- Odometer fraud is rising in Utah, with over 22,000 vehicles affected.
- This represents a 17% increase from last year, according to CARFAX data.
- The spike in odometer fraud is driven in part by high used car prices.
SALT LAKE CITY — Odometer fraud is surging nationwide, according to new data shared with the KSL Investigators by CARFAX. And in Utah, the numbers are climbing even faster.
It finds that nearly 2.5 million vehicles on the road right now are believed to have odometers that have been cracked. That's a 14% jump in just one year.
CARFAX said more than 22,000 vehicles in Utah are now suspected of having a rolled-back odometer. That adds up to a 17% jump from last year's numbers.
It matters because mileage equals safety and money.
"In 2025, consumers who unsuspectingly bought a car that had an odometer rollback on it lost on average about $3,300 in value," said Em Nguyen of CARFAX.
She said a one-two punch is helping drive the spike in odometer fraud — soaring used car prices combined with more Americans feeling stretched thin, financially, these days.
"So, scammers are thinking what should I do to make this vehicle look more desirable, more attractive," Nguyen said.
Scammers have also figured out it's a lot easier to roll an odometer than it used to be. In fact, it doesn't require any physical rolling at all.
"It's pretty simple," said Josh Ingle, owner of Atlanta Speedometer — a legitimate business that repairs instrument clusters.
Ingle showed us how an inexpensive tool can be plugged into a car's on-board diagnostics port and used to change the mileage on a digital odometer in seconds.
"It has 150,000 miles on it," Ingle said of the demonstration car. "And once I hit enter, I'll take a couple seconds to go through and you'll see the dash reset, and then you'll see it when it comes back to life with reporting a new mileage. and we've shaved about 100,000 miles off the vehicle."
How to protect yourself
Before you buy, pull a vehicle history report. Look for mileage discrepancies that don't make sense — such as big drop in the number of miles. CARFAX has a free tool where you can enter a VIN and check for possible odometer fraud.
You should always have a mechanic inspect a car before you buy it, even if you have a vehicle history report. A mechanic can tell you whether the wear and tear on a car is in line with what the odometer says.
If you suspect you're the victim of odometer fraud, document everything and contact the seller. File a report with Utah's Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division. And if you hit a wall, you can always contact Matt Gephardt at matt@ksl.com or 385-707-6153.
