How to avoid second-hand car sale kilometrage scams in France

Drivers are warned to be alert to scams in France in which the kilometrage on second-hand cars is falsified to give the impression that the car has travelled fewer kilometres than it actually has.

While there is no way to accurately identify the real kilometrage of a car after it has been tampered with, here are some tips that buyers can follow in a bid to avoid being scammed. They were gathered by French media La Depeche - we summarise.

1. Ask to see bills

Seeing the vehicle’s past bills can help you check if the kilometres shown match the history of the vehicle. If the seller cannot show you these documents or is very reluctant to do so, this is usually a bad sign.

2. Ask to see the history of the vehicle

When buying a second-hand car, always check the history of the vehicle. A government platform called HistoVec enables you to request this information (although it is entered voluntarily by car-owners so not all cars are there), which can include any dates of previous check-ups, with the corresponding kilometrage.

In this way, it is easy to see if a vehicle has a ‘normal’ progression in the kilometres done, and also if the numbers correspond to that given by the vendor.

Some criminals can falsify the vehicle’s history, but this is much more difficult and would indicate a much larger and more organised scam.

You can also see the car’s carte grise history, and get tips for selling or buying a second-hand car, on the government’s website l’Agence Nationale des Titres Sécurisés.

3. Request a private database check

Some platforms such as carVertical and Autorigin enable you to get extra details on a vehicle’s history (for a fee) without going through the vendor. These details can help you check any possible dangers about the vehicle, and anything to watch out for.

4. Take it to an official garage

For some recent vehicles, the car’s computer can reveal certain aspects of the car’s history, including any anomalies when it comes to the kilometrage.

If you can, taking the vehicle to its original manufacturer for a check-up – for example, taking a BMW X5 to an official BMW garage, or asking an official engineer to come to you – can help reveal any scams or tampering.

5. Check physical signs

Taking a close look at physical signs of tampering can also reveal something amiss. This might be anything from the fabric or leather of the seats having been cut or altered or even signs that the pedals of the car have been worn down more than you might expect for a low kilometre count.

6. Check under the bonnet

Check under the bonnet for signs of tampering. For example, some cars have a sticker under the bonnet indicating when their next oil change is due.

This can give a clear reading if something is amiss, for example, if the oil has been changed at 150,000km, but the kilometre counter shows 100,000km only, then you can instantly tell it has been altered.

What are the most commonly tampered with models?

A CarVertical study of 700,000 historical vehicle reports between November 2020 and November 2021 found the following second-hand models to be at the highest risk of kilometrage tampering:

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