Free Mileage Check: Is Your Car Clocked? (2026)
1 in 16 used cars in the UK has had its mileage tampered with. Our free check analyses the full MOT mileage history to detect rollbacks, discrepancies, and suspicious patterns.
Uses official DVSA data. Free, instant, no signup required.
Check Any Car's Mileage History
Enter a reg plate to see the full MOT mileage timeline and any red flags.
1 in 16
Cars are clocked
2.4m
Clocked cars on UK roads
Free
Our mileage check
What is Mileage Clocking?
Mileage clocking (also called "winding back" or "odometer fraud") is the practice of reducing a car's displayed mileage to make it appear less used than it really is. Sellers do this to increase the car's resale value, since lower-mileage cars command higher prices.
It is a criminal offence under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, but enforcement is difficult. The tools to alter a digital odometer cost as little as £30 online, and the process takes minutes.
A clocked car is not just a financial risk. It hides genuine wear and tear. Components like the timing belt, clutch, brakes, and suspension all have service intervals based on mileage. A clocked car may be overdue for critical maintenance that the new owner does not know about.
How CarCostCheck Detects Clocking
MOT mileage timeline
Every MOT test records the odometer reading. We plot these readings over time to create a complete mileage timeline. Any reading that goes down between tests is an immediate red flag.
Annual mileage analysis
We calculate the annual mileage between each MOT. A sudden drop (e.g., from 10,000 miles/year to 2,000 miles/year) can indicate the odometer was wound back between tests.
Expected vs actual comparison
The UK average is approximately 7,400 miles per year. We compare the car's actual mileage against what would be expected for its age. Significantly low mileage for the car's age can be a clocking indicator, especially combined with other signals.
Wear vs mileage cross-check
A car with suspiciously low mileage but a history of wear-related MOT failures (suspension, brakes, tyres) may have been clocked. High wear on a "low mileage" car does not add up.
Warning Signs of a Clocked Car
Mileage lower than previous MOT
The most obvious red flag. If the MOT history shows mileage going backwards, the odometer has been altered.
Unusually low mileage for age
A 10-year-old car with 20,000 miles is possible but rare. Check the MOT history for consistency.
Worn pedals, steering wheel, seats
Physical wear that does not match the displayed mileage. A 30,000-mile car should not have shiny pedal rubbers.
New dashboard or instrument cluster
A replaced instrument cluster will show zero miles. Ask why it was replaced and check MOT records.
Service history gaps
Missing service stamps around the time mileage appears to drop. Clockers often remove incriminating records.
Wear-related MOT failures on a low mileage car
Suspension, brake, and tyre failures suggest higher real mileage than the odometer shows.
Check a Car Before You Buy
Our free check includes mileage verification, MOT history analysis, health score, and running cost estimates. All from official DVSA and DVLA data.
What to Do if You Find a Mileage Discrepancy
Do not buy the car (if you have not already)
Walk away. There are plenty of cars on the market without mileage questions.
Ask for an explanation
Rarely, a legitimate reason exists (e.g., instrument cluster replacement with documentation). But the burden of proof is on the seller.
Report it
Report suspected clocking to your local Trading Standards office. If bought from a dealer, you have stronger legal protections under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
If already bought from a dealer
You are likely entitled to a full refund under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. The car is "not as described" if the mileage was misrepresented. Write to the dealer citing the Act and keep copies of all correspondence.
How Big is the Clocking Problem?
Mileage fraud affects an estimated 2.4 million cars on UK roads. The RAC estimates that 1 in 16 used cars (approximately 6%) has had its mileage altered. The average financial loss to buyers is around £1,000 to £4,000 per vehicle, depending on the car's value.
Imported vehicles are particularly at risk, as mileage records from other countries may not be available in UK databases. Cars that change hands frequently also have more opportunities for tampering between owners.
The simplest protection is to check the MOT mileage history before buying any used car. The data is recorded by independent MOT testers at every annual test and cannot be altered after the fact.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is mileage clocking?
Mileage clocking is the illegal practice of reducing a car's displayed mileage to increase its resale value. It is a criminal offence but remains widespread, affecting approximately 1 in 16 used cars in the UK.
How common is mileage clocking in the UK?
The RAC estimates that approximately 6% of used cars (about 2.4 million vehicles) have had their mileage tampered with. This costs UK buyers hundreds of millions of pounds each year.
How does CarCostCheck detect mileage clocking?
We analyse the complete MOT mileage history for a vehicle. Every MOT test records the odometer reading. We look for mileage that goes down between tests, unusually low annual mileage, large gaps, and wear patterns that do not match the recorded mileage.
Is the mileage check really free?
Yes. Our mileage check is completely free and uses official DVSA MOT data. Enter any UK registration plate to see the full mileage history and any red flags. No signup or payment required.
What should I do if I find a mileage discrepancy?
Do not buy the car. If you have already purchased it, you may be entitled to a refund under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (if bought from a dealer). Report suspected clocking to Trading Standards.
Can digital odometers be clocked?
Yes. Digital odometers can be altered using specialist diagnostic tools that cost as little as £30 online. The process takes minutes. This is why checking the MOT mileage history (which cannot be altered) is so important.
Check Any Car Free
Mileage verification, MOT history, health score, and running cost estimates. Free, instant, no signup.
Reliability Rankings
Most and least reliable cars ranked by MOT pass rate
Cheapest Cars to Run
Annual running cost rankings for every model
Common MOT Problems
Most common failure categories by make
Methodology
Mileage verification uses official DVSA MOT test data, which records odometer readings at every annual MOT test. These records cannot be altered after submission. Our analysis checks for mileage decreases between tests, unusual annual mileage patterns, and discrepancies between recorded mileage and expected wear patterns. Statistics on clocking prevalence are sourced from RAC and AA published estimates. Data sourced from the DVSA under the Open Government Licence v3.0.