What does a wound odometer alert mean?
The MotorWeb Vehicle Information Report includes NZTA’s recorded odometer history for every vehicle it has tracked. When those readings are inconsistent, or the odometer has been officially flagged as unreliable, the report shows an alert. Here is what each alert means and what to do before you buy.
Inconsistent odometer readings
Odometer readings from WOF inspections and other NZTA records appear to go backwards. A later reading is lower than a previous one.
This can happen for several reasons:
- The odometer went ‘around the clock’ and reset back to zero.
- The odometer was tampered with and manually wound back by someone trying to misrepresent the vehicle’s true mileage.
- The odometer was replaced due to a mechanical fault.
- A reading was incorrectly entered into government records, for example during a WOF inspection.
What to do
Ask the seller to show you service records and WOF test sheets. The recorded mileage at each WOF inspection should trend upward. If readings decline or jump dramatically without explanation, treat that as a serious warning sign.
If you suspect tampering, book an independent pre-purchase inspection before committing to buy.
Odometer is known to be unreliable
NZTA or one of their agents has physically inspected the vehicle and confirmed the odometer has been tampered with.
What to do
An independent mechanical inspection is strongly recommended before you purchase this vehicle. Contact NZTA for more details on 0800 108 809.
Book a pre-purchase inspection with one of these providers:
Not sure what you are looking at?
If you have received a MotorWeb VIR and want help understanding the results, contact our support team at support@motorweb.co.nz.
You can also read our car buyer’s guide for more on what to check before buying a used car privately in New Zealand.