Consumer warning as NSW Fair Trading odometer tampering crackdown fines 28 sellers in one month

Used-car buyers are being urged to check a vehicle’s history before purchase after NSW Fair
Trading issued 28 fines in a month and a man was sentenced to a nine-month intensive corrections
order for unlicenced motor dealing and odometer tampering. 

During the crackdown, NSW Fair Trading issued 54 penalty notices in relation to car sales and
repairs valued at more than $100,000. While more than half were for odometer interference, other
offences included the non-supply of goods and services, and unlicensed vehicles and sales.

Additionally, Andrew Rodney Leech pled guilty to operating without a motor dealer’s licence and
odometer tampering. Between 2020 and 2022 Leech sold 16 vehicles while unlicensed, online with
one car having an odometer that had been wound back by more than 200,000 kilometres.

Buyers of used vehicles are being urged to research the car’s history to ensure it has no outstanding
finance, has not been written off in a crash, and has accurate odometer readings.

The NSW Government offers a free vehicle registration check where prospective buyers have
access to a NSW-registered vehicle’s previous three annual odometer readings, as well as basic
details like vehicle make, registration and insurance history.

Across the motor vehicle industry in 2024, NSW Fair Trading took disciplinary action against 21
licensed motor vehicle dealers and repairers, resulting in 10 licence cancellations, 13
disqualifications including three permanent, and one suspension.

For more information on consumer protections relating to purchasing a used vehicle visit the NSW
Fair Trading website here: buying a used vehicle.

To check registration, including odometer reading visit:
check a vehicle registration or the Service NSW App.

Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading, Anoulack Chanthivong said:

“Odometer tampering is used by unscrupulous sellers to increase the value of a vehicle leaving the
buyer with a vehicle which is not in the condition advertised, and likely to require repairs at cost and
inconvenience to the buyer.

“Sellers of used cars who reduce the number of kilometres displayed on the vehicle can be fined
$1,100 per offence, and if taken to court can receive a penalty of up to $55,000 per offence.

“Any buyer of a used car from any source, whether that be online like Facebook Marketplace or
through a licenced car dealer, should do their homework including visiting the Service NSW website
to run a free history check on the car they wish to purchase.”