Is it ever legal for a Dealer to roll back mileage if stated?

• A. Never legal to roll back mileage
• B. Sometimes legal with consent
• C. Only with owner's consent
• D. Only for leased vehicles

Answer: (A)

Odometer integrity is essential for buyers to gauge wear, remaining life, and maintenance needs. It is illegal to roll back a vehicle’s odometer because doing so misleads a buyer about how many miles the car has actually traveled. In Wisconsin, as in federal law, tampering with the odometer or falsifying mileage is considered fraud and can carry criminal penalties and civil liability. Therefore, there are no lawful circumstances that allow a dealer to roll back miles—even with consent or in the case of leased vehicles—the mileage shown must reflect the true distance traveled and be disclosed accurately. The only acceptable practice is to disclose the true mileage or any odometer replacement and provide the proper disclosure if the reading does not reflect the true miles.