Mileage fraud is a very acute problem on the used car market in Slovenia. In order to increase the value of used vehicles, sellers and brokers adjust the odometer so that the odometer shows a lower mileage than the actual mileage.
The rights of the buyer in such cases are protected by civil law, but the length of court proceedings and the costs involved (lawyer, expert, fees) make this a relatively ineffective way of protecting the rights of buyers of used vehicles.
Not only is odometer fraud a form of fraud which has financial consequences for the buyer (the vehicle is actually worth less than it was paid for, more frequent breakdowns, etc.), but it also has consequences for road safety.
Vehicle manufacturers prescribe service intervals linked to age and mileage. At a certain mileage, replacement of parts and assemblies that affect driving safety (steering, suspension, braking, safety systems) is also required. If the odometer shows a lower mileage than the actual mileage, it means that important components of the vehicle will not be replaced within the prescribed time limit. This results in vehicles on the road with worn out parts and assemblies that pose a potential danger to the driver, passengers and other road users.
Consequently, I propose to the competent ministries (Ministry of Transport, Ministry of the Interior) that the new Vehicle Act defines the sale or brokering of the sale of a motor vehicle with an altered mileage as an offence punishable by a fine of between €4,000 and €8,000 for natural persons, between €8,000 and €20,000 for legal persons and €2,500 for the person in charge of a legal person.
It should also provide for a fine of between EUR 4 000 and EUR 8 000 for an individual or a legal person and EUR 1 000 for the person in charge of a legal person who, on the orders of another, alters the odometer reading of a motor vehicle.
Traffic inspectors should be empowered to identify, investigate and conduct offence proceedings and may cooperate with the police in the investigation.
As an additional measure to tackle the problem of odometer tampering, I also propose that authorised testing organisations also record the odometer reading at the time of the roadworthiness test, which is recorded in the existing vehicle database. The odometer reading for each vehicle at the time of the roadworthiness test should be added to the other vehicle data in the eMRVL service.