When Fiona purchased her five-year-old Audi A3, the odometer showed a modest 42,000 miles – just the kind of low-mileage gem she’d been searching for. The seller was friendly, the service book stamped, and the price reasonable. But six months later, during a routine MOT, a technician raised an eyebrow. “This car was recorded at 67,000 miles two years ago,” he said.
Fiona had unknowingly bought a clocked car – one where the mileage had been rolled back to increase its value. That “good deal” ended up costing her over £4,000 in lost value, extra repairs, and legal fees.
Stories like this aren’t rare. In fact, mileage fraud is one of the most common forms of used car deception in the UK.
Why mileage matters
Mileage isn’t just a number. It’s a vital indicator of how much wear a car has experienced.
- High mileage often means more wear and tear, even if the car looks great
- Lower mileage generally fetches higher prices and cheaper insurance
- Mileage affects servicing schedules, warranty coverage, and even resale value
And because buyers often focus on mileage when comparing cars, it’s an easy number for dishonest sellers to manipulate.
How mileage fraud happens
Digital odometers were supposed to make fraud harder – but they’ve made it easier. All it takes is a simple diagnostic tool and a few minutes to roll back the displayed mileage.
Some common tactics include:
- Reducing miles before listing the car
- Swapping clusters from lower mileage vehicles
- Resetting systems after importing high-mileage cars
And because most people don’t check the vehicle’s history properly, the fraud often goes undetected – until it’s too late.
What a car mileage check reveals
A proper car mileage check cross-references multiple sources to reveal the car’s true history, including:
- Recorded MOT mileages (DVSA data)
- Mileage trends over time (to detect suspicious drops)
- Insurance and valuation records where available
- Flags for odometer tampering or rollbacks
- Mileage at last MOT and date of issue
- Any discrepancies or gaps in the records
At Rapid Car Check, mileage data is pulled from government and industry sources, forming part of a full vehicle history report backed by a £30,000 data guarantee.
Hidden risks of incorrect mileage
The cost of buying a car with altered mileage goes beyond just paying too much.
- Incorrect servicing: you might miss critical service intervals
- Higher repair costs: worn parts that should’ve been replaced won’t be
- Warranty issues: some warranties are void if mileage is wrong
- Legal trouble: if you resell a car with false mileage, you could be liable
It’s not just a dishonest deal – it’s a safety and financial risk.
How to protect yourself
Before you commit to any used vehicle:
- Run a Rapid Car Check with the reg number
- Get the full mileage history and compare it to the odometer
- Check for MOT gaps, inconsistent annual mileage, or reversals
- Match the mileage with service records and invoices
- Be cautious if the seller “can’t find” documents
And remember, if anything looks suspicious – walk away.
The extra protection of a full check
Rapid Car Check includes mileage checks as part of a broader report that also covers:
- Outstanding finance
- Write-off status
- Stolen vehicle alerts
- Log book loan checks
- Scrapped vehicle data
- VIN and spec verification
- MOT history
- Road tax
- Colour and plate changes
- And 50+ more data points, all backed by a £30,000 data guarantee
It’s the most complete way to protect yourself before you buy.
Final thoughts
A car might look good. It might drive well. But if the mileage has been tampered with, you’re buying a lie – and overpaying for it.
A simple car mileage check can prevent that. It’s fast, affordable, and gives you the confidence to buy smart, not sorry.
