---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 32701"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "32701"
heading: "Findings and purposes"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/32701"
units:
  - "Subtitle VI — Motor Vehicle and Driver Programs"
  - "Part C — Information, Standards, and Requirements"
  - "Chapter 327 — Odometers"
---

# §32701. Findings and purposes

- (a) **Findings.—** Congress finds that—
  - (1) buyers of [motor vehicles](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-7) rely heavily on the [odometer](/usc/49/32702.md?p=5) reading as an index of the condition and value of a vehicle;
  - (2) buyers are entitled to rely on the [odometer](/usc/49/32702.md?p=5) reading as an accurate indication of the mileage of the vehicle;
  - (3) an accurate indication of the mileage assists a buyer in deciding on the safety and reliability of the vehicle; and
  - (4) [motor vehicles](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-7) move in, or affect, interstate and foreign [commerce](/usc/49/31301.md?p=2).
- (b) **Purposes.—** The purposes of this chapter are—
  - (1) to prohibit tampering with [motor vehicle](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-7) [odometers](/usc/49/32702.md?p=5); and
  - (2) to provide safeguards to protect purchasers in the sale of [motor vehicles](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-7) with altered or reset [odometers](/usc/49/32702.md?p=5).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1048.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 32701(a) | 15:1981 (1st sentence). | Oct. 20, 1972, Pub. L. 92–513, § 401, 86 Stat. 961. |
| 32701(b) | 15:1981 (last sentence). |  |