Free Odometer Disclosure Statement Form

What the federal rule says the statement must include

Under 49 CFR 580.5, the seller discloses the mileage when ownership changes, and the statement must show:

• The odometer reading at the time of transfer, without tenths.
• The date of transfer.
• The seller's printed name and current address, and the buyer's printed name and current address.
• The vehicle's make, model, year, body type and VIN.
• A statement, citing federal law, that an incomplete disclosure or false information may bring fines or imprisonment.
• One of three certifications: the reading is the actual mileage; it exceeds the odometer's mechanical limits; or it is not the actual mileage, with a warning to the buyer.

Who signs, and where

• The seller signs and prints their name. When there are several sellers, one signature is enough.
• The buyer then signs, prints their name and gives the seller a copy.
• A seller whose name is on the title must make the disclosure on the title itself, not on a separate reassignment form.
• A vehicle that has never been titled gets the disclosure on a separate document.

Vehicles that are exempt (49 CFR 580.17)

• A vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating over 16,000 lbs.
• A vehicle that is not self-propelled, such as a trailer.
• Model year 2010 or older: exempt once 10 years have passed, so all of them are exempt now.
• Model year 2011 or newer: exempt once 20 years have passed since January 1 of the model year. The rule's own example: in 2031, model year 2011 and older are exempt.
• A vehicle sold directly by the maker to a federal agency, and a new vehicle before its first sale for a purpose other than resale.

State forms for the statement

Most titles print the disclosure in the assignment section. Some states also publish a separate form, for example:

• Oklahoma: Form 729, its odometer disclosure statement (the disclosure is usually part of the title assignment).
• West Virginia: Form DMV-TM-1, when the title has no odometer section.
• Colorado: the secure DR 2173 Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale, bought from approved vendors.
• Montana: Form MV90A, which the MV24 bill of sale points to for model year 2011 and newer.
• Vermont: the back page of VT-005, for self-propelled vehicles of model year 2011 or newer registered at 16,000 lbs or less.

If the mileage is wrong

Under 49 U.S.C. 32710, a person who breaks the odometer rules with intent to defraud owes three times the actual damages or $10,000, whichever is greater. The buyer must sue within 2 years, and a buyer who wins also recovers court costs and a reasonable attorney's fee.