This is a fairly common problem, so if you want to protect yourself against it, always ask for a mileage certificate.
Today, when buying a used car, practically all buyers assume that its mileage has been tampered with to a greater or lesser extent. This phenomenon is particularly widespread in Poland. This happens because sellers want to increase the value of vehicles imported from other countries. There are even businesses offering “car mileage verification” services, which involve interfering with the vehicle’s computer system to reduce the actual mileage.
Consequently, measures are being taken to put an end to this practice. Since the beginning of 2014, all European Union countries, including Poland, have been required to apply a regulation concerning the recording of a vehicle’s current mileage during inspections. As a result, the car owner receives a paper document containing mileage information—it is called a technical inspection certificate or a mileage certificate.
Therefore, if you decide to buy a used car from another country, you should always ask for this type of document, issued during the vehicle’s most recent technical inspection. The document will also contain information about the car’s actual mileage, which should not differ from the mileage stated in the advertisement.
Therefore, if you visit a car dealership in Warsaw and want to buy a safe car—with genuine mileage as well—remember to ask for this document. If the seller does not have it or refuses to show it, the car was most likely subjected to mileage rollback, often by as much as several hundred thousand kilometers! If you do not want to encounter dishonest sellers, visit showrooms of well-known car brands, which, in addition to new vehicles, also sell used cars with a warranty. It is a much safer purchase!