What Is an Odometer Disclosure Statement

Next, the seller must define the accuracy of the odometer. To that end, there will be two choices in the opening statement. An odometer disclosure statement is simply an explanation of a vehicle`s mileage as indicated by its odometer, and whether or not it is an accurate reading. If you`ve ever sold a car, you`ve actually completed a general odometer disclosure statement. For a California vehicle title, the field under the two stacked signatures is specifically for the odometer disclosure statement. An odometer declaration is a mandatory attachment to a vehicle purchase slip at the time of purchase for all vehicles under £16,000 and under 10 years of age. The document must be filed under federal law in all 50 states to complete the sale and allows the purchaser of the vehicle to apply for registration (with title and purchase contract and any other required form). This form is also useful if you need to update the odometer disclosure section in the title, or if the mileage section does not have a place for the buyer to sign. It is possible to open the instrument cluster and reset the numbers, if your car has an analog odometer or if it is digital, the car`s computer can be manipulated. To combat this, a federal law called the Federal Truth in Mileage Act was introduced in 1986, and since that law is in effect, each vehicle`s mileage is stored in a database and updated each time the vehicle is sold. Finally, you can specify that the mileage is “not the actual mileage” if the odometer is broken or has been replaced, or if the owner does not know the actual mileage of the vehicle. In the first space of the explanation of this document, enter the full name of the seller of the vehicle You will also notice on a California title that there are three options to indicate whether the odometer is correct or not.

After writing the numbers indicated by the odometer of the vehicle, you can say that the mileage is the “actual mileage” that confirms the number as accurate, you can also say that the specified mileage exceeds the mechanical limits, which means that it is “reversed” or has reached the highest number of which it is capable and restarted. Surely you`ve heard about odometer fraud and what it does to the current used car market. A high-mileage vehicle is likely to sell for less than the same vehicle with fewer miles, which could trick sellers into lying about how many miles the car has driven. Odometer fraud is important because an odometer counts the miles driven while your car is being driven. It`s that long six-digit number under your speedometer. In older cars, they are controlled by an analog system, while new odometers are read digitally. Odometer disclosure is required by law, with the exception of certain vehicles, which means that a violation of the odometer will result in fines and possibly imprisonment. However, not all vehicles are subject to the mandatory indication of odometers.

For example, in California, vehicles 10 years old or older do not need to have mileage. Keep in mind that odometer manipulation can result in fines and/or jail time, so it`s important to be honest about your vehicle`s mileage. It doesn`t matter if you don`t know what the actual number is, but be sure to brag as such about the title when selling. You can also get a history report on your vehicle to see what the mileage recorded was in the past. Commercial vehicles with weight restrictions are also not required, as are vehicles sold by a manufacturer directly to an agency and a new vehicle transferred before the first retail sale. In certain circumstances, you may be asked to complete a mileage measurement form. The next part of this form requires the attention of the purchaser of the vehicle. This part must not be completed until the buyer has consulted the mileage and verified this document. Once this task is complete, the buyer must sign their name in the “Buyer`s Signature” line.

Next to the box marked as “Buyer`s Name”, the buyer`s printed name must be clearly displayed. The second white space requires that the number of miles, rounded to the nearest tenth, be displayed on the vehicle`s odometer. In the next line, enter the vehicle model and then the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Finally, the date on which this document was signed by both parties must be indicated on the blank line “Certification date”. If the odometer is accurate and represents the actual mileage the vehicle has driven, place a marker on the first check box. If your title is missing, you can apply for a duplicate title in California by completing a REG 262 form. Once this form is completed, attach it to the purchase contract. This may not be necessary for all documents, however, such an action is widely considered a sign of good deals. The Ultimate Buying Guide for a Used Car Understanding the Vehicle History Report What is a Salvage Title Vehicle Why You Need a Vehicle History Report What Type of Cars to Avoid Next, the city, state and zip code attached to the buyer`s address must be indicated on the empty boxes labeled “City”, “State” and “Postal Code”. The next line contains three spaces.

Use these spaces to enter the “city”, “state” and “postal code” associated with the street address reported by the seller. Federal Law – 49 U.S. Code Chapter 327 (Odometer) This is the federal form, although your state may have its own odometer disclosure statement provided by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Finally, enter the state where the last license plate of the vehicle was issued in the empty field labeled “Last license plate status.” Then indicate the last license plate attached to the vehicle in the “Last license plates” field. This form requires both the seller and the buyer to sign this document and provide some basic information. To this end, two separate sections have been provided. First, find the words “seller`s signature.” If the mileage does not indicate the actual number of miles traveled by the vehicle, check the “(2)” box. The blank line below the signature line “Seller`s address” must record the seller`s physical address (building number, street and any applicable suite number). Under the buyer`s signature and printed name, their home number must be written in the blank line after the words “buyer`s address”. You can open or download this form in Adobe PDF, Open Document Format (.odt), or Microsoft Word (.docx).

The person selling the vehicle and providing the odometer information on this form must sign and print their name on the empty fields labeled “Seller`s Signature” or “Seller`s Name”. The next part of this form consists of several empty lines, each requiring definition information commonly used to identify a vehicle. To begin, indicate the make, body style and year of the vehicle in the appropriate areas. .