From now on, the official State website intended to find out the history of a used vehicle (HistoVec: histovec.interieur.gouv.fr) includes technical inspection data.
This free site now includes data from technical inspections of vehicles carried out in France (dates and results of inspections and mileage history).
In the event of a transfer, therefore, ask your seller to send the HistoVec information.
The seller must then provide his identity and the identification information of his vehicle.
He must then send the report to the potential buyer.
The risks of falsification of the report by the seller are thus avoided since the report is sent to the buyer by sharing an internet link.
However, in the event of fraud, the buyer may institute civil and criminal proceedings.
On the civil level
It is forbidden to modify the mileage recorded on the odometer of a motor vehicle or to reduce it to zero (art. 3 of decree n ° 78-993 of October 4, 1978).
In the event of a defective meter change, the mileage recorded on the old device must be transferred to the new one.
The deceived purchaser whose meter has been falsified has an action for rescinding the sale or restitution of part of the price, if he wishes to keep the vehicle.
The falsification of the mileage is not a hidden defect but a breach of an obligation of compliant delivery.
On the criminal level
The courts obviously condemn fraudulent modifications to odometers for deceiving a substantial quality.
This practice is punished by the offense of deception provided for and punished by article L 213-1 of the Consumer Code which provides that the fraudulent seller will be punished by imprisonment for two years and a fine of 37,500 euros.
