Many residents wanting to buy used cars are falling prey to fraudsters who are rolling back the odometer to show a lower mileage and charging a higher price. While this is a form of cheating, it is also a dangerous practice as the new buyer is not aware of the correct mileage, which could compromise safety.
The problem surfaced after some residents discovered that the used cars they had bought had a much higher mileage than they were told. It seems some sellers had tampered with the odometer and reduced the mileage, and now residents are calling upon the authorities to make odometer rollback checks a part of vehicle inspections.
In Dubai, the Roads and Transport Authority does not check odometer rollback during vehicle inspections, but officials said they will consider it following alerts from residents that claim they have been cheated.
Residents rely a lot on their cars, be it for work or for family outings. Cars today are seen as a necessity and not a luxury. But many cannot afford new cars and the used car market is thriving with deals done on trust. But as these cases of fraud are surfacing, residents must beware and buy cars from authorised dealers to get their hard earned money’s worth. There is also peace of mind that the car is in good condition. Other used car dealers may offer a lower price, but there is always a risk of being cheated and a compromise in safety. This must be taken into consideration when buying a used car.
The authorities must look at introducing odometer rollback checks during inspections to ensure the safety of motorists, but residents must also be more prudent and cautious when buying used cars. A joint responsibility between the authorities and residents will curb this fraud.
