Can A Car Have 0km On Odometer On Delivery? This Tata Safari Did And Internet Feels Sus | Explainers News

By Pune Media On Aug 21, 2025

Last Updated:August 20, 2025, 18:53 IST

Have you ever seen a car with zero km on it during the time of delivery? This Reddit user did and now they are feeling suspicious.

Is it even possible for a car’s odometer to read 0km on delivery? Reddit question raises alarm bells. (Photo by u/Odd-Mine1508)

A Reddit user recently took to the car community to ask a rather unique question that raised alarm bells in their head: Is it possible to have 0km reading on the odometer of a brand new car? The user also asked the enthusiasts if there was a way to determine the actual reading, the kilometers run, before the car was sold, given that the odometer had most likely been reset with malicious intent by the dealership.

So, can a car have no driven miles on it before a buyer is handed the keys?

The Viral Question

A user, who goes by the username u/Odd-Mine1508, wrote: “A friend got delivery of his tata safari yesterday. The ODO reading was O . Is it normal ? Or did the dealership tamper with it ? Possible to check the genuine reading through OBD scan?? Experts please share opinions .. (sic).”

‘Experts’ Answer

The members of the r/CarsIndia Subreddit felt it was dubious that a car would register no reading on its odometer before delivery.

“0 km is very VERY unlikely. When cars are made at the factory, they are put on the rolling road (dynamometer) after being filled with a couple of litres of petrol to test things like ABS/EBD, wheel speed sensors. There is also a very brief road test performed before leaving the factory, this is all a part of quality control and PDI testing at the factory’s end. When being put on transport trucks, the trucks aren’t lined up at the end of the production line, manufacturing plants are HUGE and cars need to be rolled on to trucks under their own steam, (sic)” user WildSpade922 wrote in response.

Also Read: What Is PDI And How It Is Helping Indians Avoid Buying Faulty Cars

The user further added that even in a scenario where the dealership was located next to their stockyard, the car would, at the very least, register a minimum of 1km while loading, unloading, backing up, parking, etc.

“There is definitely some odometer tampering or this car has failed PDI testing,” they concluded.

Can Odometers Be Reset?

On r/MechanicAdvice, car mechanics shared that the odometers could technically be reset, but it was not legal.

In the case of the Tata Safari’s km reading showing zero, it was most likely that the odometer was temporarily reset from the screen, as the original miles were captured by the car’s ECU (Engine Control Unit).

“If the dealer has in fact rolled back the odometer, they either took the car for a good joyride, used it as a demo vehicle for another customer or the car probably failed PDI,” suspected another user.

“It is reset, Just check you are seeing ODO not trip meter. and no way tata motors dealer would get you are car on trailer till delivery, if even he says he did that. Tata motors will do a test drive before clearing to ship, acceptable would be 30-40km, (sic)” a user wrote stating that the curious case of Safari with zero reading pointed towards the dealership allegedly tampering with the system.

PDI (Pre-delivery Inspection)

PDI or pre-delivery inspection was also mentioned in the lengthy discussion. It is advisable to have your brand-new or a pre-owned car checked by an expert before taking delivery.

Pre-delivery inspection, or PDI, is a meticulous inspection performed by an expert at a nominal fee. The car expert comes armed with a checklist of tasks to be performed on the four-wheeler. Defects found during a car inspection can range from minor issues, such as scratches, to major problems, such as mechanical failures.

If the car has any flaws or faults, they will be revealed during the inspection. If the car passed all the tests with flying colours, you can be at ease that the dealership has been transparent and honest with you. You don’t buy a car every day, don’t you?

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