Incorrect Mileage on Purchase Agreement

Jared Branch

New Member
Jurisdiction
Florida
Hi,

I recently purchased a used car from a dealership in Florida and only realized three days later that they had accidentally recorded the incorrect mileage. The mileage that they recorded on all the paperwork was in Kilometers instead of miles, so the car actually has 20 000 odd miles less than what was stipulated on the paperwork as well as in the advertisements. I just want to know what i should do in the scenario, do i contact them and let them know or just leave it as they were the ones that made the error?
 
You're under no legal obligation to do anything, and I can't think of any good reason why you would.
The OP may be impacted at some point down the road when/if the mileage discrepancy comes up. I'm thinking along the lines of questions arising during a subsequent sale.
 
I'm thinking along the lines of questions arising during a subsequent sale.

My thinking as well.

However, if the title came out showing 52,000 miles and the odometer reads 32,000 (Km is about .6 miles) all the OP has to do is drive the car at least another 20,000 so that the odometer eventually catches up to the title. (I hope I didn't get that backwards. Old farts like me is why the US never converted to the metric system.)

If OP is expecting to keep the car for a few years then he probably doesn't have to do anything now. Though it would be a good idea to get it fixed anyway.
 
However, if the title came out showing 52,000 miles and the odometer reads 32,000 (Km is about .6 miles) all the OP has to do is drive the car at least another 20,000 so that the odometer eventually catches up to the title. (I hope I didn't get that backwards. Old farts like me is why the US never converted to the metric system.)
True, but the problem is that, if the vehicle has any cause to have the odometer reading reported between now and that 52,000 mi mark, it's going to be reported as a lower number. That can cause would-be buyers to be, well, nervous.
 
Hi,

I recently purchased a used car from a dealership in Florida and only realized three days later that they had accidentally recorded the incorrect mileage. The mileage that they recorded on all the paperwork was in Kilometers instead of miles, so the car actually has 20 000 odd miles less than what was stipulated on the paperwork as well as in the advertisements. I just want to know what i should do in the scenario, do i contact them and let them know or just leave it as they were the ones that made the error?


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Odometer Fraud - Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
 
There is nothing indicating odometer "fraud" in this matter. This appears to be (and the OP acknowledges it) a clerical error.
 
It is a clerical error that can and should be corrected by the dealer. Contact your state's DMV and find out what is needed to correct the error and then contact the dealer.
 
It is a clerical error that can and should be corrected by the dealer. Contact your state's DMV and find out what is needed to correct the error and then contact the dealer.
TBH - I'd contact the dealer first - why should the OP do all the legwork on this one? ;)
 
Just to get it done with. But if I thought the dealer responds in a timely fashion I'd call them first as well.
Fair enough :)
I'd like to hear back from the OP on the dealer's response about this. I hope it's a smooth correction from an ethical dealer (yes, they do exist.)
 
Fair enough :)
I'd like to hear back from the OP on the dealer's response about this. I hope it's a smooth correction from an ethical dealer (yes, they do exist.)

In my state, even an unethical dealer would likely fix it as completing a false odometer statement is a felony.
 
...knowingly.

If a person has been defrauded, it doesn't matter to the victim if the perpetrator committed the fraud purposely, negligently, or accidentally.

The victim is still a victim.

The state and/or federal authorities would most likely desire the error to be corrected, as would most victims.

If the mileage were reported in kilometers, that most likely would have been a mistake.

Nevertheless, it is still incorrect.

For example, 20,000 kilometers = 12,427 miles!!!

For example, 40,000 kilometers = 24,854 miles!!!

It also significantly affects the vehicle's value.
 
If a person has been defrauded, it doesn't matter to the victim if the perpetrator committed the fraud purposely, negligently, or accidentally.

The victim is still a victim.
It's not fraud if the document was unknowingly filled out incorrectly.

The state and/or federal authorities would most likely desire the error to be corrected, as would most victims.

If the mileage were reported in kilometers, that most likely would have been a mistake.

Nevertheless, it is still incorrect.

For example, 20,000 kilometers = 12,427 miles!!!

For example, 40,000 kilometers = 24,854 miles!!!

It also significantly affects the vehicle's value.
I agree with the rest (except not the characterization of a "victim") - and that's why the OP ought to insist that the dealer correct this error in an expedient manner.

To be clear: If this was anything but an actual mistake, then the dealer should be made to answer for it (as the crime that it would be) to the fullest extent possible.

 
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