You have a one in 14 chance of buying a used car with tampered mileage – here’s how to spot a clocked motor
Asking for the vehicle's service history or getting a mechanic to check over the car can help unveil its true mileage
UNSUSPECTING drivers are being conned into buying used cars with tampered mileage.
And online services could even be making it easier to hide a vehicle's history from Brits in the market for a second-hand vehicle.
Using figures from vehicle checking service HPI, revealed buyers have a one in 14 chance of buying a second-hand car that has had the odometer altered.
The technique - known as clocking - is used by private sellers to reduce a car's mileage so it's more attractive for buyers.
It's also used by previous owners to avoid going over mileage restrictions set out when buying a motor on a finance deal.
The figures indicated an increase in the number of clocked cars by a third, with one in 20 showing tampered mileage in 2014.
Digital technology has made it easier for sellers to tamper with the mileage, with the practice costing motorists over £800million a year.
But there are some techniques that you can use to check a motor's mileage is genuine before you buy.
Ask to see the car's service history as this will give you a true indication of it's mileage - look for any discrepancies in the recordings.
If a buyer refuses to pass on this history, it's a fair indication the vehicle's odometer could have been manually altered.
Be sure to check the mileage each time you view the car.
Sellers may wind back the clock initially to attract interest, before resetting it when the sale goes through so everything is legal.
You can also rely on vehicle checks to alert you to any concerning history when buying a used car.
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Companies - such as HPI, RAC and vcheck.uk - can check if the vehicle your interested in has any mileage discrepancies, been stolen or has outstanding finance.
Always trust your judgement, too.
If a car looks like it has seen a lot more time on the road than it's clock is showing, chances are it has.
