How many miles has your car covered? Are you sure…? Mileage tampering is unnervingly common these days. So, let’s take a closer look at how you can avoid being caught out.
Ever come across a used car with surprisingly low mileage and thought to yourself, “This deal seems too good to be true”? Well, sometimes it is. That’s why we’re diving into the shady world of mileage tampering – a dirty trick used by some unscrupulous sellers to make a vehicle seem more valuable than it really is. With expert tips and free tools from Carly, we’ll explain what mileage tampering is, how to spot it, and, most importantly, how to avoid falling victim to it.
What is Mileage Tampering?
Mileage tampering, also known as odometer fraud, is the illegal act of rolling back or altering a vehicle’s odometer to display a lower mileage than the car has actually travelled.
Back in the day, it was called ‘clocking’. You’ve probably heard horror stories of dodgy dealers winding back the odometer readings with an electric drill hooked up to the input shaft. But in modern cars with much greater digital integration, dishonest owners can add mileage blockers that can prevent your car’s odometer from increasing. Some clever blockers can even slow down the rate at which mileage is recorded. So, while the odometer may be increasing to prevent arousing suspicion, it might only be showing 1 mile for every 2 miles physically travelled, for example.
Why would someone do this? Simple – to make the car appear less used, thereby increasing its market value. Lower mileage often translates to a higher selling price, especially when it comes to high-end performance cars, because it suggests the car has more life left in it, has likely been subjected to less wear and tear, and therefore is less likely to require expensive repairs in the future.
Is Mileage Tampering Illegal?
Using a mileage blocker to alter the data on your vehicle isn’t technically illegal in the UK. But, while you can change the mileage data, UK law makes it crystal clear: you MUST disclose any mileage discrepancies when you’re selling your car or providing official documents, like during an MOT or service. Failing to do this is breaking the law.
So, while physically installing a mileage blocker is not technically illegal in the UK, trying to hide any mileage discrepancies, means you can be arrested for mileage fraud.
The biggest problem for second-hand buyers is that sellers may genuinely not even know about any mileage tampering themselves. Therefore, it’s much better to do your own checks when looking to buy a car.
Should I Be Worried About Mileage Tampering?
Yes. In the same way that you should be worried about previous accident damage, or any outstanding finances. According to Carly’s extensive database, in 2023 over 6% of mileage checks showed signs of mileage tampering. If you scale that up, that means that out of the predicted 7 million used cars expected to be sold in 2024, over 440,000 buyers are at risk of being misled by mileage tampering.
How Can I Spot Mileage Tampering?
Okay, now that you know why it’s a problem, let’s look at how to spot mileage tampering. You should check the physical condition of the car aligns with the mileage reading. Excessive wear on the pedals and steering wheel should align with high mileage. Worn or collapsed seats and scuffed carpets are also indicative of regular use.
Check clutch condition too – modern clutches last surprisingly well, so a slipping clutch will be suspicious on a car with anything less 60-80k on the clock. And, if you’ve got access to a ramp, check the underside for worn bushes, rod ends, and bearings. Again, excessive wear points to a car having covered higher mileage.
A car’s service history can provide a wealth of information. Regular maintenance records should show consistent mileage progression. Gaps or inconsistencies in these records should ring alarm bells.
But ultimately, you probably won’t be able to tell if the car has been subjected to mileage tampering from a visual inspection alone. You’re going to need some help.
Uncover Mileage Tampering with Carly
The criminals use high-tech gadgets to fool you, and the only way to avoid getting duped is to arm yourself with similarly clever technology. Tools like Carly can literally save you thousands!
FREE Car History Checker
The first tool in your arsenal is Carly’s Car History Checker. Unlike similar checks, Carly’s Car History Checker is completely free to use! It pulls the same information from the same sources as other services and can be downloaded totally free as part of the Carly App.
Carly’s checker provides detailed insights into vehicle images, theft status, finance status, write-offs, mileage history, MOT records, damage reports, salvage auctions, ownership history, tax status, and more. Basically, it provides all the information you would usually pay up to £30 per car to unlock… for free!
Carly OBD-II Scanner
For a deep search into a car’s history, you want to arm yourself with a Carly OBD-II Scanner. This connects directly to your car, and Carly’s advanced diagnostics can read the electronic modules to detect any discrepancies in mileage data. And we’re not just talking about the odometer on the dash, here. Modern vehicles store mileage information in various systems throughout the car. The transmission control module, powertrain control module and body control modules will all store mileage information.
For many modern cars, Carly can interrogate the numerous ECUs and control modules in a vehicle and extract the mileage reading from each unit. It then compares these to the mileage on the dashboard and flags if there are any discrepancies. This also helps detect the presence of mileage blockers.
For less than £80, it’s like having a personal detective in your pocket, ensuring you get the real story behind the odometer reading. And that’s without factoring in all the other diagnostics, maintenance and coding benefits Carly offers too!
How Can I Avoid Mileage Tampering?
Mileage tampering is a deceitful practice that can lead to significant financial and safety issues for unsuspecting buyers. By being vigilant and using the right tools, you can protect yourself from falling victim to this increasingly popular scam. Remember, a deal that seems too good to be true often is. Stay informed, do your homework, and trust technology like Carly to help you make smart, safe car-buying decisions.
What Else Can Carly Do?
Carly is such a versatile tool, and the Carly Scanner is fantastic at reading and understanding car fault codes. More than just reading fault codes, Carly’s Smart Mechanic feature also advises on what the most likley cause is, and estimates how much a repair is likely to cost. The Carly App is free to download for your smartphone from both the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store, and offers some fantatsic features that will help you diagnose potential issues and stay on top of your maintenance schedule too. The new Carly free car history checker that provides you with loads of info on your car’s history.
In addition, the Carly Scanner can help avoid getting ripped off at the garage, help you spot hidden problems, and even customise your car’s coding. All for around £80! Every car enthusiast needs one in their glovebox.
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