The odometer is equipment that measures how long a vehicle has run. The odometer is usually located on the dashboard of a car. An odometer might be mechanical or digital. Mechanical odometers are often made up of multiple gears. Each gear on the mechanical odometer represents a numerical digit. A driving mechanism and cable turn the cogs in response to the rotation of the wheels. Digital odometers differ from mechanical odometers in that they track mileage using a computer chip. The current mileage will be shown digitally.

Odometer fraud is the criminal activity of rolling back an odometer to make it appear that a vehicle has less mileage than it has or changing an odometer without notifying the owner to misrepresent the car's actual worth. It has historically been a significant issue and one of the most prevalent forms of fraud for customers and automobile purchases globally.

Due to this fraud, everyone must complete an Odometer Disclosure Statement. It is a particular document given by the state DMV during ownership transfer to provide the mileage and general condition of a vehicle. This document, which must be attached to the Vehicle Bill of Sale at the time of purchase, is intended to safeguard used automobile buyers. The legislation forbids both odometer tampering and odometer alterations. False mileage information on the Odometer Disclosure Statement can result in hefty penalties or even incarceration.

The Odometer disclosure statement Washington allows state DMVs to get relevant data about each sold vehicle and reduce defrauding sales.

The Federal Law Against Tampering with Odometers

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the federal odometer legislation forbids disconnecting, resetting, or altering a motor vehicle's odometer to change the number of miles shown thereon. This law applies to any car, regardless of age and who sells it. When ownership is transferred, the seller is also required by law to record the mileage displayed on the odometer on the vehicle's title.

If the vendor is aware that this number is incorrect, he must additionally offer a written notification of this fact. However, if the car is ten years or older, the seller can remark that no disclosure is needed or put "exempt" where the odometer declaration is made. Even if the car is "exempt," if the seller does not write "exempt" and makes a mileage declaration on the odometer disclosure form, the statement must be truthful, or it is a violation of the Odometer Law, as well as a violation of that state's deceptive trade practices legislation, and perhaps a fraud. The vehicle may have had multiple prior owners, and the seller may not know the mileage history of the car being considered and thus can honestly state that the odometer reading is actual mileage to the best of their knowledge; a knowledgeable buyer will look for signs that the odometer has been changed.

Conclusion

If you buy a used vehicle and are a victim of Odometer disclosure statement Washington fraud, expert attorneys can assist you in recouping your financial losses. Contact us right now for a free examination of the merits of your odometer fraud lawsuit.

Andrew Richardson is the author of this Article. To know more about Lemon Auto please visit our website: allenstewart.com