The clocks may have recently turned back as we settle into Autumn, but we want to warn trusting used car buyers to beware of fraudsters turning back the clock on a vehicle’s mileage.
 This dodgy seller’s trick is called car clocking and it allows fraudsters to push up the price of a car up to get a quick profit, as well as hide the vehicle’s true condition from the buyer. Whilst altering a car’s mileage is not illegal in itself, not declaring that mileage change to a potential buyer is illegal. We’re campaigning against companies who offer to lower mileages, help us by signing our petition.
Here are our top tips on spotting a clocked car:
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Check the Service History
Check the mileage recorded in the service history against the odometer and look for service stamps from a genuine dealer.  Ideally the service invoices will accompany the service history. If in doubt, contact the servicing dealers and check the mileages they recorded at the time of the service.
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Speak to the Previous Keepers
Get in contact with the previous keeper (details can be found on the V5/logbook). They can identify the mileage of the vehicle when they sold it. Make sure this adds up with the current mileage.
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Trust your Judgement
Check who the car was last registered to on the V5.  Was it registered as a company car but has suspiciously done less than 12,000 miles per year?  Or is it 15 years old with only 20,000 on the clock? Look for any evidence that indicates car clocking.
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Look for Signs of Wear and Tear
Does the wear and tear on the vehicle match its mileage?  Be careful to look out for signs such as worn seats, steering wheels and other vehicle parts.  Also look out for brand new easily replaceable parts; the wear and tear should be consistent with the vehicle’s displayed mileage.
At HPI, we run the National Mileage Register which has over 170 million mileages recorded on it. It will identify if the mileage on the car you are about to buy is discrepant. If you need more information on mileages or car clocking feel free to leave a comment below, visit us at www.hpicheck.com, or tweet us @hpicheck.
Happy driving,
Priya