There are a lot of qualities drivers need to keep in mind when shopping around for a used car. One of the most important is its mileage which can have a major impact on the maintenance, cost, longevity and your personal safety. 

A recent CARFAX report examined the prevalence of odometer fraud among used cars. The data collected pointed to the fact that more than 190,000 vehicles have their odometers rolled back each year in an effort to appear as though they have covered fewer miles. That one action can have a major impact on drivers, even totaling more than $760 million in lost value and extra repair fees each year. 

"Odometer fraud is a calamity for car buyers," said Larry Gamache, CARFAX communications director. "There are serious problems that can arise from a rollback. Older, deteriorating parts lead to unexpected repairs while unperformed maintenance for the true mileage may compromise the safety and performance of these cars. Not to mention, each victim loses thousands of dollars because they pay much more than these cars are really worth." 

Drivers in states such as California, Nevada, New Mexico, New York and Texas need to be on high alert, as those were the regions with the most risk for odometer rollbacks. On average, cars had about 50,000 miles taken off, and the vehicles were likely to be about 14 or 15 years old. 

At New Jersey State Auto Auction, future buyers can browse through hundreds of CARFAX-certified cars, trucks and vans as they search for their next ride. Those options have a well-documented history, ensuring that you are looking at vehicles from a dealer you can trust.