A warning has been issued for 440,000 drivers regarding their car's mileage, as new research reveals that clocked vehicles often conceal crash damage. The study by carVertical found that 21.8% of cars with rolled-back mileage also showed signs of previous damage, compared to 20.2% of cars with genuine mileage records.
Understanding Car Clocking
Car clocking involves tampering with the odometer to reduce the displayed mileage, making the vehicle appear less used than it actually is. This practice can mislead buyers about the car's true condition and value.
In 2020, Rapid Car Check reported that 6.32% of the seven million cars tested for mileage discrepancies failed, equating to approximately 440,000 vehicles.
Expert Insights
Matas Buzelis, motoring expert at carVertical, warned: "A clocked car is already a serious risk for used car buyers, but when mileage fraud and damage history appear together, it can become an even more expensive problem. Lower mileage makes a car look more attractive and more valuable. If that vehicle has also been damaged in the past, rolling back the mileage can help disguise the fact it has had a harder life than the seller wants the buyer to know."
He added: "Some cars are repaired properly and can still be perfectly safe, but others are fixed as cheaply as possible using poor-quality or non-original parts. When that is combined with false mileage, the buyer may have no clear idea of the vehicle’s true condition, wear, or value."
Advice for Buyers
Buzelis emphasised: "A car with a clean advert, low mileage, and a polished appearance can still be hiding a lot underneath. Buyers should not rely on the dashboard reading, photos, or the seller’s word alone. The biggest danger is that buyers often look at mileage first and treat it as a shortcut for condition. But mileage only tells part of the story, and when it has been manipulated, it tells the wrong story entirely."
