600,000 clocked cars on UK roads
More than 600,000 cars on Britain’s roads have been clocked so they show lower mileages, increasing their value when then offered for sale, according to figures published by the BBC. This figure increases to 716,291 when vans and motorbikes are included, highlighting the need for consumers to protect themselves from unscrupulous sellers, says HPI. Joining the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) and Trading Standards, HPI calls for stricter enforcement of regulations to protect consumers and urges used car buyers to conduct vehicle history checks to reduce the threat of clockers.
“Unscrupulous sellers see the clocking of a vehicle as an easy way to raise its price and make some extra cash by putting thousands of pounds onto the price tag,” says Nicola Johnson, Consumer Services Manager for HPI. “These latest figures just confirm that clocking is one of the greatest threats facing used car buyers today. Unfortunately modern digital odometers make it even easier for clocked vehicles to evade detection, as the traditional tell-tale signs of damage to screws or poorly aligned number is not visible.”
Earlier this year, the OFT revealed that false mileage was costing consumers £580 million a year and urged buyers to avoid mileage disclaimers and conduct a check from an ‘independent and reliable’ company. HPI’s National Mileage Register (NMR) service, which is adopted as standard by leading retailers and manufacturers, contains over 130 million readings, giving buyers extra assurance that a vehicle checked by HPI has not been clocked.
“Working alongside the OFT and Trading Standards, we advise consumers to conduct a vehicle check as a means of protection against fraud,” continues Nicola Johnson of HPI. “8 out of every 100 vehicles checked by HPI show a mileage discrepancy, highlighting the risks. Not only can these mileage discrepancies inflate the value of the vehicle, they could lead to safety risks if vehicles miss out on crucial servicing and replacement work for vital components. However, the HPI Check comes with a mileage check as standard, offering consumers the ultimate in protection.”
With access to more vehicle information than any other service provider, HPI also confirms the vehicle description, whether it is currently recorded as stolen, been written-off by an insurance company or is subject to outstanding finance. In addition, the HPI Check offers a financial guarantee, providing added peace of mind to used car buyers at a time when finances are tight.
HPI’s tips on spotting car clocking
Check the service history - Check the mileages displayed in the service history and look for service stamps from a genuine dealer. Ideally the service invoices will accompany the service history. If in doubt, contact the servicing dealers and check the mileages they recorded at the time of the service.
Speak to the previous keeper - Get in contact with the previous keeper (details can be found on the logbook). They can identify the mileage of the vehicle when they sold it. Make sure this adds up with the current mileage.
Trust yourjudgement - Check who the car was last registered to on the V5. Was it registered as a company car but has done less than 12,000 miles per year? Or is it 15 years old with only 20,000 on the clock? Look for any evidence that indicates clocking.
Check the mileage - It has been known for clockers to wind back the mileage when you first view the vehicle and then return it to its original value once the transaction is complete. Make sure you check the mileage is the same when you pick up the vehicle.
Look for signs of wear and tear - Does the wear and tear on the vehicle match its mileage? Be careful to look out for signs such as worn seats, steering wheels and other vehicle parts. Also look out for brand new easily replaceable parts, these could indicate replacement that does not correspond with the vehicles displayed mileage.
Conduct an HPI Check - The National Mileage Register has over 135 million mileages recorded on it, and can identify mileage discrepancies recorded against the vehicle.
For more information, visit hpicheck.com.