AustraliaThe dealer sold me a car with false odometer reading. Is this a criminal offence?
Yes, tampering with or misrepresenting an odometer reading when selling a car is a criminal offence under Australian consumer law.
What the Law Says
Under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL), it is a criminal offence for a dealer to knowingly supply a motor vehicle with a false or altered odometer reading.
The ACL prohibits misleading conduct and specifically targets odometer fraud because it directly affects the value and safety assessment of a vehicle. Dealers must ensure odometer readings are accurate and must not disconnect, reset, or alter the odometer before sale.
This offence applies to all motor vehicles sold by businesses — including dealerships, auction houses, and online sellers — anywhere in Australia. It does not matter whether the buyer is a consumer or another business.
Penalties are severe: individuals can face up to 5 years’ imprisonment and/or fines up to $100,000; corporations can be fined up to $500,000.
Statutory TextA person must not, in trade or commerce, supply a motor vehicle if the person knows that the odometer of the vehicle has been altered so as to reduce the number shown on the odometer.
— Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), Sch 2 — Australian Consumer Law, s. 161(1) — Odometer tampering
Statutory TextA person who contravenes subsection (1) is guilty of an offence punishable on conviction by imprisonment for not more than 5 years or a fine not exceeding 1,000 penalty units (currently $222,000 for individuals; $1.11 million for corporations).
— Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), Sch 2 — Australian Consumer Law, s. 161(3)
What to Do
Contact the seller immediately and request written confirmation of the odometer reading at time of sale.
Gather evidence: service records, previous registration documents, photos, or digital logs showing inconsistent mileage.
Report the matter to your state or territory fair trading or consumer affairs agency (e.g., NSW Fair Trading, VIC Consumer Affairs).
Consider lodging a complaint with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).
Seek legal advice — you may be entitled to a refund, replacement, or compensation under the ACL.
Sources
Same Question, Other Jurisdictions
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UKNot legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.