4. Buying / selling a second hand car – The mileage history

Addlestone Local: The KT15 A-Z Local Directory

Is Your Mileage Genuine?

"Clocking" (rewinding the odometer) is still common in the used car market. Before you buy, follow this guide to spot mileage fraud.

Check Official Mileage History

How to Spot Mileage Fraud

Check the Timeline: Use the official MOT history portal to see if the mileage increases logically every year. A sudden drop or a long "gap" in MOT history is a concern.

Check Service Records: Verify the mileage stamps. Look for consistent ink and handwriting; if all stamps from different years look identical, they may have been forged.

Physical Evidence: Inspect the steering wheel, pedals, and seat bolsters. Heavy wear on a car showing only 30,000 miles often indicates the car has done double that.

Smart Thinking: Watch out for "Mileage Blockers"

In 2026, we're seeing more mileage blockers. Unlike traditional clocking, these devices stop the odometer from recording miles while the car is being driven. This means the MOT history might look perfect, but the car has actually traveled much further. Always check the ECU with a diagnostic tool if you're suspicious—it often stores the true distance even if the dashboard doesn't.

Common Mileage Red Flags

The Sign	What It Means
Mileage Drop	If 2024 shows 60k and 2025 shows 40k, the car has almost certainly been clocked or the cluster has been swapped.
Missing Years	Gaps in MOT history can hide periods of heavy use before a car was clocked to look more appealing.
Average Use	The UK average is roughly 7,000 miles/year. Be wary of 10-year-old cars with "ultra-low" mileage but no service history to prove it.

Smart Thinking: The HPI Advantage

While the government MOT checker is free and excellent, it only records mileage once a year. A professional HPI or CarVertical check pulls data from insurance, auctions, and main dealers, giving you "checkpoints" throughout the year that fraudsters can't easily hide.