Photo: ZN
The European Union has begun implementing a new system to monitor vehicle mileage, aimed at eliminating odometer fraud — a common issue in the used car market.
The system is based on a digital tachograph with GPS, which records distance traveled using satellite navigation and sensors, while also storing the full mileage history.
How it works
- The system tracks distance via GPS and onboard sensors
- All data is stored in a chip inside the vehicle
- Mileage history can be checked during technical inspections or via dedicated services
- Buyers will be able to verify whether the declared mileage is accurate
On new cars, such tachographs will be included as standard equipment. This means attempts to roll back mileage will become ineffective, as all data will be preserved in the system’s history. Access to this information may also be available через спеціальний застосунок для користувачів.
Why this matters
Mileage tampering has long been a problem, especially with imported used cars. Unscrupulous sellers often manipulated odometer readings, misleading buyers about a vehicle’s true condition.
The new system is expected to:
- increase transparency in the used car market
- protect buyers from fraud
- force sellers to operate without data manipulation
Additional rules
From July 1, tachographs will also become mandatory in the EU for vans used in international transport. In this case, they will track not only mileage but also:
- driving time
- rest periods
- маршрути пересування
This will introduce stricter monitoring standards for commercial drivers.
Ukraine context
In 2025, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed Law No. 4149-IX aimed at deregulating and de-shadowing the used car market.
The law simplifies procedures by removing requirements for sellers to:
- re-register used vehicles in their name
- submit certain military registration documents
Officials believe this will help bring the market out of the shadows and reduce tax evasion schemes.
