How can I ensure mileage is genuine when buying a used car?

Buying a car, whether new or used, should be exciting experience, but it can be nerve-wracking at the same time!  Undoubtedly, you’ll check the bodywork, listen to the engine, look at the tyres and take it on a test drive.  However, low mileage is regarded as a selling point for a vehicle and it can be falsified, called ‘clocking’, thereby reducing the mileage and increasing the price.

In the first instance, we suggest you follow these simple tips to check if your car might have been clocked:

  • How does the overall wear and tear compare to the low mileage?
  • Do the pedal rubbers, steering wheel or gear knob look newer than the rest of the car?
  • In older vehicles do the numbers on the odometer line up correctly (not relevant on digital displays)?

If you suspect the mileage on a car is not genuine, you can:

  • Check the MOT certificates and service documents for consistency of mileage readings
  • Contact previous owners named on the log book and ask what the mileage was when they sold the car
  • Get mileage information via a history check from a reputable dealer

At Roy Chapman Ltd, all of our used vehicles are Experian checked, advising of the following points, so you can be assured of the quality and reliability of the vehicle you are buying:

  • Any outstanding finance agreements
  • Those identified as stolen
  • Those identified previously as written-off
  • Registration number plate and vehicle identification number match
  • CO2 rating for road tax purposes
  • Valuation using industry data

For further tips on buying a used car, visit our blog article.