Let’s face it. Car dealers everywhere will try everything to have a customer purchase a vehicle more than its price. They all know what it will do to their business integrity. But an unsuspecting customer would not even know if they’re vehicle was already a lemon to begin with. While this article is not deriding any car dealer nationwide, it only helps to know if your vehicle is actually what your car dealer claims it to be. One of the indicators of a vehicle’s age is the mileage that it has travelled. Car dealers usually tamper with these mileage counters and can easily trick customers into believing the value. Here are ways to know if the vehicle’s mileage is actually telling the truth.
1. Signs of Tampering
All car manufacturers made sure that the mileage counters cannot be tampered with by anybody because it will affect the resale value of the vehicle. A sign that the mileage counter has been tampered with is when its cosmetics actually look too rugged or too ‘worn and torn’ while the car’s mileage value is set at a low value. Customers must knock with a bit of strength on the odometer to see if the numbers are shaking or if the numbers do not align properly.
2. Contact Previous Owners
All previous owners of the vehicles sold to car dealers can be contacted as they are still the reference person with regards to the ownership of the vehicle. A car dealer can say anything, but a previous car owner will admit to every flaw the car might have. You can ask them about the exact mileage of the vehicle before it was sold to have a peace of mind.
3. Ask your Car Dealer
The car dealer is the sole caretaker of the vehicle you are about to purchase. But do not ask them if the car mileage reading is precise. Instead, ask them what measures do they take in ensuring that the vehicles they purchase have the proper mileage. If they cannot give you a straight answer, you can ask them if their company is a member of a trade association. Trade associations have strict codes of practice wherein their members strictly comply.
