Mileage ‘clocking’ on the rise

New figures have found that one in 14 UK cars has mileage discrepancies.

According to HPI, this one in four 14 figure is up from one in 16 in 2017 and one in 20 in 2014. This represents an increase of 30% in five years. HPI estimates this costs motorists more than £800m a year.

It is illegal to sell a clocked car without declaring its genuine mileage, but the act of altering the car’s odometer is not an offence. The illegal practice of clocking takes place when drivers look to deliberately defraud second-hand car buyers when the vehicle is sold on.

Barry Shorto, head of industry relations at HPI, said, ‘Clocking and mileage fraud is a problem that refuses to go away and continues to get worse. Used car buyers now have a one in 14 chance of purchasing a vehicle with a mileage discrepancy which is extremely concerning. Criminals are increasingly using more advanced technology to make it easier for them to clock vehicles and cover their tracks.

‘The continued development of technologies to alter digital odometers, easy access to this technology via the internet and similarly, the ease of access to mileage adjustment services online, some of whom will behave legitimately, others less so, are all exacerbating the trend. The increase in mileage-related finance arrangements such as PCP and PCH may also be a contributing factor as motorists look to avoid costly penalties for exceeding mileage allowances.’

HPI estimates that one in three cars that it checks every year has a hidden history.