MILES OFF
How to check if the car you’re buying is clocked – it could save you £4,000
Drivers are being urged to thoroughly check a vehicle's history before purchasing, as local councils call for a sales ban on mileage changing devices
MORE THAN two million cars have fake mileage on UK roads, with motorists spending an average of £4,000 over value because of the practice.
The LGA (Local Government Association) is now urging drivers to check and cross-reference service and MOT history before buying a second-hand motor.
3
Representing 370 councils across England and Wales, the LGA is also calling for a ban of mileage 'correction' devices, which can be purchased for as little as £100.
The ease of availability online has led to one in every 16 motors on the road being clocked, costing Brits £800million every year by paying over the odds - according to the latest data by vehicle history checkers .
The company also found that clocking cases increased by a quarter between 2014 and 2016.
A loophole in the law means it isn't actually illegal to change a car's mileage - but it is an act of fraud to knowingly sell a clocked motor.
3
Meanwhile, the EU has proposed to ban companies who offer clocking as a service - a law that was supposed to be in place in May.
However, this is yet to be imposed - and now the LGA is calling not only for its implementation as soon as possible, but also for the new rules to be adopted into UK legislation post-Brexit.
Car buyers can also check MOT backlogs with the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency).
Other tips include comparing the wear and tear of a car's interior to its mileage - in particular, the driver's seat, steering wheel and pedals. Also be cautious about older motors with unusually low mileage.
Councillor Simon Blackburn, Chair of the LGA’s Safer and Stronger Communities Board, said: "Car clocking is a rising major fraud, which not only rips off motorists, but can have dangerous implications.
"Unscrupulous dealers are tricking unsuspecting buyers into paying thousands of pounds more for a vehicle with false mileage, which could put their safety at risk and lead to expensive repair bills if it is in a poorer condition than has been suggested.
"Anyone buying a second-hand car should make thorough checks to ensure that the vehicle is showing its true mileage and that its service history and MOT certificate are accurate.
"Clocking is tarnishing the reputation of honest used car dealers and sellers, and councils won't hesitate to bring any car dealer or private seller to justice who shows a blatant disregard for safety and consumer rights.
3
MORE FROM MOTORS
"Trading Standards teams across the country often receive more complaints about used cars than anything else.
"This is why the proposed EU ban on mileage correction services needs to be made part of UK law as soon as possible, otherwise thousands more cars will continue to be clocked, jeopardising the safety of cars and passengers on UK roads.
"The sale of cheap mileage correction software also needs to be banned as this can only be fuelling the big rise in clocking and illegal profits."
Topics