How to compare mileage records

Start with dates and units

A historical reading refers to a particular moment, not necessarily today. A provider's record creation date may differ from the date the odometer was read. CarAPI documents createdAt as the record creation time; the pilot does not present it as a confirmed measurement date.

Units must not be guessed. If the source does not specify kilometres or miles, the interface says so. Do not assign kilometres just because the vehicle is being sold in Europe. Comparing records requires confirmed original units; conversion alone does not verify a reading's accuracy.

How the automatic addition works

When a VIN report opens, the pilot requests available CarAPI records within its free allowance. Availability depends on the VIN and source. A response with no records means no matches were obtained. An unavailable provider, invalid response or exhausted allowance is shown as a limitation, not zero mileage.

Automatic data is temporary: it is displayed for no more than 15 minutes, sometimes less depending on the response conditions. The values are then removed from the screen and you can request the source again. These additions are excluded from the saved report, JSON and print/PDF output. Do not expect to find them in a downloaded copy after closing the page.

Adding a reading from a document

You can enter a reading manually with a matching VIN, date, value, kilometres or miles, and the source name. Use the reading's own date from the document. Do not substitute the day you received a photo or opened the file.

Manual records are labelled accordingly: the service does not confirm the document's authenticity or the value's accuracy. Use a clear document title or number without personal information. Storage follows the report's lifetime: 30 days from creation. A new check creates a separate report.

What to do about discrepancies

First confirm that the records belong to one VIN and that you are comparing the same units and types of date. Then ask for explanations of the documents if the sequence looks unusual.

• Distinguish the measurement date from the database record creation date.
• Check kilometres, miles and possible entry errors.
• Ask whether the odometer was changed and whether there is supporting documentation.
• Compare service dates and the reading at the viewing.

Drawing a conclusion

A decrease in the sequence is a reason to investigate, but does not by itself prove odometer rollback. The latest dated record is still historical. If the source has not confirmed an up-to-date value, the correct conclusion is that current actual mileage is unknown. Request the missing documents and discuss discrepancies during the inspection.