining the twisted mileage.

Determination of twisted run

Methods for determining the fact of correcting mileage on a car vary depending on:

odometer type;
car age;
available documentation and technical capabilities of the inspector.

There are analytical, technical and computer verification methods.

Analytical method

The analytical method is based on a careful inspection of the vehicle upon purchase and conclusions about the reality of the mileage. Thus, according to generally accepted data, most cars travel about 10-15 thousand kilometers per year. If you compare this indicator with the year of manufacture of the car, you can guess whether the odometer readings have been adjusted.

The condition of the car indirectly indicates the incorrect mileage. If on a car with a mileage of up to 100 thousand kilometers it is possible to identify worn seats, a steering wheel polished by the hands of the driver, and worn pedal pads - we can assume that the real mileage is much higher than stated.

The same is evidenced by new interior elements. Over a service life of 100 thousand kilometers, the linings and steering wheel will not wear out and will not require replacement.

Technical method

The technical method of checking mileage is used for cars with a mechanically driven speedometer. Its essence is to inspect the drive, its fasteners, numbers on the dashboard, and some parts. The use of a technical method allows you to determine whether the run is twisted by the following signs:

Unevenly spaced numbers on the odometer;
White spaces between the numbers on the odometer (not on all cars);
Signs of tampering on the speedometer drive bolts (scratches, complete absence of rust, new elements, auto repair shop stickers indicating the actual mileage at which the repair was made);
The condition of the timing belt and brake discs does not correspond to the declared mileage;
A large number of chips on the body and glass.

During the inspection, the possibility of carrying out routine maintenance should be taken into account. Some parts can be replaced according to the requirements of technical regulations, and not due to a malfunction.

Example: An inspection of a car produced in 2009 allowed us to obtain the following data: mileage - 70,000 km, the timing belt is new, the numbers on the odometer are located with an offset of 1 mm, there are small scratches on the dashboard mounting bolts.

Computer method

This method is used exclusively for vehicles with electronic engine management. The fact is that on such a car, information about the mileage is recorded not only on the odometer, but also in other chips.

A specialist who checks mileage indicators usually makes do with correcting the numbers on the odometer. The information recorded in the control unit remains untouched.

It is better to carry out the verification procedure in a specialized auto repair shop, since independent, unqualified intervention in the operation of the control computer software often leads to serious malfunctions. The master, having connected to the ECU, can not only determine whether the mileage was adjusted or not, but also tell how far the car managed to run in reality.

Methods for determining real mileage

While the fact of mileage correction can be established in almost all cases, it is not always possible to find out the numbers that correspond to the actual mileage. However, in some cases it is possible to do this.

So, how to determine the real mileage of a car in numbers?

On-board computer readings

As mentioned above, you can find out the mileage of a car with an electronic control system by checking the internal records of the ECU. Of course, you can change them too. However, this is done in no more than 10% of cases.

Auto repair shop tags under the hood

Similar information is indicated in the service book. Of course, there is a certain risk that the seller will tear off the existing tags. However, the very fact that there are traces of glue from it on the rack gives reason to assume fraud and refuse to buy such a car.

Electronic systems for providing information about cars

How to find out real mileage using the Internet? Today, for this purpose, the corresponding section of the “government services” service can be used, which contains information received from the traffic police, insurance companies and official dealers.

The current mileage figures can be found out by the VIN number or registration certificate number if the car in the past:

The service in question is currently being tested. Therefore, not all of its sections work. However, the organizers report that soon the information provided on “state services” will become more complete and reliable.

Indirect determination of mileage figures

How to find out whether the real mileage of an old car has been twisted? Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to determine how many kilometers a car has actually traveled that has not been serviced by an OD and has a mechanically driven speedometer. However, it is still possible to draw a conclusion about the approximate mileage. The indicator can be determined by indirect signs:

Condition of the carpet. Scuffs indicate a mileage of more than 50 thousand km, through holes indicate that the car has traveled more than 200 thousand km.
Condition of the seats. Cracks on leather chairs appear after a mileage of about 100-120 thousand km. By this time, fabric covers may have holes and heavily worn areas.
Erased drawings on buttons. Usually the pattern on the buttons begins to wear off after 150-200 thousand km. The seller can reduce the mileage and replace large elements (steering wheel, pedals), but replacing buttons often turns out to be unprofitable. Therefore, such a sign is usually present.
Brake discs. During operation, wear appears on the brake discs. In this case, the elevation along the edges of the disk increases on average by 1 mm per 20 thousand mileage. It makes sense to check the degree of disc wear only on relatively new cars. A car older than 4-5 years may not only have lost mileage, but also have had its brake discs replaced more than once.

How to find out the real mileage of a used car? Here are 5 ways!

There is a great temptation to slightly embellish the reality and get more money, but the costs of adjusting the mileage are very small.

Experts at auto.ru told us how to avoid falling for scammers.

The first thing that may alert you is the lack of documents for the car. In addition to the obligatory original PTS, you should ask the seller for the car’s service book with notes on the maintenance performed. There will be records with a list of works and mileage indicated on a certain date. Although books are also counterfeited, so it’s a good idea to go to the dealer and check the records, making sure that there were real and not fake MOTs. Since many people now keep electronic service books, the information flows into a single database; you can check it at any official dealer of the same brand.

Secondly, cars can look different, but the main principle is that the exterior and interior must correspond to the age and mileage stated on the odometer. The abundance of chips, cracks, stains, abrasions and other defects on the body is a clear sign of mileage of more than 100 thousand km. The fact that broken car parts have been painted can be detected using a thickness gauge. It wouldn't hurt to look at the sills to look for corrosion.

If there is noticeable play in the doors, this indicates that they were often opened and closed, and the glass should be the same age as the car or have a “transparent” reason for replacement. Worn trim elements, steering wheel, instruments and other controls will indicate a fair amount of mileage. For example, a scratched and loose ignition lock cylinder, buttons with erased designs, handles, plastic trim. The seats in the cabin should be worn evenly, and the driver's seat should be a little more worn than others.

However, the too perfect condition of the paintwork, headlights (transparent plastic housings), seats, steering wheel, linings should alert you that they were changed for some reason.

Checking vehicle history

Thirdly, you need to try to “punch” the car through the information databases - this also helps to check the mileage stated on the odometer. If a car is being sold in Moscow, then this can be done on mos.ru. Here, after registering, you can check the car for free using the technical inspection database (EAISTO), where the mileage from the diagnostic cards is indicated. To check, you need to know the VIN code or license plate number of the car, as well as its STS number. In other regions, you will most likely have to turn to paid sources of information.

Checking odometer data

Twisting a mechanical odometer is not a very troublesome procedure for fraudsters, although it is not quick. But traces of intervention will remain on most machines - the numbers on the device will not be very even. At this stage of checking the mileage, you need to carefully inspect the instrument panel, including looking for traces of its removal and installation.

It’s easier with an electronic odometer - just connect a laptop with a special program to the diagnostic connector and set the desired numbers. However, if the correction is carried out by an amateur, traces of the actual mileage will be stored in the engine control unit.

And for very sophisticated cars, the mileage is recorded in the archives of many electronic units - in the transmission control unit, in service electronics modules, and so on. Correctly correcting mileage there is difficult and expensive, and sometimes impossible.

They will also tell you the actual mileage of the car at a specialized service - an official dealer or a club one. There is a scanner and other diagnostic equipment, and in addition, people have the necessary experience. The scanner will help determine the integrity of the airbags, the correct operation of the sensors, the condition of the electronics and main electronic control units.