So I found a 2009 Toyota Camry from a mechanic who says he got it from an auction. He claims it’s in great condition with only 38k miles. Sounded too good to be true, so I checked the VIN on a site called beenverified.com, and it says the car actually has 191k miles.
I brought this up to the mechanic, but he showed me an auction report that says 38k. He’s asking $5000, which includes title and registration. I’m really not sure what to do. Could this be an honest mistake, or does it sound like the mileage has been tampered with? Need advice.
Mileage rollback is a real thing. If you’re still considering it, assume the real mileage is 191k and not 38k. Also, ask yourself—if they messed with the mileage, what else could they be hiding?
Be real with yourself—what makes more sense for a 16-year-old car, 38k miles or 191k miles? Even if the mechanic isn’t lying, it doesn’t change the facts.
This has scam written all over it. If you really want to be sure, take it to a different mechanic and ask them to check the mileage stored in the car’s computer.
Run, don’t walk. Maybe the mechanic is innocent, or maybe he’s the one who rolled back the mileage, but either way, someone is lying and you’re the one who will pay for it.
That’s classic mileage rollback. Either the mechanic knows and is covering it up, or he just believes the auction report without checking. Either way, not worth the risk.