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Ask a Trooper by Troy Christianson

Question: I own a 1987 Toyota based RV. The dashboard instrument cluster is pretty minimal. No tachometer, etc. I have found a cluster from another Toyota truck that I’d like to install. My problem is that my RV has about 112,000 miles on the odometer while the “new” odometer shows a bit over 210,000 miles. Is it legal to unwind the “new to me” odometer to match the actual miles on the RV, and is there a person/place where I can get this done?

Answer: Minnesota State Statute 325E.14 Subd.6 says about replacing odometers, “Repair or replacement restriction. Nothing in this section shall prevent the service, repair or replacement of an odometer, provided the mileage indicated thereon remains the same as before the service, repair or replacement. Where the odometer is incapable of registering the same mileage as before such service, repair or replacement, the odometer shall be adjusted to read zero and a written notice shall be attached to the left door frame of the vehicle by the owner or an agent specifying the mileage prior to repair or replacement of the odometer and the date on which it was repaired or replaced. No person shall remove or alter such a notice so affixed.”

Here’s what this means for your situation where your odometer is being replaced with a “used” odometer and unable to reflect the vehicle’s actual mileage. You would need to adjust this “new to you/used” odometer to reflect zero. The written notice shall be attached to the vehicle’s left door frame. I would advise keeping all documents and receipts on file of the work you had done and equipment purchased for this repair. It would probably be a wise idea to keep another set of the copied documents in your vehicle.

If you have any questions concerning traffic-related laws or issues in Minnesota, send your questions to Sgt. Troy Christianson, Minnesota State Patrol, at 2900 48th St. NW, Rochester, MN 55901-5848; or reach him at Troy.Christianson@state.mn.us.

Troy Christianson is a sergeant with the Minnesota State Patrol.