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Mileage Discrepancy – Why Do People Sell Such Cars?

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Published on: September 8, 2021    Last Updated: July 4, 2025

Using mileage discrepancy while selling a car is a well-known method to get the premium price. Even though such action might even lead to legal issues, some people are still willing to take a risk. When you know that all the other providers use the same trick to sell their automobiles, sometimes you don’t stand a chance to get familiar with the odometer discrepancy.

Mileage discrepancy vs odometer discrepancy

Mileage vs an odometer

Before describing the purpose of these terms, we must know what an odometer and a mileage stand for. An odometer is a tool that people use for measuring the distance traveled by a vehicle. It may be either mechanical (consisting of cogs that turn based on wheel rotation) or digital (utilizing a chip to measure and display the mileage).

Most automobiles also come with a trip meter (trip odometer). It’s a gauge that can measure the mileage of a specific trip. For instance, if you wish to measure the actual distance between your house and work you can simply use this function to get precise results. Similarly, measuring the actual Miles Per Gallon (mpg) is much easier if you fill up your tank and count the distance traveled. When you fill the tank up again, you can calculate your mpg.

Is mileage discrepancy the same as odometer discrepancy?

Selling a car with a mileage discrepancy might seem like a thing of the past, but it still happens on a daily basis. The seller can still use it to earn more money from trading today. The mileage discrepancy refers to misrepresenting the mileage of the automobile. The odometer discrepancy highlights the unreliability of the odometer tool in terms of counting and reading mileage, but in most cases, these two terms are used interchangeably.

Why do people care about mileage?

Would you buy a car if you knew it would become useless after one year? Even if you got such a car as a gift, it is doubtful if you could make good use of it. Car manufacturers use the mileage to portray the life expectancy of the car. Therefore, people often use mileage as the primary factor when determining the remaining lifespan of an automobile.

Even though it’s controversial whether mileage truly reflects the car’s well-being or not, people tend to trust these digits more than anything else. Especially if you are loyal to your car’s manufacturer, you will find it hard to believe that there are more important factors to rely on. However, if you are a car geek, you don’t have to care about an odometer discrepancy.

Is mileage truly important?

The short answer is No. The life expectancy of an automobile depends on multiple factors, and mileage is not one of them. However, it does reflect the approximate condition of a car. Let’s take the example of car parts. They wear out after a certain period of use, and the mileage does reflect to some extent how long they will last. Although it doesn’t take into account the driving habits, road conditions, location, and many other factors that determine the longevity of automobile components.

The mileage indicates how many miles an average person is going to drive a car before it gets broken. However, it doesn’t take into account all the other factors mentioned above and can be quite misleading. Those who are aware of this issue prefer to sell a car with mileage discrepancy. Especially if they took good care of their “best buddy” and would like to express this through mileage.

What causes an odometer discrepancy?

If you have noticed an odometer discrepancy, you may wonder what can be the cause of it. You may be surprised to know that this term may refer to a condition that is not under your control.

Total mileage limit of the car

Have you noticed how many digits can be displayed on your mileage indicator? Sometimes, the mileage discrepancy is caused by the number of digits that can be displayed as the indication for the distance traveled. For instance, most of the cars have five-digit (99,999) or six-digit (999,999) odometers. If you exceed this limit your car will not be able to count the mileage after reaching the limit. If you sell a car with a mileage discrepancy caused by unforeseen factors, make sure to keep a record of the approximate distance you travel. This is vital, especially if you intend to sell a car, as the new owner will most likely be interested in this seemingly useless indicator.

Usage of mileage correction tools

Probably the most common reason that you have heard about is using a speedometer calibration tool. Those who have above-average mileage per month are more willing to use such tools. They don’t mind selling a car with mileage discrepancy, especially if they are sure that their car is in much better condition than other vehicles with the same mileage.

However, take into account that using such tools for unethical purposes is forbidden and might lead to serious charges depending on your country of residence. To make sure that you are on the safe side only use such modules in controlled environments. The odometer stopper tool has several other advantages as well and may be useful only if used for ethical purposes.

Be aware that using mileage correction tools to deceive others is a direct representation of Odometer discrepancy. A study across 17 European countries found that buyers are overpaying by an average of 26% for used cars with tampered mileage. In the UK, that number jumps to nearly 49%, while German buyers are paying about 36% more than they should.

Why do people use mileage correction tools?

Why do people need mileage correction?

Even though the name of this tool might seem self-explanatory for some of you, it can serve multiple purposes. In general, correction tools are designed to address the unpleasant digits displayed on the odometer. However, we will discuss the advantages of Mileage Stopper Tools due to their unique features.

  • To test the performance of the vehicle

Not everyone wants to use the mileage correction tool to sell a car with a mileage discrepancy. Using a premium quality mileage stopper tool will allow you to test the performance of your car without recording unnecessary mileage. The odometer discrepancy might be caused by worn-out or different-sized tires.

Similarly, if you are a Do-it-Yourself guy, probably would like to test your car in a controlled environment. People find it essential to install mileage stopper tools in order to avoid recording extra mileage while accomplishing this task. However, you can only do so in a controlled environment.

  • To correct the misleading data on the odometer

Imagine how difficult it would be to sell a car with a mileage discrepancy. Many people face such difficulties when they are not aware of the perceived value of mileage beforehand. Simply, the unusual size of the tires might result in an additional thousand miles per year. The mileage Blocker can help you reduce the recorded mileage in order to make it in line with the true distance traveled.

  • To fight with stereotypical perception

Imagine the situation: you are selling a car, and you notice that all the other car owners have an edge over you because of corrected mileage. In such a situation, you might be triggered to do the same thing in order to sell at an appropriate price. Similarly, understanding car care can radically improve the life expectancy of the vehicle. However, the mileage indicator may not show actual figures and mislead potential customers. To avoid such difficulties, people find it essential to use such modules at a certain stage of car ownership.

As you may have guessed, using the Mileage Stopper Tool for a purpose other than testing is illegal in most countries. It is not advisable to sell a car with a mileage discrepancy, as it is considered unethical. Even though it may seem reasonable to most people, there are those who would use this module for rollback purposes. To avoid an odometer discrepancy allegation, you can also try to explain to the potential buyers truthfully what they need to know about your car. Even though you might not be the most reliable source in such a case, it is still worth a try.

Is selling a car with mileage discrepancy legal?

Is using mileage discrepancy illegal?

In most countries, selling a car with a mileage discrepancy is illegal. That is why most people tend to use mileage-stopper tools instead of rollback devices, as they are untraceable. This is a plug-and-play tool that can’t be traced, even with a computer, and is widely used to maintain a reasonable mileage level. However, as we have already mentioned, this is not the purpose of the tool, and it doesn’t have to be used for such purposes. Use the module if you would like to test your car, and it will portray the condition better than the mileage.

Is it possible to check the actual mileage?

There are many ways to verify a car’s actual mileage, but in some cases, it remains impossible to detect any discrepancies. Insurance companies may use some of these methods, as they rely on mileage figures to determine premiums. Here are the most reliable methods to determine an odometer discrepancy.

Check the full history of the car

Selling a car with a mileage discrepancy has become quite common nowadays. Hence, it is crucial to identify any flaws before purchasing a second-hand car. There are many websites that check the title and background of your automobile via a VIN check, for instance, CarFax and CarVertical. Enter the VIN code, and you will receive all the necessary information. You will be able to see if someone has altered the mileage. You’ll also be able to check the history of previous crash damage, theft warning (when applicable), and outstanding finances.

Let’s check the example of Sophie, who bought a used Audi that seemed like a great find, only 60,000 miles on the clock. However, after running a VIN check, she discovered that the car had actually logged over 100,000 miles before being imported and resold. She had unknowingly overpaid by nearly $5,000, and costly repairs started appearing just months later. A simple VIN check could have saved her a major headache.

Look at the car’s MOT certificate

MOT certificate can tell you if the automobile met the minimum environmental and road safety standards. Similarly, the MOT certificate always contains mileage data, allowing you to verify the reliability of the odometer figures. However, it doesn’t guarantee that an automobile is roadworthy.

Ask the owner to provide these documents and compare them year by year to identify any abnormalities. Look for the reasons for the unusual decrease in mileage for that specific year to ensure the odometer reading is accurate. If the owner cannot or will not provide an MOT certificate, you can always check online using the vehicle’s registration number. This step will not apply to you only if the country of origin of the car doesn’t require such a certificate.

Simply ask the questions

Although it may seem controversial, most car sellers will disclose all the necessary information if asked properly. Ask them freely, and you may find that you can obtain all the information you need. Similarly, if you are not dealing with an inborn liar, you will notice if they cannot provide convincing responses.

If you are buying from a dealer, check the paperwork to make sure that no disclaimer allows them to deceive you. For instance, some dealers may state that the mileage is incorrect, and if you don’t read the paperwork, you may rely on misleading figures.

Check the service history

The service history provides information about any maintenance services provided to the car. Besides, they keep a record of the car’s mileage, allowing you to check its reliability based on the dates of service center visits.

The main drawback of this method is its reliability. This data can be easily falsified in order to deceive new buyers. To make sure that the data is reliable, you can call the garages and ask them for the information that you require.

Inspect the vehicle on your own

If you are a car enthusiast, you would have already noticed the main signs of high mileage. Even though the mileage doesn’t always reflect the car’s condition, it is sometimes noticeable on most of the car’s parts. Inspect the interior and exterior of a car, looking for signs of wear and tear. For instance, the condition of the steering wheel, pedals, and switches will indicate the approximate age of the car. The same applies to car paint. The new painting may suggest that the owner attempted to conceal major issues and repairs.

However, it is hard to make such assumptions as the life expectancy of each component will depend not only on mileage but also on maintenance and the brand of the car. Some makers are famous for the exceptional quality of their components, which will most likely last much longer than those of their competitors.

Have an explicit test drive

If you have such an option, don’t hesitate to take a car for a test drive. Faulty parts usually cause unusual noises that you’d easily notice during the test drive. Similarly, some components simply depend on mileage. If the car is too old, its parts may wear out easily and require repairs. If the owner is selling a car with a mileage discrepancy, it is likely that he wouldn’t care about the maintenance either. Such action could expose an odometer discrepancy. In that case, it would be pointless to make such adjustments.  During regular maintenance, it’s not uncommon to check the odometer reading and record the results of the inspection. 

It would be best to drive another car of the same model to make the comparison. This will allow you to identify any unusual flaws.

As you have seen, there are multiple methods to determine the true mileage of the car. However, all this hard work might even be in vain if the owner used the mileage stopper module. If this tool caused the odometer discrepancy, it would be impossible to determine the wrong figures on the odometer. This is why we always advise our customers to avoid using our testing module for such purposes.

Takeaway

Using mileage discrepancy while selling a used car is quite common these days. You must be cautious to avoid purchasing a car with an odometer discrepancy. There are several ways to determine whether the car’s mileage is accurate or not. However, some people tend to use the mileage stopper tool from Super Kilometer Filter to stop the mileage of their automobile to deceive others. The main function of this module is to use for testing the performance of your “best buddy” and using it for fraudulent purposes is unacceptable.

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