A Parafield Gardens man who wound a secondhand cars odometer back by more than 180,000 kilometres before on-selling it has been fined $1,000 in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court.

The fine is the result of action taken by South Australia's consumer watchdog, Consumer and Business Services, under the Second Hand Vehicle Dealers Act.

The court was told that, in January 2022, 22-year old Cory McCormick arranged for the purchase of a secondhand Holden sedan at auction in Victoria for just over $13,500.

At the time, the odometer reading was 287,451 kilometres and when the vehicle was inspected by South Australian authorities, the odometer had been wound back to 100,527 kilometres.

McCormick later sold the car to a local dealer for $19,000, and it was only when someone bought the car that the interference with the odometer was uncovered.

To resolve this, the dealer - who was unaware that the odometer had been tampered with - paid the consumer $2,250 in compensation.

In addition to the $1,000 fine, McCormick was ordered to pay the car dealer $2,250.