List of cars with the most frequently falsified mileage made public: German Premium class cars dominate

10 models with the most falsified mileage: BMW M5 leads the way

To identify the cars with the most often falsified mileage, the computer data company carVertical analyzed more than 700,000 vehicles. of used car history check reports generated from 2020 onwards. in November until 2021 in November

The study analyzed vehicle history reports in eighteen different markets, including Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Hungary, France, Slovenia, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Latvia, Estonia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Serbia, Germany, Croatia, Russia, United States of America and Italy.

After analyzing the data collected during the investigation, it became clear that the mileage of the BMW M5 sports model is often falsified. Just over a third of all BMW M5s tested had correct odometer readings. However, this does not adequately reveal the extent of BMW’s mileage falsification problem.

According to carVertical automotive expert Mats Buzelis, models from the BMW brand absolutely dominate this study.

“Also half of the TOP 10 list is occupied by cars from this manufacturer. This is related to the demand for used BMW cars in various markets.” The research data also reveals that luxury cars are more likely to be counterfeited, so this should be taken into consideration when looking for a more expensive used car. Finally, this is where mileage control comes in handy,” shared his reflections M. Buzelis.

Second and third place in the ranking are occupied by the BMW 7 Series and the Subaru Outback, with 33.4% respectively. and 31.8% recorded cases of mileage falsification. In fifth place in terms of frequency of mileage falsification was the Audi A8, while its sportier relative, the A7, took tenth place. Just over a quarter (25.8%) of the cars that participated in the study experienced a forced reduction in mileage.

According to M. Buzelis, the predominance of cars of the “Premium” class in this study is determined by the higher selling price and higher profit. Since mileage reversal is a relatively cheap and simple process, it offers additional added value to unscrupulous car dealers.

In this study you can find an extensive list of the 20 cars with most commonly falsified mileage.

List of models with the most frequently falsified mileage by year of production: Mileage of classic cars is often falsified

Considering the research data, when buying a used car, especially an older one, you need to check the car’s mileage. The most popular models with falsified mileage were produced between 2006 and 2016. period. Car expert M. Buzelis notes that there is a clear link between the possibility of falling into scammers’ traps and the class of the car.

According to the expert, in the list of cars with falsified mileage most frequently we find some Premium class models, but economy class cars are also very often faked, although their share in the general context is much smaller. Subaru, Ford and Volkswagen models belong to the same age range as high-end cars. Research data shows that the mileage of cars aged between 5 and 15 years is mostly falsified.

The Ford Mustang is the last model on this list. Prospective owners of the sixth-generation Mustang should exercise extreme caution and check the mileage history. The same should be done in 2006. BMW M5, 2007 Owners of the “5 series” and “X5”, because even the mileage of their cars can be falsified,” says M. Buzelis.

The expert points out that adjusting the odometer readings of late models can be a little more complicated. However, newer cars have lower mileage, so their mileage from the date of manufacture will naturally be lower.

“There’s no point in falsifying the mileage of a car with, say, 50,000 or 80,000 kilometers on the odometer, but it’s still a good idea for buyers to check whether the odometer readings are real or not,” he advises.

The list of models with the most frequently falsified mileage by fuel type: Mileage of diesel cars is most often falsified

Most cars with fake mileage have a diesel engine. As automotive expert M. Buzelis points out, this has always been the case. According to him, diesel cars are designed to cover longer distances, so mileage fraud is more common in such cars. However, the situation may change in the future, as sales of diesel cars are declining.

“If we look at the statistics, it is clear that usually up to 80 or 90 percent of models with falsified mileage have a diesel engine. Take the Volkswagen Phaeton for example: out of 10 models with falsified mileage, nine have diesel engines and only one has a petrol engine,” says the expert.

The percentage of petrol and diesel BMW 6 Series cars with fake mileage is almost identical, but that’s because the petrol versions are much more popular. In some cases, the model range does not even have diesel engines. For example, the BMW M5 and Ford Mustang have only one option – a gasoline engine.

Falsifying mileage increases the value of the used car and ruins the driving experience

After analyzing the market value of cars with falsified mileage, IT data company “carVertical” found that as many as 16.1% of cars checked in the last year had falsified odometer readings.

Since mileage fraud is quite common in the used car market, buyers should be cautious and check their history before purchasing a used car.

Although buyers of economy class cars are at a lower risk of falling into the trap of unscrupulous sellers, buyers of 5-15 year old high class cars with diesel engines are at the greatest risk, since this type of vehicle is most likely to have falsified mileage.

Sports car models also fall into the high-risk category. Purchasing such a model without first checking its history can lead to unexpected costs later.