The company FirstCheck, which provides consumers with vehicle history reports, claims to uncover cases of odometer fraud daily in cars advertised as suitable for financing and possessing a full service history.
FirstCheck reports that 70% of vehicles passing through its platform have recorded damage or discrepancies. However, this statistic applies to their own clients, as people paying for the history check often already suspect a particular vehicle.
Co-founder Andrew Travers notes that a significant portion of the cases he discovers are related to mileage reduction, which constitutes fraud under South African law. He emphasizes: 'If you sell a vehicle with undisclosed mileage alteration, it is fraud.'
The FirstCheck platform uses a 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to cross-reference data from multiple databases, including insurance claims records, police reports, and manufacturer information. Additionally, the system receives up-to-date valuation estimates and market listings, allowing buyers and sellers to verify the history, mileage, accident records, ownership details, and market value before purchase.
FirstCheck shared several examples with TechCentral. For instance, a 2010 Hyundai iX35 was listed with 98,000 km, although an structural insurance claim was registered at 268,518 km in April 2026, representing a discrepancy of over 170,000 km. Another case involved a Toyota Hilux that had seven registered accidents and a mileage reduction of approximately 243,000 km.
Double Standards
Co-founder David Thomas explains that odometer fraud methods vary depending on the age of the vehicle. On older models, perpetrators can alter the digital display using specialized equipment. Regarding newer cars, Thomas points out that the engine control unit records the actual distance traveled by the wheels regardless of the displayed value. He clarifies: 'The screen can be changed, but the ECU cannot be changed.'
Recently, a buyer from Johannesburg purchased a 2022 Ford EcoSport from a dealer who failed to disclose an insurance claim registered at 192,092 km covering front, roof, rear, and underbody damage. At the time of purchase, the car showed 65,730 km. The FirstCheck report also revealed undeclared active financing, as well as a fake extended warranty and a fabricated service book.
Consumer journalist Wendy Nouler told TechCentral that the double standards in how dealerships handle vehicle information are a persistent and well-documented problem. She stated: 'If you go to sell them a car or trade it in, they can easily tell you about all its problems. But when you go to buy a car from a dealer, they suddenly know nothing. If you later find out that the car has been 'trimmed'—which is industry slang for resetting the odometer—they say: well, we didn't know. They should have known and could have known.'
Nouler cited an appellate court ruling from December 10, 2025. The court ruled that the bank financing the used vehicle acts as both a creditor and a supplier, as it retains ownership until the final payment is made. In the case of Van Niekerk versus FirstRand Bank, the court ordered the bank to refund the buyer R170,023 for a Ford Ranger that turned out to have hidden defects.
Nouler expected this ruling to force banks to demand verified vehicle histories before approving loans for used cars. However, after eight months, little has changed, according to her. She notes: 'I continue to receive cases where a buyer discovers some undisclosed dark side of the car, and the bank is still uninterested. Buyers, do it yourselves.'
Pricing and Context
FirstCheck reports vary in price: a basic inspection starts from R49, while a full history report, including insurance claims, mileage history, police checks, financing status, and current market valuations certified by the South African Automobile Association, costs R149. The platform is integrated with the police database, so a vehicle reported as stolen on a specific day will be flagged in the report received that same day.