These are the most common used car scams, according to experts

According to experts at Ayvens, one of the largest fleet managers and used car dealers in Hungary, fraud methods have become increasingly sophisticated in recent years, so buyers should be especially careful and buy from a reliable dealer to avoid risk.

Based on experience, several typical forms of abuse are repeated in the used car market. The most common include rolling back the odometer, concealing previous damage, and distorting data on the vehicle’s history. It also often happens that the real use of the car (for example, its taxi history) is concealed, or buyers are tried to convince with false or incomplete documentation.

Rewinded odometer

“Odometer rewinding is mainly typical for cars imported from abroad, as it is more difficult to retrieve and check the mileage on an international platform. Rewinding is rare for Hungarian cars, as the km-hour data is recorded every two years during every technical inspection, but exceptions can still occur”

– says Andrea Rékai, head of the Ayvens Car Remarketing business unit and the Ayvens Used Car showroom.

Odometer rewinding is difficult to recognize for a layperson. It can be a suspicious sign if the car’s internal condition (steering wheel, pedals, seats) is not consistent with the mileage. It is important to pay attention to service documents and their consistency, and to ensure that the mileage matches in several sources (e.g. technical inspections, service data).

Serious damage

Previous serious damage may be indicated by different paint shades, uneven joints, non-factory welding marks or bodywork elements of different years of manufacture. In many cases, however, these signs are no longer visible after professional repair, which is why an independent expert inspection and a transparent vehicle history are particularly important. It can also be a warning sign if the vehicle query shows that the mileage has not changed for a long time – this may indicate that the car has been parked for a long time due to damage.

Fresh from abroad

In the case of cars “freshly imported from abroad”, it is often more difficult to check the history, which is why this is ideal terrain for fraudsters. It may happen that the vehicle’s previous damage, real mileage or usage is not revealed, or the related documents are incomplete or manipulated. “A typical abuse in the case of foreign cars is also the incorrect indication of the year of manufacture – it is worth checking this on the windows, as the year of manufacture is also stamped here. The connection of the engine control light is also a common fraud, so when you look at a car, it is worth turning on the ignition and checking whether the check engine light is on – if not, it can be a strong warning sign” – adds the Ayvens expert.

Forged documents

Fraudsters most often forge service books, invoices, technical inspection documents and certificates related to mileage. These documents may seem authentic at first glance, but it is difficult to determine their authenticity without an expert check. In the case of cars imported from abroad, the year of manufacture is often incorrectly indicated.

Can we avoid it?

Since it is difficult for the layperson to spot incorrect data and questionable technical features, many people seek the help of a car mechanic when buying a used car, or prepare to inspect the car with their own car diagnostic tool, a so-called error code reader. While involving a professional can indeed be a great help, the use of error code readers is not allowed in all dealerships – however, this is not necessarily a warning sign. “The electronic and infotainment systems of newer cars are very complex, so connecting an unverified device to the car can even cause damage to the sophisticated electronics,” said Andrea Rékai. “In addition, purchasing such a device and involving an expert can cost up to 30-50,000 HUF.”

You can be sure and save a lot of time and money by buying a vehicle from a professional, large-company used car dealer, as the cars here are offered with a verified history, documented mileage and an independent expert survey – meaning the papers will definitely show the same thing as what you would see with a fault code reader. At Ayvens Used Car, for example, all major parts and elements that affect the life of the car are carefully checked before resale. Cars with a lot of mileage, in poor condition or with serious damage are not offered in the first place. Thus