MTA WA drives action on odometer tampering

The MTA WA has responded to member reports of a recent escalation in cases of odometer tampering by reaching out to government with suggested solutions and requests for collaborative action.

One of our relatively simple and very practical suggestions to mitigate the crime is for the Department of Transport WA (DoT) to show the odometer reading recorded at the last sale online. This would allow buyers (including dealers) to immediately confirm tampering if the current kilometres are less than any previous number.

Indeed, even if the current odometer reading is higher than a previous figure - but not as high as one might expect for the amount of time that has passed since the last sale – access to the historical number would act as a “red flag” to any potential buyer.

The MTA WA has also recommended a joint government-industry media campaign to promote the new tool and warn potential fraudsters, which would have the added benefit of increasing the uptake of online transfers (and hence, less demand on DoT staff).

While we are proud to hold the view that it’s always better to attack a challenge armed with possible solutions like those above, we also know that many minds make for better outcomes. This is why we have collaborated with the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) Consumer Protection division in scheduling a roundtable discussion to bring together government departments and industry participants.
 

The roundtable is due to take place in early April and as always, the MTA WA will share outcomes and updates with members as soon as possible.

Share your experiences and feedback about odometer tampering with us:
membership@mtawa.com.au