European Car-Pass is intended to reduce odometer fraud

People buying a second-hand car in the European Union are being hoodwinked on a massive scale. A new study reveals that between 30 and 50% of kilometre readings are being tampered with. The risk of fraud is particularly pronounced when a car is being traded between two different Member States. MEP Mark Demesmaeker is sounding the alarm: “It is high time for other countries to introduce a system like the Car-Pass. Because Europe is suffering almost EUR 8.8 billion in losses a year as a result of this type of fraud.”

Now that electronic systems have made such extensive headway in European cars, you can roll back the kilometre readings in just a couple of minutes if you have the right software and knowledge. “The Car-Pass system used in Belgium is a really effective measure against this sort of scam,” Mark Demesmaeker explains. “It can serve as a textbook example for the rest of Europe. Above all in the Central and Eastern European countries, there is a need for an efficient check system.”

Exchanging more data

A better exchange of data is also necessary. Belgium is already doing this with the Netherlands via the EUCARIS platform. And with good results. “However, the rest of Europe has to follow in our footsteps if we want to thoroughly protect consumers crossing Europe’s internal borders from abuse,” Mark Demesmaeker concludes.