The short answer
Do not trust the number on the dash alone. Compare it with the service book, invoices and inspection reports, check whether wear on the steering wheel, pedals and seat matches the mileage, and have a garage read the mileage from the car’s other control units. For cars from Germany, ask for the inspection reports, which record the mileage. With no history, price the car as if it had more kilometres.
The essentials
- The number on the dash is easy to change, the history is not: service book, invoices, reports.
- Wear on the steering wheel, pedals and seat must match the mileage.
- Imported cars carry more risk, because their history stays abroad.
Why it happens so often
Rolling back the odometer costs little and often adds thousands of euros to the price. According to the European Parliament’s rapporteur, 30 to 50 per cent of used cars sold from one country to another have tampered mileage. In Kosovo that affects almost every buyer: more than 44,000 cars were imported in 2025, around 90 per cent of them used.
A 2026 analysis by carVertical found rolled-back odometers on imported cars about twice as often as on cars sold domestically. The reason is simple: the service and inspection history stays in the country of origin.
The signs on the car
| Where to look | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Steering wheel and gear knob | Smooth or shiny leather does not go with low mileage |
| Pedals | Rubbers worn down to the metal, or brand new on an old car |
| Driver’s seat | Left bolster sagging or torn |
| Oil change sticker | On the windscreen or door pillar the old reading is often forgotten |
| Front end | Lots of stone chips on bonnet and windscreen mean lots of motorway |
| Brake discs and tyres | New parts on a low-mileage car need an explanation |
Papers that lie less often
- A stamped service book: dates and mileage must rise steadily, with no jumps backwards and no empty years.
- Service and parts invoices: the mileage is often written on them.
- German inspection reports (HU): each records the mileage, and since May 2018 it is also reported to the KBA’s central vehicle register. As a buyer from abroad you cannot query that register; only the registered keeper gets information. So ask for the paper reports.
- Cars from Belgium come with a Car-Pass: since 2006 the mileage is logged at every service and inspection.
- Old listings online: the same car was sometimes for sale years earlier with more kilometres.
Diagnostics: what it shows and what not
In many cars the mileage is also stored in other electronic units, such as the ABS, the automatic gearbox or the key. A garage with a diagnostic tool reads them. If they differ from the dash, that is a strong sign. If they match, it is no proof: professionals change those too.
A crime in Germany, and it still happens
In Germany, tampering with an odometer is punishable by up to a year in prison or a fine (§ 22b StVG). Yet many cars pass through several hands before they arrive here, and the reading can be changed after the last sale there too. So check for yourself, even when the car comes from a country with strict rules.
A car with a complete history is worth more than one with a low number. If the history is missing, negotiate as if the car had more kilometres, and write the mileage into the contract.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check the mileage of a car from Germany?
Ask for the German inspection reports (HU, done by TÜV, Dekra and others): each records the mileage. Compare them with the service book and invoices. Many brands also keep the service history digitally at the official dealer, whom you can ask with the chassis number.
Can a garage read the real mileage?
Partly. In many cars the mileage is also stored in other control units, such as the ABS or the gearbox. If the values differ, that is a strong sign. If they match, it is no proof, because professionals change those too.
How often are odometers rolled back?
According to the European Parliament’s rapporteur (2018), 5 to 12 per cent of used cars sold within an EU country and 30 to 50 per cent of those sold across borders have tampered odometers. carVertical data (2026) show lower shares, but imports are still affected about twice as often. Almost every used car in Kosovo comes from abroad.
What if I find out after buying?
Keep the contract with the recorded mileage, the listing and every document that proves the real figure. Whoever knowingly sells you a car with a rolled-back odometer is defrauding you. Ask a lawyer about claiming your money back or a discount, or reporting it to the police.
What should the contract say about mileage?
The mileage on handover day and the seller’s statement that, to their knowledge, it is the real figure. That helps you if the opposite comes out later. More in the sales contract.
Sources
Checked against the sources below. Rules can change: in individual cases the responsible authority decides.
- European Parliament: Car clocking, MEPs call for new legislation to combat odometer fraud · May 2018
- Telegrafi: Mbi 44 mijë vetura u importuan më 2025, të përdorurat më të preferuarat · Mar 2026
- carVertical: Local or imported cars, which have more mileage rollbacks? · Jan 2026
- Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt: Hauptuntersuchung im Zentralen Fahrzeugregister
- Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt: Auskunft aus dem Zentralen Fahrzeugregister
- § 22b StVG: Missbrauch von Wegstreckenzählern
- Car-Pass: I want to buy a used vehicle
- EReg: Vehicle mileage registration, final report (Car-Pass Belgium) · Apr 2014