Publication date: 12 March 2014

On 12 March, FIA Region I set up a mileage fraud demonstration event on Place Luxembourg, just in front of the European Parliament in Brussels. Passers-by were invited to try out mileage fraud on three vehicles, a VW Golf, a Ford S-max and an Audi Q5. The mileage fraud devices ranged in price from 150 EUR to 10,000 EUR, all of which were easily available for purchase on the internet. The aim of the stunt was to raise public awareness on this commonplace crime in the second-hand car market. 

“Throughout Europe, mileage fraud is costing motorists thousands of Euros and, most of the time, consumers are not even aware that they have been cheated because the mileage history of used cars is almost untraceable,” said Jacob Bangsgaard, FIA Region I Director General. He continued, “Within minutes and without much direction, we saw members of the public alter the odometer readings of three common car types. Today’s demonstration is a first step to getting broader awareness and urging the EU institutions to address this issue.” 

The crime of mileage fraud affects the public at large, by artificially elevating the cost of used vehicles, sometimes by thousands of Euros. It is a crime that is also estimated to affect up to 40% of used cars in Europe. As fighting mileage fraud in one country often ends up shifting the problem to neighbouring countries, an international solution must be found. 

The FIA proposes 4 steps to effectively tackle mileage fraud:

• Encouraging all Member States to consider the manipulation or tampering of an odometer as an offense and effectively enforce their legislation
• Preventing tampering technically through revising vehicle type approval legislation or getting a voluntary commitment of the vehicle manufacturing industry in the European Union
• Setting up a European electronic platform to exchange mileage data – in compliance with data protection legislation – making mileage data broadly available to European citizens buying motor vehicles, in particular cross border
• Supporting specific campaigns by the European Commission and Member States aiming to raise citizens’ awareness about this issue when buying a used car 

Following this event, the FIA will run a similar demonstration for MEPs to give them the same opportunity to see the ease with which this crime can be carried out and how hard it is to trace. The ultimate aim of these events is to inspire MEPs to tackle mileage fraud in their next mandate.

NOTES TO EDITORS

FIA Policy Brief on Mileage Fraud

EVENT: Mileage fraud - the everyday scam that could be affecting you, 19 March in Brussels

The event will carry on from the above demonstration to highlight, with policymakers, potential solutions at the EU level.

Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) Region I office

FIA Region I represents 112 Touring and Motoring Clubs in Europe, the Middle East and Africa from its Brussels office, which total more than 38 million members. The FIA represents the interest of these members as motorists, public transport users, pedestrians and tourists. The FIA’s primary goal is to secure a mobility that is safe, affordable, sustainable and efficient. With these aims in mind, our work focuses on Road Safety, Consumer Protection, Environmental Protection, and the promotion of Sustainable Motoring.

Contact:

Andrea Campbell

Communications Manager, FIA Region I

acampbell@fia.com

+32 2 282 0813
+32 2 282 0813