What are the damages for odometer fraud in the US?
The federal Odometer Act (49 U.S.C. 32710) awards the greater of three times your actual damages or $10,000, plus reasonable attorney fees and court costs. Actual damages are usually the difference between what you paid and the car’s true value at its real mileage. The $10,000 floor means small overpayments still yield a meaningful recovery.
How do I prove odometer rollback?
Compare the mileage on your title and bill of sale against historical records: prior title transfers, state inspection records, oil-change and service stickers, and vehicle history reports (Carfax, AutoCheck, or the federal NMVTIS database). A later reading lower than an earlier record is strong evidence of a rollback. Federal recovery requires intent to defraud.
Can I recover attorney fees in an odometer fraud case?
Yes. The Odometer Act is a fee-shifting statute, so a prevailing consumer recovers reasonable attorney fees and costs from the seller. This makes it economical to pursue even a modest overpayment, and many consumer-protection attorneys take these cases on contingency or with fees paid by the defendant.
Who is liable for odometer fraud?
Any transferor in the chain who altered the odometer or knowingly gave a false mileage statement can be liable, including dealers, wholesalers, and private sellers. Dealers who should have known about a discrepancy can be liable for reckless disregard. You can often pursue multiple parties in the title chain.