Odometer fraud is on the rise.

Data from CARFAX showed more than 2.14 million cars on the road might have had their odometer rolled back in 2024, 82,000 more than last year and up 18% since 2021.

The number of vehicles with rolled-back odometers rose this year in nine of the 10 states with the most rollbacks. Virginia had the largest increase, soaring 11.7%, followed by Arizona (8.0%) and Florida (6.4%).

California led all states in odometer fraud with some 484,500 vehicles, ahead of Texas (294,200), New York (97,400), Florida (90,900), Illinois (79,200), Georgia (70,400), Pennsylvania (70,300), Virginia (63,400), Arizona (60,200) and North Carolina (51,000).

“Today’s technology makes rolling an odometer back easier than ever,” CARFAX vice president of data and public policy Faisal Hasan said. “This might be done as a way to avoid mileage charges in a vehicle lease or to dramatically increase the value of a car.”

The company said rolling back an odometer can take mere seconds and results in an average loss of $4,000 in value, as well as additional costs for unexpected repairs and potential safety risks.

In a news release, CARFAX quoted Atlanta driver Jimmy Hendon, who thought he had found the vehicle he was looking for: “a beautiful Chevy 4×4 Truck that sounded perfect: Low miles, great condition, etc.”

“When I ran the CARFAX on the vehicle, I discovered the truck had approximately 180,000 miles rather than the 108,000 stated,” Hendon said. “The mileage was so far off from the accurate mileage it was crazy.”

CARFAX offered tips for protecting yourself from odometer fraud, including obtaining a vehicle history report and checking the vehicle’s title, maintenance and inspection records to compare the mileage; checking wear and tear of the gas, brake or clutch pedals; and having a trusted mechanic inspect the car before a purchase to check if the vehicle looks older than its odometer suggests.

CARFAX offers more information about combating odometer fraud at carfax.com/odo.