Odometer Fraud -- should I take action?

**Preston** · 06-09-2009, 10:20 AM

I'm kind of in an odd situation.

I recently sold my car on craigslist. The odometer was broken and I disclosed this to the buyer, who seemed to have no problem with it as it was just basic trasnpotation. I got $600 for it. I wasn't asking for much as I just wanted to be rid of it. Sold on 6/1/09 and I signed the title over and checked the 'Not Actual Mileage' box

So I did an online title inquiry on the BMV's website to see that the car sold on 6/5/09 for $900. I can handle someone trying to make a quick buck off me and all but the title listed ACTUAL mileage.

I am worried that it was my name was on the title that was trasnferred the the person who bought the car off me committed fraud. What should I do?

I tried contacting carfax but they didn't want to take any information about this.

**Radish4ever** · 06-09-2009, 10:30 AM

Can you contact the BMV about it?

**Momto2Boyz** · 06-09-2009, 10:52 AM

Contact the Motor Vehicle Department and check on the sale. Explain that you sold the car, and you found out that the car was immediately sold again. Explain that there wasn't enough time to have the title transferred and your worried that they have sold the car in your name, then explain about the mileage.

If you signed off on the title, then everything should be fine.

We did something similiar last year. DH bought a project car, then decided it was too much work. We never had the title transferred, but we were still able to sell it (to a friend of DH's) without transferring the title, so there is a way to do it. Hopefully, they did it the right way. But I would check it out, just to make sure the new buyer doesn't come after you for anything!

**Neeley** · 06-09-2009, 03:36 PM

What year is the vehicle? If it is a 1999 or older, it doesn't matter. Odometer readings are not required on vehicles 10 years or older. These vehicles are exempt from mileage statements.

If it is a 2000 or newer and you checked the "Actual Mileage Unknown" or "True Mileage Unknown" box then you are clear. It will be recorded on the new title as a TMU vehicle (true mileage unknown). You cannot just mark through or scratch out things written, signed or checked off on car titles without doing a state approved correction form. The person who bought it off of you can not do one of the title correction forms to say the TMU box was checked by mistake without your signature on the form. Plus, the signatures on the form have to be witnessed by a notary and notarized (in most states, if not all).

Sometimes when a vehicle is over 10 years old and has lower mileage, the seller and or buyer will have a note put on the title that says "Actual Mileage". When this is done, it is just to help boost the value of a vehicle. It doesn't change the fact that 10 year old vehicles ad older are exempt from mileage statements.

ETA: I stopped doing car titles full-time almost five years ago. I have done a few here and there since then and to my knowledge, none of the major laws regarding mileage statements and correcting forms have changed.