The RAC warns motorists to be extra vigilant when buying a used car that may have an odometer reading, and lists several ways to detect this.
More and more drivers are purchasing their next car on the used car market, and the manipulation of odometer readings to make the vehicle appear to have fewer miles on the clock is becoming increasingly worrying.
An RAC spokesman recommended that anyone considering buying a used car check the service history to see if the mileage matches the number on the instrument panel.
They advise: “First, check the car’s service history. Every time it’s serviced – usually every twelve months or 12,000 miles – the vehicle’s mileage should have been recorded, which will give you a good indication of how far it’s been driven.”
“Sometimes a dubious seller has bought a new service booklet or faked the existing one. In this case, it is worth calling the previous owner to confirm the mileage at the time of sale.”
Drivers can also get a good overview of whether a vehicle’s speedometer has been manipulated by checking its MOT history via an online inspection service.
Numerous websites, including the DVLA website, allow users to enter the number plate of the model they want to buy and view previous MOT results and the mileage recorded at each inspection.
For a small fee, some websites will also check the license plate against a much larger database, giving the driver the assurance that the car they want to buy has the actual mileage.
Used car buyers can also check if a vehicle has had an odometer reading missed. They can check if the overall condition of the vehicle matches the stated mileage. The RAC spokesperson advises drivers to take a look at the interior.
They added: “You also need to trust your judgment when buying a car, because your gut feeling and the evidence you have gathered with your own eyes can help you make your decision.”
“If there’s anything that’s not right with the overall condition of the vehicle – for example, an extremely worn interior with only 40,000 miles on the clock – alarm bells should ring.”
Finally, the RAC spokesman advised drivers to be alert to electronic errors that could indicate mileage manipulation.
They continue: “Actual signs of speedometer manipulation are of course much more difficult to detect these days: thanks to electronic odometers, the days of checking whether the numbers on the odometer are in the right order are long gone.
“However, they could also look for electrical abnormalities elsewhere, such as a faulty on-board computer. If the electrical system has been tampered with, you’re likely to see errors in the form of basic electrical glitches and malfunctions.”
