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Free Mileage Check
Verify Any UK Vehicle's Mileage History and Detect Clocking
Mileage fraud (clocking) costs UK car buyers hundreds of millions of pounds every year. A clocked car can look like it has done 40,000 miles when it has actually done 140,000. Our free mileage check shows every mileage reading recorded at each DVSA MOT test.
Free MOT, Tax & Mileage Check · No Sign-Up · Instant Results
What this check shows
- Mileage at every MOT test recorded
- Smooth progression check
- Potential clocking flags
- Average annual mileage calculation
- First recorded and latest mileage
- MOT test dates with mileage timeline
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Red flags in mileage history
- !Mileage drops between tests — the most obvious sign of clocking. Any downward movement in recorded mileage is a major red flag.
- !Mileage jumps that are too large — going from 20,000 to 90,000 miles in one year suggests the car may have had a long-haul commercial life not reflected in its presentation.
- !Long gaps between tests without mileage context — a car that wasn't MOT'd for several years has a gap where you cannot verify mileage.
Learn More
Mileage fraud, commonly known as clocking, is illegal in the UK under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 and the Fraud Act 2006. Sellers who knowingly misrepresent a vehicle's mileage can face fines, imprisonment, and a criminal record. If you discover you've bought a clocked car, you may be entitled to compensation or a refund under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, especially if the seller was a dealer. You should report the seller to Trading Standards via Citizens Advice and consider contacting the police if fraud is suspected. Always review the MOT mileage history before purchase, as any discrepancies it reveals can form useful evidence if a dispute arises later.
While low mileage can indicate minimal use, it doesn't automatically mean a car is in better condition. Vehicles that have sat unused for long periods often suffer from seized brakes, perished rubber seals, rusted components, and rodent damage to wiring. A car driven only short distances may also have increased engine wear from never reaching operating temperature. Additionally, very low mileage can be harder to verify through service history alone, making it easier for fraudsters to clock the odometer without immediate suspicion. Always cross-reference low mileage claims with a MOT history check to see if the recorded mileage aligns with annual usage patterns.
Beyond reviewing the MOT mileage history, you can inspect the car for wear that should match the claimed mileage. Check the driver's seat bolster for sagging, the steering wheel for shine or wear, and the pedal rubbers for smoothness—heavy wear on a low-mileage car is a red flag. Look at the service book for consistent stamps and dates that align with MOT records, and ensure the odometer display is clear and not tampered with. For a comprehensive overview, combine these checks with a free MOT and tax check to verify the vehicle's overall history and spot any inconsistencies.
Cars under three years old are not required to have an MOT test, so no official mileage records exist from the DVSA for that period. This makes it impossible to use a standard MOT mileage check to detect clocking on newer vehicles. Instead, you should request full service history from the dealer or private seller, including invoices from the manufacturer or independent garages. You can also check the vehicle's digital service record if available, or contact the previous keeper for confirmation. Once the car turns three and its first MOT history becomes available, this page will let you track its mileage progression from that point onward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Clocking involves winding back a vehicle's odometer to show a lower mileage. Modern digital odometers can be clocked using specialist equipment available for as little as £50. The DVSA's MOT mileage records are one of the best ways to detect it.
Look for mileage that drops between MOT tests or doesn't progress smoothly. A car showing 40,000 miles on the clock but with 80,000 miles at a previous MOT test is almost certainly clocked.
MOT mileage readings are recorded by the test station from the car's odometer — they are not independently verified. A car clocked before an MOT test will show the fraudulent mileage in the records. This is why looking for progression patterns matters.
The UK average is around 7,400 miles per year. High-mileage cars (motorway drivers, sales reps) can do 20,000-30,000 miles per year. Very low mileage may seem attractive but can also indicate a car that sat unused for long periods, which creates its own maintenance issues.
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