Car buying history check reveals >100k miles in 8 days. How possible?

NoviceSiggy

Hi I got one of those vehicle history reports for a van I am considering buying from a private seller. It shows that the mileage jumped over 100,000 miles between two title and registration events that were only 8 days apart.

Specifically it shows the following in the vehicle history:
Nov 16, 2021 OH 59,146 mi Title and Registration
Nov 24, 2021 OH 191,171 mi Title and Registration

What is going on here and how could that possibly happen?

kyfdx

NoviceSiggy said:

Hi I got one of those vehicle history reports for a van I am considering buying from a private seller. It shows that the mileage jumped over 100,000 miles between two title and registration events that were only 8 days apart.

Specifically it shows the following in the vehicle history:
Nov 16, 2021 OH 59,146 mi Title and Registration
Nov 24, 2021 OH 191,171 mi Title and Registration

What is going on here and how could that possibly happen?

Either an errant entry on a title form. Or, fraud.

How old is the vehicle?

NoviceSiggy

The vehicle is a 1996. The report seems to indicate that it was involved in an accident the same year as the mileage jump, but there isn't information about the kind of accident.

kyfdx

NoviceSiggy said:

The vehicle is a 1996. The report seems to indicate that it was involved in an accident the same year as the mileage jump, but there isn't information about the kind of accident.

What are the other mileage entries? Do they seem to confirm one or the other?

NoviceSiggy

Oops its a 1994. Here is the full list:

Feb 8, 2022 OH 191,258 mi Title and Registration
Dec 22, 2021 OH 191,171 mi Title and Registration
Nov 24, 2021 OH 191,171 mi Title and Registration
Nov 16, 2021 OH 59,146 mi Title and Registration
Sep 24, 2003 OH 59,146 mi Title and Registration
Jul 9, 1997 IN 44,517 mi Title and Registration
Oct 17, 1995 FL 17,415 mi Title and Registrati



If someone bought it cheap after an accident, why would they intentionally increase the odometer mileage?

NoviceSiggy

I'm wondering if it's some kind of VIN swap scam. Maybe the vehicle was totaled and then they found another VIN from a vehicle in better condition but with a lot more miles on it and did the swap? But in that case, the history would show the history of the other vehicle, not a combination of the histories of the two vehicles, right?

Or they bought a used odometer ... I don't know.

kyfdx

NoviceSiggy said:

I'm wondering if it's some kind of VIN swap scam. Maybe the vehicle was totaled and then they found another VIN from a vehicle in better condition but with a lot more miles on it and did the swap? But in that case, the history would show the history of the other vehicle, not a combination of the histories of the two vehicles, right?

Or they bought a used odometer ... I don't know.

Seems like the Nov 16, 2021 entry is just wrong. It's listed as the same mileage as in 2003. Probably a paperwork issue.

How many miles do they say it has on it now?

If it's 191K, then I'd believe them.

NoviceSiggy

Yes, the current mileage is around 191k. Okay. Thank you for your perspective. It was helpful.