On a vehicle title, “no tenths” is a federal instruction telling whoever records the odometer reading to write it in whole miles only, leaving off any fraction. It appears on the title because the federal odometer disclosure form prints the phrase right next to the mileage blank. It is not a warning, a brand, or a comment on the vehicle. The number recorded is still the accurate mileage; it just stops at the whole mile.
Where the Phrase Comes From
The federal odometer disclosure form, published as Appendix B to 49 CFR Part 580, reads: “I state that the odometer now reads ______ (no tenths) miles and to the best of my knowledge that it reflects the actual mileage of the vehicle described herein.”1eCFR. Appendix B to Part 580, Title 49 – Disclosure Form for Title The parenthetical is a direction to the person filling out the form.
The underlying rule, 49 CFR 580.5, requires the seller to disclose the odometer reading “not to include tenths of miles” when transferring ownership.2eCFR. 49 CFR 580.5 – Disclosure of Odometer Information If your odometer reads 87,432.6, you write 87,432. States use the same federal template or their own version of it, which is why the phrase ends up on the title itself.
How to Read Your Odometer Correctly
Digital odometers make this easy. The tenths digit sits after a decimal point and is often shown in a smaller font. Ignore everything past the decimal when filling out the transfer form.
Mechanical odometers take a closer look. On older rolling-wheel displays, the tenths digit usually has a different background from the rest, typically white or off-white while the whole-mile digits sit on black. The tenths wheel is always the rightmost one. Record only the digits to its left.
Some older odometers have no tenths digit at all. Every wheel shows a whole mile. In that case you simply record the number as displayed. The “no tenths” instruction still applies, because the form is written for every vehicle; it just has nothing to leave off.
Does “No Tenths” Affect Your Vehicle’s Value?
No. Mileage is reported in whole numbers for registration, insurance, and sales purposes regardless of whether the odometer shows tenths. Lenders, insurers, and dealerships do not treat the notation as a red flag, and it carries no weight on a vehicle history report. If you are buying a car and see “no tenths” on the title, the phrase tells you nothing about condition, accident history, or mechanical health. It describes how the number was recorded, not what the number means.
How It Differs from Real Odometer Brands
The federal disclosure form includes two checkboxes below the mileage line that do indicate problems, and they are easy to confuse with “no tenths” at a glance.3Legal Information Institute. 49 CFR Appendix B to Part 580 – Disclosure Form for Title
- Not Actual Mileage (NAM) means the seller is certifying that the reading does not reflect the vehicle’s true mileage. It appears when the odometer has been tampered with, replaced, or is otherwise unreliable. The brand follows the vehicle permanently and lowers resale value.
- Exceeds Mechanical Limits (EML) means the odometer has rolled past its maximum and started over. A car showing 23,000 miles with an EML brand has actually traveled at least 123,000. This brand also stays on the title permanently.
NAM and EML warn you that the number on the odometer does not tell the whole story. “No tenths” means only that the number was recorded without a decimal. The mileage itself is accurate.
What to Do If the Mileage Was Recorded Wrong
Errors happen. A seller might accidentally include the tenths digit and turn 87,432 into 874,326, or misread the display. The fix generally involves submitting a corrected odometer disclosure statement to your state’s DMV along with supporting documentation. Most states ask for a written explanation of the error and may require a vehicle inspection to verify the current mileage. Fees for a corrected title vary by state but tend to be modest.
Catch the error before the title is finalized if you can. Correcting mileage on an already-issued title means surrendering it and going through added verification. If you are the buyer and spot a discrepancy at the time of sale, ask the seller to complete a new disclosure statement before you turn in the paperwork.