According to vehicle history checking service Carvertical, the Vauxhall Astra is currently the most 'clocked' used car in the UK, with nearly one in seven found to have tampered mileage. Despite being the fifth most popular used car in the first quarter of 2023, this suggests that a significant number of customers could have inadvertently purchased a 'clocked' model.

Data collected from January to May 2023 showed that luxury models like Audis and Mercedes were among the most 'clocked' vehicles. In the past 12 months, Carvertical discovered that 5.7 per cent of cars examined were subject to mileage falsification. Given that 1.8 million used cars were sold in the first three months of 2023, the company estimates that more than 400,000 buyers could fall victim to mileage fraud this year.

Matas Buzelis, Carvertical’s head of communications, has cautioned buyers and sellers against relying solely on provenance checks, as some fraudulent practices are challenging to prevent. Under the Consumer Rights Act, car dealers who deliberately reduce a vehicle's mileage for profit can be prosecuted. However, Carvertical insists that the practice is so common that consumers who don't carry out a history check risk falling prey to this scam.

The company's previous research found that artificially reducing a used vehicle's mileage could raise its selling price by up to 25%, costing buyers potentially thousands of pounds. The practice also increases maintenance costs, as 'clocked' cars often have more wear and tear than indicated by their mileage.

Luxury brands like Audis and Mercedes are particularly targeted by fraudsters due to the higher profits their models can yield when their mileage is tampered with.

In response to these findings, Carvertical has introduced a rebranded, more comprehensive vehicle history report to assist buyers in making informed purchases and avoiding costly errors. Buzelis stresses the importance of obtaining an accurate mileage figure when shopping for a second-hand car and being aware of any issues that might affect its true value.

This article was originally published by cardealermagazine.co.uk.