Lack of facilities to detect odometer tampering in Dubai is hurting used car buyers, with many falling prey to shady dealers who cheat unsuspecting customers.
Odometer roll back is being a common practice in Dubai when unauthorized dealers are selling used car. Motorists in Dubai are calling on the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) to make odometer rollback detection part of vehicle inspection.
According to many motorists, who have fall prey to odometer fraud, dealers are getting away with the malpractice because none of the vehicle inspection centres in the city detect odometer tampering.
Sultan Al Marzouqi, director of RTA’s Vehicle Licensing Department, said that according to the prevailing laws, RTA can provide the documents or certificate of proof only when requested by an authorised government entity and in this case by Dubai Courts.
He said that the annual vehicle inspection for vehicle registration only tests the vehicle for its road worthiness, which includes safety, and part of the inspection is to record the vehicle’s existing odometer reading.
“Odometer tampering is not part of the road worthiness and hence it is not under the RTA’s jurisdiction during the vehicle inspection, but the functionality of the odometer itself is a part of the parameters and checked while undergoing the registration or renewal test,” he said.
However, he added: “As part of our ongoing efforts, RTA is reviewing its current procedures which include exploring the tools to minimise any meter tampering.”
A salesman at Sharjah’s used car market admitted that odometer rollback is a common practice and dealers resort to the malpractice to get a better deal.
“I have been working in the used market for the last 25 years and I have commonly seen odometer tampering. Dealers get away with the practice because there is no way anyone can prove it,” said the salesman on the condition of anonymity.
He said one easy way to check for odometer fraud is to compare the kilometre reading in the odometer with the last service reading.
However, for those vehicles which have not been maintained at an agency or the previous owner have not kept a record of maintenance, it is near impossible to detect tampering.
PROTECTION FROM FRAUD
Hundreds of motorists have faced odometer fraud and many wonder how it is done and how to detect it.
Gulf News spoke with an engineer to get a peek in to mechanism of an odometer.
“In the old days the speedo head had to be removed and inside it was a tumble system with wheels so you could turn the wheels as required but nowadays it is all done through a computer and all the information is stored inside the ECU (electronic control unit),” said Gordon Ferguson, general manager of AAA Service Centre.
The information stored inside the ECU can be accessed if one has the correct software and knowledge.
He added: “Some people transfer the ECE from another car with lower kilometres and then reprogram it.”
Is there a way to detect the rollback?
“It is impossible for a layman to know if the odometer has been tampered with,” he said.
But there are ways a person can protect himself from fraud by following a few simple steps:
- Always buy a used car from a reliable showroom like AlShamilCars.com
- Always get a Pre-Purchase inspection before buying used car, by accredited companies such as DubaiUsedCarDealer.com
- Always ask the seller to provide proof of service/maintenance as the odometer readings are registered at the service time.
Source: gulf news , advanced car rental
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