When should a dealership provide an odometer statement?

A dealership must provide an odometer statement at the time of vehicle sale. This is critical because the odometer statement serves as a legal declaration of the mileage on the vehicle at the point of sale, helping to ensure transparency and protect consumers from potential fraud or misrepresentation regarding vehicle usage.

When the dealership presents the odometer statement during the sale, it confirms the accuracy of the odometer reading to the buyer and provides an official record that can be referenced if there are any disputes later on. It's part of compliance with federal regulations, specifically the Truth in Mileage Act, which mandates that sellers disclose vehicle mileage to prevent odometer tampering.

Providing this statement serves both to inform the buyer accurately and to protect the seller from liability associated with undisclosed odometer discrepancies.