Vehicle history checks

What to do if you bought a clocked car

Updated 3 October 2026 · 2 min read · by DealerPricing

If the mileage on a car you bought turns out to be false, collect the evidence first: the MOT mileage history, the advert and any service records. Then contact the seller in writing. A car must match its description, so you may be entitled to a repair, a price reduction or your money back. Report suspected clocking to Trading Standards.

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Step by step

  1. Confirm the mileage is wrong

    Compare the odometer with the mileage recorded at every MOT since 2005, the service records and any old adverts for the car. A reading lower than an earlier one is the clearest sign. Rule out an innocent explanation first, such as a replaced instrument cluster that was documented at the time.

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    The MOT history in the free DealerPricing check, showing the result and recorded mileage at each test
    The MOT history in the free DealerPricing check, showing the result and recorded mileage at each test

  2. Keep the evidence

    Save the advert, the receipt, messages with the seller, the MOT mileage history and any service invoices. Note the mileage on the dashboard today with a dated photograph.

  3. Contact the seller in writing

    Explain the problem and what you want: your money back, a repair or a price reduction. A car bought from a business must match its description under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, and within the first 30 days you can usually reject it for a full refund. A private seller must not describe the car inaccurately, so a false mileage stated in the advert can also give you a claim.

  4. Report it

    Report suspected clocking through the Citizens Advice consumer helpline, which passes reports to Trading Standards. Selling a car without disclosing that its mileage is wrong is an offence for a business.

  5. If the seller will not help

    Against a business, use its trade body’s dispute resolution scheme if it belongs to one. Otherwise you can make a small claim through the courts. Take advice before you do.

    Citizens Advice: problems with a used car →

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Frequently asked questions

Is clocking illegal in the UK?

Changing an odometer reading is not in itself an offence, but selling a car without disclosing that its mileage is incorrect is. This is general information, not legal advice.

Can I get my money back for a clocked car?

From a business, often yes: a car must match its description, and within 30 days of buying it you can usually reject it for a full refund; after that you can ask for a repair or replacement and then a price reduction or refund. From a private seller it is harder, but a false mileage stated in the advert can support a claim for your losses.

How can I tell if the mileage is wrong?

Look for an MOT mileage that is lower than an earlier one, gaps in the record followed by a low reading, mileages on service invoices that do not fit, and wear on the steering wheel, pedals and driver’s seat that does not match the miles shown.

How do I avoid buying a clocked car next time?

Check the free MOT mileage history before you view, match it against the service record and the dashboard, and run a full history check before you pay, which adds a mileage discrepancy check alongside stolen, finance and write-off checks.

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