The widespread availability of used cars should make shopping for them a consumer s dream come true. Unfortunately, shopping for a used car can be a nerve-racking experience. It s not always clear whether a car that looks okay on the outside will still work two weeks later, or even two blocks off of the lot. It can be difficult to know if the car you purchased is worth the amount you paid for it. One important indicator of a car s value and reliability is the mileage.
Consumers rely on an accurate odometer reading to provide an exact count of the car s mileage.
Precisely because mileage is so important in determining a car s value, dishonest sales representatives may be tempted to turn back a car s odometer. To counteract this temptation and to protect consumers, the federal government passed a law called the Federal Odometer Act. Anyone purchasing a car in the United States is protected by this act. Under the act, it is unlawful to tamper with an odometer in order to change the mileage registered. Tampering can take a number of different forms, all of them illegal.