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How to check a car’s mileage history and spot a clocked car
Updated 3 September 2026 · 2 min read · by DealerPricing
Check a car’s mileage history by running a free MOT check on its registration. Every MOT test since 2005 records the odometer reading, so the list of readings shows how the mileage grew year by year. A reading that goes down, or annual mileage far below the UK average of about 7,400 miles, is a warning sign of clocking.
✓ Every reading is higher than the one before.
Roughly 14,267 miles a year between tests (UK average is about 7,400).
Step by step
Run a free MOT check on the registration
The free check lists every MOT test with the mileage the tester recorded.
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MOT history list showing the mileage recorded at each test Read the readings from oldest to newest
The mileage should rise every year. Note any test where the figure is lower than the one before, and any year where it barely moved. Dealer accounts get the same readings plotted as a chart.
Mileage history chart plotting the odometer reading at each MOT test Check the two warning signs
A drop between tests means the odometer was wound back or the tester mistyped it. Very low annual mileage on an older car, or a jump of 30,000 miles in a year, deserves an explanation from the seller.
Confirm with a history check before you pay
A DealerPricing vehicle history check compares every recorded reading automatically and raises a "Mileage discrepancy" alert if any reading goes backwards.
Vehicle history check from £2.50 →
What you’ll see
- Mileage at every MOT test since 2005
- The date of each reading, so you can work out miles per year
- Kilometre readings flagged where a tester recorded km instead of miles
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Run a free MOT & DVLA check →Frequently asked questions
What is a clocked car?
A clocked car has had its odometer wound back to show fewer miles than it has really covered, to raise its value. Adjusting the mileage is legal in the UK, but selling the car without declaring it is fraud.
How common is clocking in the UK?
Industry checks find inconsistent mileage records on roughly 5 to 7 percent of used cars. Digital odometers are easy to alter with cheap tools, so paper evidence like MOT and service records matters more than the dashboard figure.
What is the average annual mileage in the UK?
Around 7,400 miles a year for a car according to the Department for Transport’s National Travel Survey. A ten-year-old car showing 30,000 miles is possible but unusual and needs supporting service history.
Can the MOT mileage be wrong without clocking?
Yes. Testers occasionally mistype a figure or enter kilometres for an imported car. One odd reading between two consistent ones is usually an error; several low readings in a row are not.
Related guides
Terms explained
- Mileage discrepancyA mileage discrepancy occurs when a UK vehicle's recorded mileage decreases between MOT tests or other records — the leading indicator that the odometer has been illegally tampered with.
- MOT historyMOT history is the record of every annual MOT test a UK vehicle has had since 2005, including pass/fail status, mileage at each test, expiry dates, advisories and recorded defects.