ARTICLE 10. Odometers [28050. - 28053.]

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH 10.

in effect

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 28050. Section 28050.

It is unlawful for any person to advertise for sale, to sell, to use, or to install on any part of a motor vehicle or on an odometer in a motor vehicle any device which causes the odometer to register any mileage other than the true mileage driven. For the purposes of this section the true mileage driven is that mileage driven by the car as registered by the odometer within the manufacturer’s designed tolerance.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 28050.5. Section 28050.5.

It is unlawful for any person with the intent to defraud to operate a motor vehicle on any street or highway knowing that the odometer of such vehicle is disconnected or nonfunctional.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 28051. Section 28051.

It is unlawful for any person to disconnect, turn back, advance, or reset the odometer of any motor vehicle with the intent to alter the number of miles indicated on the odometer gauge.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 28051.5. Section 28051.5.

It is unlawful for any person to advertise for sale, to sell, or to use, any device designed primarily for the purpose of turning back or resetting the odometer of any motor vehicle to reduce the number of miles indicated on the odometer gauge.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 28052. Section 28052.

If a manufacturer, distributor, or dealer of a new motor vehicle makes any warranty to the purchaser of, and with respect to, a new motor vehicle which is based on the amount of miles that the motor vehicle is driven, only those miles which the motor vehicle has been driven on and after the date that the motor vehicle has first been sold as new to the purchaser shall be considered for purposes of the warranty. The mileage indicated upon the odometer of the motor vehicle on the date that the motor vehicle is first sold as new to the purchaser shall, for purposes of the warranty, be the mileage upon which the warranty shall commence. Nothing in this section shall be construed to relieve any person of any criminal punishment to which he would otherwise be subject under Section 28051. The provisions of this section shall apply only to motor vehicles which are sold on or after the effective date of this section.

Cal. Vehicle Code - VEH § 28053. Section 28053.

(a) Nothing in this article prevents the service, repair, or replacement of an odometer, if the mileage indicated thereon remains the same as before the service, repair, or replacement. If the odometer is incapable of registering the same mileage as before the service, repair, or replacement, the odometer shall be adjusted to read zero and a notice in writing shall be attached to the left doorframe of the vehicle by the person performing the service, repair, or replacement specifying the mileage prior to the service, repair or replacement of the odometer and the date on which it was serviced, repaired, or replaced. (b) No person shall fail to adjust an odometer or affix a notice regarding the adjustment as required by subdivision (a). (c) No person shall, with intent to defraud, remove or alter any notice affixed to a vehicle pursuant to subdivision (a).

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026