Check Car Mileage by MOT History
Car clocking mileage check alerts
Reduce risk of buying a clocked car by up to 87%
Recorded mileage data
NEW: Our database now provides historical odometer readings provided by:
- Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI)
- British Vehicle Rental & Leasing Association (BVRLA)
- Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)
- Car MOT history and mileage checks plays a key role when buying a used car, provided you know what to look out for
- Useful MOT resources provided by DVLA that help understand how well a car is maintained and what parts get replaced
- Advisory section of recent MOTs also signal mechanical costs in the coming 12-months
- See if there is reduced miles (mileage discrepancies) via a free CarVeto MOT mileage history check
A clocked car is unsafe and worth less
Run a mileage check now
Enter a registration number
(such as WP64 LFD)
MOT mileage results for cars registered in England, Wales, and Scotland post 2005
CarVeto checks provide customised MOT history that’s sourced from our partners, RMI, DVLA check and the BVRLA.
We have embedded a mileage alert protocol that allows our customers to see if a car has suffered car mileage reduction. It’s simple to spot with an orange banner alert.
Relates to
Maintaining or buying a secondhand car
1. Qualifying cars
Available for vehicles over 3 years of age
(Use the field above to get a free mileage check)
2. Find these helpful links
Helpful links before buying
Video explainer: Increasing precieved value by mileage clocking
Why is mileage tampered with?
Mileage usually determines value. The lower the miles, the more a car is generally worth to sell. Fraudsters employ mileage alteration (sometimes known as ‘correction’) to increase resell value. It’s common nowadays since digital milometers are now standardised.
In the last 3-years alone, car clocking has risen by 25%.
CarVeto & DVLA MOT mileage check
Historically, 1 in 18 vehicles checked by CarVeto database have a mileage issue. On average that means that every car forecourt in the UK has at least one with mileage MOT checked discrepancies:
Image displaying a vehicle dashboard with incorrect mileage
How mileage depreciates car value
| Model | with 30,00 miles | with 60,00 miles | with 90,00 miles |
| Audi A4 3.0 TDI quattro SE | £18,000 | £16,000 | £14,000 |
| BMW 520d SE | £17,000 | £15,000 | £13,000 |
| Mazda MX-5 2.0 Sport Tech Nav | £14,000 | £11,000 | £9,500 |
| Seat Leon 1.2 TSI SE 5dr | £8,000 | £7,000 | £6,500 |
| Skoda Fabia 1.2 TSI 90 SE | £6,000 | £5,000 | £4,500 |
| Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0 TSI Tech SE | £15,000 | £13,000 | £11,500 |
Vehicles listed tend to hold value better than most. Other makes and models of car may further depreciate. The above table is only a guide.
Clocking mileage on a leased car
Growth in PCP (Personal Contract Purchase) and lease deals contributes to this rise. This type of finance contract has a rigid mileage cap ranging for 8,000 to 15,000 miles per year.
Because mileage impacts value so much, the penalty fees for exceeding annual allowance are high at around 10 pence for every mile beyond the agreed limit.
Because vehicles don’t need their first MOT until 3-years of age, the only way of tracking mileage is via service records. Plucky motorists can potentially have mileage reduced before the cars next service. It disguises clocking and disrupts the genuineness of the car while maintaining alleged value.
Car clocking versus odometer replacement
Not all vehicles flagged with mileage anomalies are the result of illegal car clocking. Some have legitimate cause for a new odometer replacement that leaves the vehicle with alleged mileage reduction.
If you are planning to buy a car with an odometer replacement, ensure it meets the following criteria:
- Fully documented change of odometer
- Recorded mileage before replacement
- Recorded mileage after replacement
- Date of replacement
- Genuine parts fitted
- Name, address, phone number and VAT number of garage that carried out the work
- Explanation from owner as to why the parts needed replacing (optional)
You may expect new service records or maintenance book.
Identifying a clocked car
Expect car value to reduce as result of a milometer replacement. It’s hard to give an exact depreciation but look for averages of around 10% to 15% of market value.
Ultimately, most private motorists will not want the stress or difficulty that comes with selling a car with altered miles.
CarVeto used car buying guide has good tips to spotting a fraudulent car. We give the guide away with each Platinum check. Start off by getting our free vehicle check history where you’ll see car details, road tax and mot status, import status, SORN status, askMID insurance checks and more.
Car clocking and road safety
Vehicle safety and mileage correlate. When buying a car with 6,000 miles on the clock, you’d expect most working parts like tyres, brakes and the exhaust to be in good working order.
With reduced mileage, there is no way of tracking:
- How worn car parts are
- Mileage when parts were last replaced
- Level of road risk
Timing belts (camshaft belts) become problematic. Manufacturers provide stringent timelines and mileages for replacement. A car with altered mileage skews history and ongoing maintenance.
CarVeto best practice: avoid vehicles flagged with DVLA mileage check issues.
If you have any doubts to the validity and genuineness of a vehicle, contact our support team who will be happy to help you along.