Spot clocking and verify the odometer before you buy.
Mileage clocking is still one of the most common used car frauds in the UK. Estimates suggest up to 2.5 million cars on UK roads have had their mileage tampered with. A clocked car is worth less than advertised, may need expensive maintenance sooner than expected, and could have hidden mechanical wear. Verifying the mileage history before purchase protects you from overpaying.
Every MOT test in the UK records the odometer reading. This creates a mileage timeline going back years. If the mileage drops between tests, or jumps by an implausible amount, that's a red flag. Enter any UK registration into FactorySpecs to see the full MOT timeline with mileage at every test, completely free.
A healthy car typically covers 8,000 to 12,000 miles per year. Significantly more suggests heavy use (motorway commuter, delivery vehicle). Significantly less could mean the car sat unused for periods, which brings its own problems like corroded brakes and perished seals. A sudden drop in annual mileage after years of high use is a classic clocking indicator.
MOT mileage is the foundation, but a full vehicle intelligence report cross-references mileage against keeper changes, V5C dates, and service patterns. FactorySpecs flags mileage anomalies automatically and includes the data in the AI buying assessment, so you get a plain-English verdict on whether the mileage story adds up.
Yes. Enter any UK registration into FactorySpecs and the full MOT history with mileage at every test is included in the free check. No signup required.
Usually, yes. The MOT mileage timeline makes it very difficult to hide clocking because every annual test creates a permanent record. A drop in recorded mileage between tests is a definitive indicator.
New cars under 3 years old are exempt from MOT testing, so they have no MOT mileage record. For these vehicles, check the service history stamps and the V5C date against the claimed mileage.