In Saudi Arabia’s fast moving used car market, a shiny body and a good price might catch your eye, but there's one number that can quietly trick you: the odometer reading. Odometer tampering has become a growing concern for buyers, allowing dishonest sellers to inflate the car’s value by showing a much lower mileage than reality. Luckily, there are some easy tricks and tools to help you catch this kind of fraud before it costs you.
One of the biggest red flags is when the car's physical condition doesn’t match the mileage. For example, if the odometer shows only 70,000 kilometers, but the steering wheel leather is worn out, the pedals are heavily used, or the seat fabric is sagging, something doesn’t add up. Modern cars also come with digital odometers, and if the screen displays inconsistent digits, strange symbols, or error messages, that could be a sign someone messed with the numbers. Also, if old maintenance records show a higher mileage in the past than what’s on the dash now, walk away.
Before you commit to a deal, use official online platforms like Mojaz in Saudi Arabia to review the car’s full history. This includes accident records, number of previous owners, and past inspection dates with their mileage. It only takes a few minutes and can reveal a lot. If something looks off, take the car to a trusted inspection center. A skilled technician can compare the engine and suspension wear to the claimed mileage and even check the internal ECU data, which often stores the real numbers. Also, ask how many people owned the car before. A single-owner car with low mileage makes sense. But if it had many owners and still shows low mileage, dig deeper.
In Saudi Arabia, odometer fraud isn’t just shady, it’s illegal. The Saudi Standards and Metrology Authority considers it a form of commercial fraud, with strict penalties in place. If someone is caught, they could face fines up to 1,000,000 SAR, jail time for up to 5 years, or even closure of their business. Consumers can also report these cases via the Balagh Tijari app or by calling 1900. If the fraud is confirmed in court, the person who reported it might receive up to 25 percent of the fine as a reward. That’s a big incentive to stay alert and speak up.
Started my career in Automotive Journalism in 2015. Even though I'm a pharmacist, hanging around cars all the time has created a passion for the automotive industry since day 1.
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