Check a Car’s Mileage History by Registration:
Protect Yourself Before Buying
Check Any Used Car for Mileage Discrepancies, Write-Offs, and Hidden Past Issues
What Are the Risks of Buying a Car with Clocked Mileage?
Car clocking, illegally rolling back a vehicle’s odometer, is a technique some sellers use to boost resale value by hiding the car’s genuine mileage.
- High-mileage cars often have worn components like brakes or suspension, which can pose serious safety risks if neglected.
- A clocked car may have travelled far more than the odometer shows, leaving buyers unaware of its actual wear and usage. If a car’s history reveals mileage discrepancies, its resale value can drop significantly due to buyer concerns.
- Selling a car with clocked mileage is challenging, often leading to legal risks and buyer rejections. A verified mileage check is essential before purchasing any used car from a private seller or dealership.
Where Does Verified UK Car Mileage Data Come From?
CarVeto cross-checks official UK mileage databases to verify a vehicle’s historical mileage. These trusted sources include:
- BVRLA (British Vehicle Rental Leasing Association)
- RMI (Retail Motor Industry)
- DVLA.
Each contributes a unique verification layer.
How Is BVRLA Mileage Data Verified?
BVRLA mileage typically indicates the car was leased or used by a company fleet, often involving multiple drivers.
These vehicles are managed by BVRLA-accredited companies, making their data reliable.
The final mileage recorded during the car’s return, known as disposal mileage, serves as a key historical checkpoint.
✅It helps buyers evaluate past usage and detect mileage manipulation.
How Is RMI Mileage Data Collected?
The RMI gathers mileage from its network of UK garages and dealerships.
Readings are captured during routine maintenance, such as servicing or repairs.
Each entry is time-stamped and logged into the RMI database, offering an independent cross-verification channel.
✅It adds another layer of credibility to a vehicle’s mileage history for used car buyers.
DVLA Mileage Records
DVLA mileage data comes directly from the UK government’s official MOT history database.
Certified testers log the car’s mileage every year during its MOT inspection.
CarVeto uses this data to compare readings across all recorded MOTs, spotting gaps, anomalies, or signs of potential mileage tampering.
While DVLA data is generally reliable, its accuracy depends on how precisely testers record the odometer reading at each check.
✅It is essential to compare it with other sources, such as BVRLA and RMI records.
You can access essential MOT mileage records via the official GOV.UK website.
However, CarVeto includes this information in enhanced vehicle history reports, making it easier to validate the mileage and spot hidden inconsistencies before buying.
Learn how to verify the MOT History of a Car.
This government-sourced data is a core part of every CarVeto report, giving UK buyers the confidence to verify a vehicle’s true history.
How to Check if a Used Car’s Mileage is Genuine (UK Guide)
Buyers can verify a used car’s mileage through manual inspections, reviewing official documentation, and running a CarVeto online history report.
Combining physical checks with historical data can uncover inconsistencies and avoid buying a car with misrepresented mileage.
How to Spot Clocked or Fraudulent Mileage in a Used Car
✅ Exterior Wear and Tear: Signs of Heavy Mileage Use
Look for excessive stone chips on the bonnet, front bumper, grille, and door mirrors. These often indicate high motorway usage and suggest more wear than the odometer shows.
✅ Interior Wear Indicators: Hidden Mileage Red Flags
Inspect the gear stick, pedals, steering wheel, and seat belts. Excessive wear on these interior components may reveal mileage that exceeds the displayed total.
✅ Suspiciously New Components in Older Vehicles
If an older car has unusually new interior parts or fresh paintwork, it may be a red flag that someone is attempting to hide genuine mileage.
✅ Engine Oil Inspection for Mileage Clues
Check the engine oil for unusual signs such as moisture, sludge, or white residue. These can suggest excessive engine wear, possibly linked to higher mileage than reported.
Such clues can indicate that the vehicle has travelled significantly more than claimed.
How to Cross-Check Service and MOT Records for Mileage Accuracy
✅ Compare Service History with MOT Logs for Consistency
Look at dates and recorded mileages across service records, MOT certificates, and your CarVeto report. Identify any mileage jumps or missing data.
✅ Contact Garages to Confirm Mileage Records
If something appears off, contact the garages listed in the service book and ask them to confirm the recorded mileage during each visit.
Physical inspection and documentation review can improve your chances of identifying genuine mileage and avoiding potential fraud.
Why Is There No Mileage Data Available for My Car?
Sometimes, a CarVeto check may not return mileage data. This doesn't always indicate a problem—several legitimate reasons may explain the absence.
✅ New Vehicle (Under 3 Years Old) Without MOT Records
If the vehicle is under three years old, it likely hasn't undergone its first MOT. As a result, no MOT mileage records will exist yet. It may also not be registered with organisations like BVRLA or RMI.
Manual inspections and a CarVeto report are beneficial in these cases. For added peace of mind, consider an independent inspection.
✅ Northern Ireland Registration Limits DVLA Visibility
Vehicles initially registered in Northern Ireland may not appear in the DVLA Vehicle Enquiry Service. This can limit access to mileage data.
✅ Plate Transfers May Delay DVLA Mileage Updates
If the car is undergoing a Number Plate Change, the DVLA mileage records may take time to update, temporarily causing a lack of mileage history in your report.
How to Correct Mileage Errors on MOT, BVRLA, or RMI Records
If your vehicle's mileage history is inaccurate, there are specific steps you can take to correct it, depending on where the error originated.
✅ MOT Mileage Error Found Within 28 Days
Contact the MOT test centre that performed the test. If the error is reported within 28 days, the centre can amend the record.
✅ Mileage Error Older Than 28 Days? Contact DVSA
For discrepancies older than 28 days, contact the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) and follow the correction process outlined on GOV.UK.
What to Do If BVRLA or RMI Mileage Data Is Incorrect
If the mileage discrepancy appears in BVRLA or RMI records, contact CarVeto’s support team. Our experts will liaise with the relevant organisation to resolve the issue on your behalf.
How Common Is Clocked Mileage Fraud in the UK?
Clocked mileage is becoming more common across the UK and is now recognised as a growing form of vehicle fraud.
Check key statistics and underlying causes behind this trend.
Clocked Mileage Statistics in the UK: Key Figures from 2014 to 2021
- HPICheck.co.uk reported that 1 in every 20 UK vehicles had clocked mileage in 2014.
- By 2021, the National Mileage Register (NMR) found that 1 in 11 vehicles had signs of odometer tampering.
- CarVeto data reveals that 1 in 18 vehicles were clocked in 2020, closely aligning with national trends.
Why Is Clocked Mileage Increasing in the UK?
One key cause of rising clocked mileage is the popularity of PCP (Personal Contract Purchase) and PCH (Personal Contract Hire) finance deals.
These agreements set strict annual mileage caps, often 10,000 miles per year, with steep penalties for exceeding allowances.
🚫Some drivers turn to mileage correction services that artificially roll back the odometer reading to avoid these charges.
Although this practice is illegal in most cases, it remains widespread due to the financial incentive to avoid fees or maintain a higher vehicle resale value.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it’s legal to buy a car with mileage discrepancies in the UK, but it’s generally not recommended.
Clocked vehicles may be unsafe, difficult to resell, and sometimes breach consumer law.
They typically suffer more wear and are worth far less than cars with verified mileage.
Use CarVeto’s free mileage check to uncover discrepancies and hidden history via the Vehicle Details Check.
Used cars in the UK average around 10,000 miles per year. However, this varies by vehicle type, age, and driving style. For example, commercial vehicles may accrue higher mileage than privately owned family cars.
Turn on the ignition and check the dashboard's odometer display, usually digital or analogue.
For modern cars, mileage may appear on a digital screen or infotainment panel. Older vehicles display mileage using a mechanical odometer behind the steering wheel
Compare the mileage and dates in your MOT records, service history, and CarVeto report.
Look for any inconsistencies or significant gaps. Also, inspect the vehicle for signs of tampering, such as unusually new parts or excessive wear inside.
Odometer rollback, called “car clocking,” is the illegal act of reducing a vehicle’s mileage reading to increase resale value. It’s a common type of mileage fraud punishable under UK trading laws.
Cars are often clocked to make them appear less used, increasing their resale value.
By lowering the recorded mileage, sellers may hide signs of excessive use, reduce depreciation, or avoid mileage penalties from finance agreements.
Mileage clocking refers to the illegal rollback of odometers. In contrast, mileage alteration may be a legal correction, such as updating records to fix a mistake or clerical error in service logs or MOT entries.
An OBD2 scanner can access mileage data stored in the vehicle’s ECU (Electronic Control Unit).
Although intended for diagnostics and monitoring, some use these tools illegally to alter mileage readings, which is against the law.
Yes, CarVeto offers mileage checks for motorcycles. Enter your bike’s registration number to check for missing mileage records, clocking patterns, or inconsistencies in its history.
CarVeto pulls mileage data from the DVLA, BVRLA, and RMI.
If you need to view data from the National Mileage Register (NMR), request a report via the HPI Mileage Discrepancy check using your vehicle’s registration number.
Yes, you can run a free DVLA Mileage History check through CarVeto by entering your vehicle’s registration number. This free service shows mileage records logged during official MOT tests via the DVLA database.
To access full mileage history from sources like BVRLA and RMI, including detailed clocking alerts, you’ll need to upgrade to a premium CarVeto report.