Odometer fraud is in vogue in France. And for good reason: “A few seconds are enough to remove 49,000 km from a meter with an electronic maintenance box, available over the counter on the Internet,” recalls Gerd Preuss, technical director at the International Automobile Federation (FIA) quoted by the magazine L’Argus .
The German company Carly analyzed more than five million diagnostic sessions carried out in 2022 and 2023. Results: between 300,000 and 360,000 used cars are affected each year by this fraud, indicates The Parisian . The average reduction applied by motorists would thus reach 38,213 km.
15% of meters modified in Metz
A fraud which is increasing in the Grand Est, according to our colleagues from L’Alsace . Between 2022 and 2023, meter modifications increased from 12 to 15% in Metz, according to Carly figures. In Strasbourg, fraud remains stable and concerns 13% of vehicles. In Mulhouse, the increase is two points to reach 12%. In Nancy, fraud gains three points at 10%. Even if Paris and Lille are doing better than in the Grand Est, the progress is dazzling with 10% of meters modified compared to 6% previously.
However, France is not the only country affected. Fraud affects 13% of vehicles in the Netherlands, 11% in Belgium, 9% in Germany.
According to our colleagues, it is possible to detect deception by comparing data: for example, a vehicle sold with 60,000 km on the odometer cannot have a gearbox displaying 100,000 km. It is necessary to have a diagnostic box to obtain this information. It is also possible to request them during the technical inspection.
France
