How to spot an odometer rollback
An odometer should only ever go up. A drop between two consecutive roadworthiness tests is the most direct evidence of a rollback, and it stands out immediately when you look at the whole series.
A second, indirect signal is a sharp fall in the annual average: a car that covered 25,000 km a year for four years and then suddenly covered 4,000, with no explanation such as a period off the road, warrants closer scrutiny.
What counts as a reasonable annual average
A private car in Israel averages roughly 15,000 km a year. A wide range is perfectly normal: a city car with a single driver might cover 8,000, an intercity commuter 30,000.
A high average is not disqualifying in itself — motorway driving wears a car less than short urban trips. What matters is that the average is consistent with the asking price and with what the physical inspection finds.
Limits of the data
Records exist only for tests that were carried out and reported. A car in its first two or three years has no meaningful series yet, and a car left unlicensed for a long period has gaps in it. In those cases the physical inspection and service documentation carry more weight.
Frequently asked questions
Is rolling back an odometer an offence?
Falsifying an odometer reading in order to sell misleads the buyer. The series of readings from roadworthiness tests is the practical way to detect it.
Why are years missing from the mileage series?
A record is created only when a roadworthiness test takes place. A car not tested that year — because it was off the road, for example — leaves no record.