The facts
Mileage & clocking
How the MOT record exposes a car's true mileage, and how to spot one that has been clocked.
- How can I check a car's mileage history?
- Every MOT test records the odometer reading, so the history is a timeline of a car's true mileage. A reading that drops, or a suspiciously small jump between tests, is the classic sign of tampering. Run a free mileage check to see the recorded readings plotted against the dates.
- What is car clocking?
- Clocking is winding back or altering a car's odometer to make it show fewer miles than it has truly covered, so it looks less worn and sells for more. Modern digital dashboards can be clocked with cheap tools, which is exactly why the independent MOT mileage record is so useful.
- Is clocking a car illegal?
- Adjusting an odometer is not itself illegal, but selling a car without disclosing that the mileage is wrong is: it breaches the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations and can amount to fraud. The safe move as a buyer is to verify the reading against the MOT history rather than trust the dashboard.
- How do I spot a clocked car?
- Compare the mileage logged at each MOT: it should only ever rise, and by a believable amount each year (roughly 7,000 to 10,000 miles is typical). A reading that falls, an odd flatline, or wear that does not match the miles, such as shiny pedals on a supposedly low-mileage car, all point to clocking. A mileage check lays the readings out for you.
- Does mileage affect whether a car passes its MOT?
- No. The MOT tests condition, not mileage, so a high-mileage car in good order passes and a low-mileage neglected one can fail. Mileage matters for value and for spotting clocking, not for the pass itself.
Ready to check a specific vehicle?
Mileage check