Mileage discrepancies can cost used vehicle buyers a lot in the long run, the 3 main problems that come to mind when buying a clocked vehicle are:
- More miles than shown on the odometer
- Paying over the odds for the vehicle
- More wear and tear than expected
We tested the mileage of just over 17.5 million vehicles to compile this test data, in this data we released fails by:
- Make and model
- Colour, make and model
- Year, make and model
What counts as a mileage discrepancy?
In this test, we counted the following as a mileage discrepancy:
- Mileage was lowered between MOT tests, for example, 60,000 miles in 2018 then 30,000 miles in 2019.
For this test we only included vehicles that had odometer unit readings in miles (We excluded any vehicles with readings in kilometres).
Fails by make and model
We compiled the data from this mileage check and made a list of fails by make and model. We only included makes and models with more than 50,000+ total checked.
| Make & Model | Total Failed | Total Checked | Fail Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| RENAULT SCENIC | 18183 | 50837 | 35.77% |
| FORD ESCORT | 54767 | 258128 | 21.22% |
| FORD TRANSIT | 49435 | 336972 | 14.67% |
| FORD TRANSIT CONNECT | 8757 | 63699 | 13.75% |
| FORD KA | 22070 | 161108 | 13.70% |
| VAUXHALL COMBO | 7972 | 58307 | 13.67% |
| PEUGEOT 406 | 8045 | 60203 | 13.36% |
| NISSAN ALMERA | 8012 | 62829 | 12.75% |
| LAND ROVER DISCOVERY | 11352 | 89074 | 12.74% |
| PEUGEOT 206 | 19792 | 159813 | 12.38% |
| VAUXHALL VECTRA | 24951 | 202415 | 12.33% |
| MERCEDES BENZ SPRINTER | 6480 | 54484 | 11.89% |
| VOLKSWAGEN TRANSPORTER | 9088 | 78329 | 11.60% |
| TOYOTA YARIS | 14529 | 131901 | 11.02% |
| FORD GALAXY | 6416 | 59032 | 10.87% |
| VAUXHALL ZAFIRA | 17146 | 158647 | 10.81% |
| FORD FIESTA | 74823 | 696450 | 10.74% |
| CITROEN XSARA | 10202 | 97450 | 10.47% |
| CITROEN SAXO | 6088 | 58945 | 10.33% |
| MERCEDES BENZ A | 5573 | 54298 | 10.26% |
| RENAULT MEGANE | 15221 | 154053 | 9.88% |
| TOYOTA AVENSIS | 7807 | 79933 | 9.77% |
| VAUXHALL VIVARO | 5017 | 51916 | 9.66% |
| BMW 3 SERIES | 29754 | 308223 | 9.65% |
| RENAULT LAGUNA | 8237 | 85410 | 9.64% |
| PEUGEOT 307 | 7959 | 82659 | 9.63% |
| PEUGEOT 306 | 9832 | 102176 | 9.62% |
| VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT | 15668 | 164962 | 9.50% |
| RENAULT CLIO | 27943 | 296990 | 9.41% |
| TOYOTA COROLLA | 8904 | 95375 | 9.34% |
| FIAT PUNTO | 15312 | 164163 | 9.33% |
| FORD FOCUS | 47437 | 510365 | 9.29% |
| NISSAN MICRA | 20995 | 226283 | 9.28% |
| PEUGEOT 106 | 8311 | 90188 | 9.22% |
| NISSAN PRIMERA | 5616 | 61260 | 9.17% |
| CITROEN C3 | 6747 | 74086 | 9.11% |
| VAUXHALL ASTRA | 49618 | 558526 | 8.88% |
| CITROEN BERLINGO | 6739 | 75961 | 8.87% |
| HONDA ACCORD | 4958 | 55892 | 8.87% |
| HONDA CIVIC | 17434 | 198988 | 8.76% |
| AUDI A4 | 14255 | 165862 | 8.59% |
| VOLKSWAGEN GOLF | 39879 | 468114 | 8.52% |
| VAUXHALL CORSA | 41704 | 490204 | 8.51% |
| VAUXHALL MERIVA | 4453 | 53329 | 8.35% |
| AUDI A6 | 5180 | 62750 | 8.25% |
| CITROEN C4 | 4293 | 54895 | 7.82% |
| VOLKSWAGEN POLO | 22318 | 288638 | 7.73% |
| MINI MINI | 11874 | 155482 | 7.64% |
| SAAB 9 3 | 3970 | 52911 | 7.50% |
| SKODA OCTAVIA | 5139 | 68977 | 7.45% |
| FORD MONDEO | 26323 | 363423 | 7.24% |
| MERCEDES BENZ C | 6564 | 90689 | 7.24% |
| LAND ROVER FREELANDER | 5859 | 80884 | 7.24% |
| MERCEDES BENZ E | 3810 | 54714 | 6.96% |
| PEUGEOT 207 | 6304 | 95925 | 6.57% |
| HONDA CR V | 4225 | 66668 | 6.34% |
| SKODA FABIA | 4623 | 74029 | 6.24% |
| AUDI A3 | 8917 | 143261 | 6.22% |
| SEAT IBIZA | 4520 | 81160 | 5.57% |
| SEAT LEON | 3039 | 56308 | 5.40% |
| ROVER 214 | 3057 | 59290 | 5.16% |
| VAUXHALL CAVALIER | 2777 | 54902 | 5.06% |
| VAUXHALL INSIGNIA | 3023 | 61655 | 4.90% |
| HONDA JAZZ | 4102 | 94059 | 4.36% |
| NISSAN QASHQAI | 2699 | 75034 | 3.60% |
Explanation of above data:
- Make & Model – Vehicle make and model.
- Total Failed – How many failed out of the Total Checked for this make + model.
- Total Checked – The total checked from the 17,500,000+ list.
- Fail Rate – The fail percentage for the make + model (worked out using Total Failed and Total Checked data)
Fails by colour, make and model
We compiled the data from this mileage check and made a list of fails by colour, make and model. We only included vehicles with more than 35,000+ total checked.
| Colour/Make & Model | Total Failed | Total Checked | Fail Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| White FORD ESCORT | 9466 | 45231 | 20.93% |
| Red FORD ESCORT | 13433 | 65242 | 20.59% |
| Blue FORD ESCORT | 13860 | 67858 | 20.43% |
| Green FORD FIESTA | 6999 | 47097 | 14.86% |
| White FORD TRANSIT | 34271 | 232028 | 14.77% |
| White FORD TRANSIT CONNECT | 6100 | 43319 | 14.08% |
| White VAUXHALL COMBO | 5174 | 36773 | 14.07% |
| Blue FORD KA | 5924 | 42523 | 13.93% |
| Red FORD FIESTA | 16960 | 131814 | 12.87% |
| Blue VAUXHALL VECTRA | 5951 | 47303 | 12.58% |
| Blue PEUGEOT 206 | 4459 | 35498 | 12.56% |
| White MERCEDES BENZ SPRINTER | 5150 | 41512 | 12.41% |
| Silver VAUXHALL VECTRA | 8931 | 74360 | 12.01% |
| Silver TOYOTA YARIS | 5527 | 46604 | 11.86% |
| Silver PEUGEOT 206 | 6715 | 57363 | 11.71% |
| Blue VAUXHALL ZAFIRA | 4220 | 36537 | 11.55% |
| Blue FORD FIESTA | 19869 | 176550 | 11.25% |
| Silver VAUXHALL ZAFIRA | 6283 | 57448 | 10.94% |
| Blue BMW 3 SERIES | 7790 | 73935 | 10.54% |
| Silver BMW 3 SERIES | 6428 | 61018 | 10.53% |
| White VAUXHALL ASTRA | 5512 | 52878 | 10.42% |
| Blue VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT | 4594 | 44479 | 10.33% |
| Silver FORD FOCUS | 13839 | 134621 | 10.28% |
| Black RENAULT CLIO | 6153 | 59904 | 10.27% |
| White CITROEN BERLINGO | 3967 | 39807 | 9.97% |
| Blue RENAULT CLIO | 7641 | 76690 | 9.96% |
| Blue AUDI A4 | 3600 | 36228 | 9.94% |
| Silver RENAULT CLIO | 5240 | 52891 | 9.91% |
| Silver VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT | 3811 | 38661 | 9.86% |
| Blue FIAT PUNTO | 4113 | 42255 | 9.73% |
| Red FORD FOCUS | 3639 | 37996 | 9.58% |
| Blue NISSAN MICRA | 4177 | 43849 | 9.53% |
| Red VOLKSWAGEN GOLF | 4912 | 52144 | 9.42% |
| Silver FORD FIESTA | 12247 | 131177 | 9.34% |
| Red NISSAN MICRA | 5154 | 55177 | 9.34% |
| Silver NISSAN MICRA | 3724 | 39992 | 9.31% |
| Silver VAUXHALL ASTRA | 13848 | 149089 | 9.29% |
| Silver VAUXHALL CORSA | 12220 | 131625 | 9.28% |
| Blue VAUXHALL CORSA | 9646 | 105252 | 9.16% |
| Blue VAUXHALL ASTRA | 10429 | 113961 | 9.15% |
| White FORD FIESTA | 5683 | 62091 | 9.15% |
| Blue FORD FOCUS | 12502 | 137485 | 9.09% |
| Black BMW 3 SERIES | 6232 | 69262 | 9% |
| Silver HONDA CIVIC | 4707 | 52895 | 8.90% |
| Blue VOLKSWAGEN GOLF | 8300 | 93733 | 8.85% |
| Black VAUXHALL CORSA | 7445 | 85127 | 8.75% |
| Blue HONDA CIVIC | 3367 | 38495 | 8.75% |
| Black FORD FOCUS | 7853 | 90960 | 8.63% |
| Blue VOLKSWAGEN POLO | 4994 | 57906 | 8.62% |
| Black VOLKSWAGEN GOLF | 9574 | 111300 | 8.60% |
| Black FORD FIESTA | 9027 | 105935 | 8.52% |
| Silver VOLKSWAGEN GOLF | 8323 | 98225 | 8.47% |
| Red RENAULT CLIO | 3912 | 46503 | 8.41% |
| Silver FORD MONDEO | 7238 | 88403 | 8.19% |
| Red VOLKSWAGEN POLO | 3618 | 44291 | 8.17% |
| Silver VOLKSWAGEN POLO | 4810 | 59408 | 8.10% |
| Red VAUXHALL ASTRA | 5581 | 69553 | 8.02% |
| Black VAUXHALL ASTRA | 6752 | 84594 | 7.98% |
| Red VAUXHALL CORSA | 5724 | 73447 | 7.79% |
| Black FORD MONDEO | 3647 | 47921 | 7.61% |
| Black AUDI A4 | 2828 | 37987 | 7.44% |
| Blue FORD MONDEO | 6623 | 91717 | 7.22% |
| Grey FORD FOCUS | 3793 | 54500 | 6.96% |
| Black VOLKSWAGEN POLO | 3474 | 50055 | 6.94% |
| Grey VAUXHALL ASTRA | 2670 | 39523 | 6.76% |
| Grey BMW 3 SERIES | 2606 | 38603 | 6.75% |
| Red FORD MONDEO | 2742 | 41610 | 6.59% |
| Grey VOLKSWAGEN GOLF | 3242 | 53952 | 6.01% |
| Black AUDI A3 | 2700 | 45378 | 5.95% |
Explanation of above data:
- Make & Model – Vehicle colour, make and model.
- Total Failed – How many failed out of the Total Checked for this colour, make + model.
- Total Checked – The total checked from the 17,500,000+ list.
- Fail Rate – The fail percentage for the colour, make & model (worked out using Total Failed and Total Checked data)
Fails by year, make and model
We compiled the data from this mileage check and made a list of fails by year, make and model. We only included vehicles with more than 25,000+ total checked.
| Year/Make & Model | Total Failed | Total Checked | Fail Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 FORD FIESTA | 12502 | 37582 | 33.27% |
| 1998 FORD ESCORT | 11596 | 36833 | 31.48% |
| 1997 FORD FIESTA | 11788 | 39424 | 29.90% |
| 1997 FORD ESCORT | 11101 | 40012 | 27.74% |
| 2003 FORD FOCUS | 11000 | 43583 | 25.24% |
| 1996 FORD FIESTA | 9263 | 41596 | 22.27% |
| 1996 FORD ESCORT | 9484 | 43294 | 21.91% |
| 2002 FORD FOCUS | 9435 | 52671 | 17.91% |
| 1995 FORD ESCORT | 7197 | 41478 | 17.35% |
| 2002 VAUXHALL ASTRA | 5546 | 34604 | 16.03% |
| 2003 VAUXHALL ASTRA | 5311 | 33161 | 16.02% |
| 2002 VAUXHALL CORSA | 4692 | 30508 | 15.38% |
| 2003 VAUXHALL CORSA | 4589 | 30240 | 15.18% |
| 2004 VAUXHALL CORSA | 4158 | 28549 | 14.56% |
| 1994 FORD ESCORT | 4173 | 29530 | 14.13% |
| 2005 VAUXHALL CORSA | 3542 | 25864 | 13.69% |
| 1995 FORD FIESTA | 4398 | 32989 | 13.33% |
| 2002 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF | 4046 | 30915 | 13.09% |
| 1998 VAUXHALL ASTRA | 3441 | 26298 | 13.08% |
| 1999 FORD FOCUS | 3175 | 25450 | 12.48% |
| 2004 VAUXHALL ASTRA | 3268 | 26254 | 12.45% |
| 2002 RENAULT CLIO | 3289 | 27207 | 12.09% |
| 2003 RENAULT CLIO | 3020 | 25090 | 12.04% |
| 2002 PEUGEOT 206 | 3983 | 33231 | 11.99% |
| 2002 FORD FIESTA | 3555 | 29879 | 11.90% |
| 2003 FORD FIESTA | 3860 | 32817 | 11.76% |
| 2002 FORD MONDEO | 2968 | 25440 | 11.67% |
| 2004 FORD FOCUS | 4374 | 37871 | 11.55% |
| 2004 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF | 2981 | 25905 | 11.51% |
| 2003 PEUGEOT 206 | 3010 | 28115 | 10.71% |
| 2005 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF | 2627 | 26894 | 9.77% |
| 2005 VAUXHALL ASTRA | 3180 | 33796 | 9.41% |
| 1997 VAUXHALL CORSA | 2385 | 26003 | 9.17% |
| 2004 PEUGEOT 206 | 2321 | 25882 | 8.97% |
| 1997 VAUXHALL ASTRA | 2544 | 29375 | 8.66% |
| 2005 FORD FOCUS | 3714 | 44142 | 8.41% |
| 2004 FORD FIESTA | 2634 | 31501 | 8.36% |
| 2006 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF | 2102 | 26195 | 8.02% |
| 2006 VAUXHALL ASTRA | 2898 | 36171 | 8.01% |
| 2006 FORD FOCUS | 3348 | 45306 | 7.39% |
| 1996 VAUXHALL ASTRA | 1871 | 25740 | 7.27% |
| 2005 FORD FIESTA | 2130 | 29428 | 7.24% |
| 2006 FORD FIESTA | 2769 | 39066 | 7.09% |
| 1995 VAUXHALL ASTRA | 2017 | 28699 | 7.03% |
| 1998 FORD MONDEO | 2013 | 28651 | 7.03% |
| 1997 FORD MONDEO | 2266 | 32681 | 6.93% |
| 2007 VAUXHALL CORSA | 2231 | 33062 | 6.75% |
| 2007 FORD FOCUS | 2990 | 44710 | 6.69% |
| 2007 VAUXHALL ASTRA | 2833 | 42664 | 6.64% |
| 2007 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF | 1702 | 28392 | 5.99% |
| 2007 FORD FIESTA | 2209 | 38600 | 5.72% |
| 2008 VAUXHALL ASTRA | 1906 | 33891 | 5.62% |
| 2008 VAUXHALL CORSA | 1942 | 34608 | 5.61% |
| 1996 FORD MONDEO | 1512 | 28139 | 5.37% |
| 2010 VAUXHALL ASTRA | 1614 | 30462 | 5.30% |
| 2008 FORD FOCUS | 2033 | 39558 | 5.14% |
| 2008 FORD FIESTA | 1838 | 36282 | 5.07% |
| 2009 VAUXHALL CORSA | 1358 | 29499 | 4.60% |
| 1995 FORD MONDEO | 1280 | 28085 | 4.56% |
| 2009 FORD FIESTA | 1868 | 43449 | 4.30% |
| 2009 FORD FOCUS | 1372 | 33115 | 4.14% |
| 2010 VAUXHALL CORSA | 1050 | 27251 | 3.85% |
| 2010 FORD FIESTA | 1390 | 39841 | 3.49% |
| 2010 FORD FOCUS | 832 | 27508 | 3.02% |
| 2011 FORD FIESTA | 1083 | 36653 | 2.95% |
| 2011 FORD FOCUS | 684 | 29236 | 2.34% |
Explanation of above data:
- Make & Model – Vehicle year, make and model.
- Total Failed – How many failed out of the Total Checked for this year, make + model.
- Total Checked – The total checked from the 17,500,000+ list.
- Fail Rate – The fail percentage for the year, make & model (worked out using Total Failed and Total Checked data)
Worst years for lowered mileage
The below data shows the worst years for mileage lowering being detected. for example, if mileage lowering was detected on 15th September 2016 this would count as 2016.
| Year Mileage Lowered | No of Vehicles |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 171237 |
| 2008 | 161533 |
| 2009 | 151392 |
| 2010 | 143551 |
| 2011 | 137256 |
| 2012 | 131475 |
| 2013 | 118207 |
| 2014 | 113695 |
| 2015 | 113389 |
| 2016 | 92433 |
| 2017 | 78172 |
| 2006 | 75831 |
| 2018 | 66111 |
| 2019 | 58295 |
| 2020 | 45216 |
| 2005 | 11319 |
| 2004 | 4 |
Please note: we removed 2021 as the year had only just started when publishing this data.
More details about this data
Where was the mileage data sourced from?
We used the DVSA MOT API to gather the mileage records of over 17.5 vehicles that were used in this test.
Can I check the mileage of a vehicle myself?
Yes, we offer the same mileage check as carried out in this test for free here: https://carcheck.wd4y.com/free-mileage-check
Got a question?
Feel free to get in touch via email: enquiries@rapidcarcheck.co.uk
