What can you check by plate number?
Before buying a used car in Israel, compare the mileage in the advert and on the dashboard with a reading from another source. This helps you prepare specific questions and investigate differences before proceeding.
A report may include mileage recorded at the last roadworthiness test. It is a reading from a particular time, not the car's mileage today. Availability varies between vehicles.
In the autoil app, enter the Israeli plate number and review the information available for that vehicle. If mileage is shown, read the field label, unit and reporting date where provided. One reading does not give a complete mileage history.
How to compare readings
- Record today's reading. Ask the seller for the current mileage and compare it with the dashboard at the viewing. The advert may contain an older figure.
- Check what the reported figure describes. It may be a reading from the last test, a service document or another source. If its date is missing, do not assume it is recent.
- Use the same unit. Check that both readings are in kilometres and that no digits are missing. Do not confuse miles with kilometres.
- Compare dated documents. Ask for service invoices showing dates and mileage. Put the readings in date order and note anything that needs an explanation.
An example with dates
Illustrative data only: a test on 10 January 2026 records 82,000 km. On 2 October 2026, the dashboard shows 91,000 km. The difference is 9,000 km between those dates. It explains the increase between readings, but does not prove good maintenance or that the odometer has never been changed.
If the dashboard instead shows 79,000 km on that date, it is lower than the earlier record. Ask for an explanation and supporting documents. Check that both readings refer to the same car and were read correctly. Do not treat the difference as proof of fraud before investigating.
What if readings differ or data is missing?
| What you see | What to ask about |
|---|---|
| Today's reading is higher | The time between readings, how the car was used and what the service documents show. |
| Today's reading is lower | A recording error, replacement odometer or another documented explanation; whether a professional check is needed. |
| The advert differs from today's reading | When the advert was updated and the actual current reading. |
| No mileage is available | Documents that could provide an earlier reading with a date. |
If a difference is unexplained, keep it as an open question in your buying decision. Missing data does not mean that the vehicle has not been driven or has low mileage.
Can a report detect odometer fraud?
A difference between readings can justify further checks, but a single reading is not a fraud test. Even a plausible sequence does not confirm that the odometer was unchanged between dates. Service records and professional checks can provide information that one database record cannot.
Low mileage for a car's age does not establish that it is in good or poor condition. Usage, maintenance and condition need separate checks. The app's data overview helps you prepare; it is not a physical inspection.
Questions for the seller
- What is the current reading, and when was the advert's figure recorded?
- Which service invoices show dates and mileage?
- Has the odometer been replaced, and is there a record of the work?
- What explains any differences you found?
Next, read which vehicle history you can check, learn about ownership types and prepare your used-car buying checklist.
Further reading: official information about reported mileage (in Hebrew).