Expert Samorodov: Between a Quarter and a Third of Cars May Have Rolled-Back Odometers

In February 2026, State Duma deputy Kaplan Panesh proposed introducing criminal liability for car sellers who roll back odometers. Currently in Russia, the problem of odometer tampering in the secondary market remains widespread: according to estimates from the Russian Automobile Dealers Association (ROAD), signs of odometer manipulation are detected in more than 30% of used cars. ROAD data suggests that the total damage to buyers from such manipulations may exceed 600 billion rubles per year. Against the backdrop of more than 5 million annual used car transactions in Russia, the scale of the problem makes the discussion of tougher penalties for odometer fraud economically and socially significant.

90% of cars with rolled-back odometers — myth or reality?

The figure that up to 90% of cars in the secondary market have rolled-back odometers is frequently cited in public discourse. However, automotive business expert Artem Samorodov believes this figure is inflated:

"I'm convinced that's an overly pessimistic picture. It's true that our vehicle fleet has a high average age, and with older cars, odometer accuracy is often given minimal attention. I think the realistic picture is that somewhere between a quarter and a third of cars may have rolled-back odometers."

Official statistics confirm that Russia's vehicle fleet is indeed aging. According to data from the analytical agency Autostat, as of 2024 the average age of passenger cars in Russia exceeded 15 years. Moreover, according to Autostat experts' estimates, more than 70% of the secondary market consists of cars older than 10 years, where control over service history is objectively weaker.

International research also demonstrates the scale of the problem. According to data from carVertical, a company that analyzes vehicle history in different countries, in Russia in 2023 signs of odometer manipulation were detected in approximately 30–35% of checked vehicles.