A survey conducted by carVertical has revealed concerning data regarding the state of the used vehicle market in the European Union. Nearly 8,000 drivers were surveyed, and the results show that 30.3 per cent of respondents had personally purchased a car found to have rolled-back mileage. Or at least, they were aware of such fraudulent activity within their close circle. This figure clearly indicates that the issue of odometer tampering remains prevalent, despite the existence of legal frameworks.
The survey also revealed a significant information gap among consumers. Nearly a third, specifically 30.3 per cent, stated that they did not know exactly where to report fraud involving rolled-back mileage. Although in Croatia rolling back the odometer is legally classified as a criminal offence, with a prison sentence of up to five or eight years in more serious cases, consumers often remain helpless. No less than 75.8 per cent of respondents in the survey indicated that they did not know who to contact in the event they discovered a fraud. Furthermore, 19.8 per cent of respondents believed that such acts were penalised only with a fine, which contradicts the actual regulations, while 7.1 per cent of respondents even considered rolling back the odometer to be legal.
Data from the 2025 transparency index of carVertical, which relates only to individual vehicles checked on their platform, shows that 2.2 per cent of the vehicles checked in Croatia had rolled-back mileage. The average difference in mileage was 73,500 kilometres. Although this represents a small percentage relative to the total number of vehicles checked, it is a serious issue that demands attention.
One of the key issues in combating this phenomenon is that vehicles with rolled-back mileage in Croatia are treated less strictly than in many other European markets. Although the European Union is working on harmonising regulations, current tracking systems within individual borders do not allow for complete transparency. European regulations on vehicle technical condition, which should address this issue, have not yet entered into force, leaving room for further abuse in the used vehicle market.
