Odometer Disclosure Statement: The Federal Rule and Who Is Exempt in 2026

Every time most cars change hands in the United States, the seller has to write down the mileage and sign it. That signed record is the odometer disclosure statement. The core rule comes from federal law, although states can add their own requirements and forms. It usually sits on the back of the title, but sometimes you need it on a separate page: when the title has no room, when the vehicle has no title, or when your state uses its own form.

This page explains the federal rule line by line, quoting 49 CFR Part 580 and the federal odometer statute, shows which vehicles are exempt in 2026, and gives you a free odometer disclosure statement in PDF and Word.

Which vehicles need an odometer disclosure?

The federal rule covers transfers of ownership of motor vehicles, except those listed in section 580.17. In plain terms, for a sale in 2026:

Vehicle	Disclosure required?	Rule
Model year 2011 or newer	Yes, until 20 years after January 1 of its model year	580.17(a)(4): “For vehicle transfers occurring during calendar year 2031, model year 2011 or older vehicles are exempt.”
Model year 2010 or older	No	580.17(a)(3): exempt once transferred at least 10 years after January 1 of its model year
Gross vehicle weight rating over 16,000 lb	No	580.17(a)(1)
Not self-propelled (for example, a trailer)	No	580.17(a)(2)
New vehicle before its first transfer for purposes other than resale	No	580.17(b)
Sold directly by the manufacturer to a U.S. government agency under contract	No	580.17(a)(5)

The change from a 10-year to a 20-year exemption is why so many older guides are out of date: a 2011 car sold in 2026 still needs the disclosure, even though it is 15 years old. Your state may have its own rules on top of the federal ones.

What an odometer disclosure statement must contain

Section 580.5(c) lists the information the seller must give, signed and with the seller’s printed name:

1. “The odometer reading at the time of transfer (not to include tenths of miles)”;
2. “The date of transfer”;
3. “The transferor’s printed name and current address”;
4. “The transferee’s printed name and current address”; and
5. “The identity of the vehicle, including its make, model, year, body type, and vehicle identification number.”

A paper document must also carry “a statement referencing federal law and stating failure to complete the disclosure or providing false information may result in fines and/or imprisonment” (580.5(d)).

The three mileage statements

The seller then certifies one of three things (580.5(e)):

Statement	When to use it
Actual mileage	“to the best of their knowledge the odometer reading reflects the actual mileage”. This is the normal case.
Exceeds mechanical limits	The seller knows the reading “reflects the amount of mileage in excess of the designed mechanical odometer limit”. Our example: an odometer that has rolled over past its last digit.
Not the actual mileage	The seller knows the reading is not a valid mileage display or differs from the true mileage by more than calibration error, so it “does not reflect the actual mileage, and should not be relied upon”. It must include a warning that there is a discrepancy.

Who signs, and where

• The seller discloses on the title. A seller “in whose name the vehicle is titled” must disclose “on the electronic title or the physical title, and not on a reassignment document” (580.5(c)).
• One seller is enough. When several people sell, “only one transferor need sign” (580.5(c)).
• The buyer signs too. “Upon receipt of the transferor’s signed disclosure statement, the transferee shall sign the disclosure statement, which shall include their printed name, and make copy available to their transferor” (580.5(f)).
• No one signs for both sides. “No person shall sign an odometer disclosure statement as both the transferor and transferee in the same transaction”, except under the power of attorney rules (580.5(h)).
• A separate statement is used when the vehicle has not been titled (580.5(g)), and some states have their own form when the title has no room. New York, for example, uses form MV-103 when the odometer reading is not on the title; see our New York bill of sale guide.
• Title held by a lender or lost. If state law allows it, the seller may give the buyer a power of attorney for the mileage disclosure when the physical title “is held by a lienholder” or “is lost”, or the electronic title is held or controlled by a lienholder or cannot be accessed (580.13), on the form issued by the state where the transfer happens.

Odometer fraud: what the law lets a buyer do

Odometer fraud is a crime under federal law, and states enforce odometer laws too. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) “estimates that more than 450,000 vehicles are sold each year with false odometer readings” (NHTSA). Under 49 U.S.C. 32710, a person who violates the odometer law “with intent to defraud, is liable for 3 times the actual damages or $10,000, whichever is greater”. The buyer must sue “not later than 2 years after the claim accrues”, and a winning plaintiff recovers “costs and a reasonable attorney’s fee”. NHTSA’s advice to victims: “Consumers are strongly advised to consult a private attorney”.

Common mistakes

• Writing tenths of a mile. The rule says “not to include tenths”.
• Assuming a 10-year-old car is exempt. Since model year 2011, the exemption comes at 20 years.
• Leaving the buyer’s signature blank. Both sides sign.
• Ticking “actual mileage” when you know the reading is wrong, for example after an odometer was replaced and the reading no longer matches the true mileage. Use the “not the actual mileage” statement and explain.
• Using a separate form when the title has room. A titled owner discloses on the title itself.

Free odometer disclosure statement form

Download a standalone statement in PDF or Word with every item in section 580.5(c), the federal warning, the three mileage statements and signature lines for both parties. A separate statement does not replace the disclosure on the title: use it where the vehicle has not been titled, where your state accepts a separate form, or as an extra signed record with your bill of sale. Where your state publishes its own odometer form, use that one for the DMV.

Odometer disclosure statement: common questions

What is an odometer disclosure statement?

The seller’s signed, written statement of a vehicle’s mileage at the time of sale, required by federal law for most vehicle transfers and usually made on the back of the title.

Is an odometer disclosure required for a 2010 car?

No, under the federal rule a model year 2010 or older vehicle is exempt for transfers in 2026. Check your state’s rules as well.

When will a 2011 car stop needing an odometer disclosure?

In 2031. The rule’s own example: “For vehicle transfers occurring during calendar year 2031, model year 2011 or older vehicles are exempt.”

Does a gifted car need an odometer disclosure?

The federal rule applies to a “transfer of ownership”, and section 580.17 lists no exemption for gifts. Fill it in for a gift of a covered vehicle too.

What if the odometer is broken?

Use the statement that the reading “does not reflect the actual mileage, and should not be relied upon”, which must include a warning to the buyer.

Related

• Vehicle bill of sale template
• Official bill of sale forms by state
• New York bill of sale
• Texas bill of sale