Clocking Cars

Car clocking, or adjusting the mileage on a vehicle, is a concept based on the simple principle that mileage is an important factor contributing to a car's value and saleability.

It therefore stands to reason that buying a high mileage car and selling it as a low mileage one, would likely increase its saleability and the profit margin: bingo!

‘Clocking’ a car, ‘giving it a haircut’ or ‘bingo-ing’ a car are all slang terms for mileage fraud.

It’s not a new phenomenon, but it has become more widespread for a very simple reason. Most cars are bought on finance, and PCP monthly payments are linked to the vehicle’s future value, which is linked to the annual contract mileage.

Most cars are bought on finance, and PCP monthly payments are linked to the vehicle's future value, which is directly influenced by annual contract mileage. This makes mileage clocking a concern for both dealers and buyers. The lower the annual mileage, the lower the monthly premium. If you exceed the annual mileage an excess mileage charge will become payable.

We are considered to be a force to be reckoned with in civil fraud, specifically in the area of automotive fraud, motor trade, classic and supercars. We are straight talking, approachable and able to explain the most complicated things into simple concepts, true experts, with a lifetime of experience.

If you’ve bought a car or van which has had the mileage altered, call the Car Lawyer for first free advice.

How to Spot a Clocked Car: Analogue vs. Digital Mileage Adjustment

Classic cars and modern classics have analogue mileometers, which surprisingly are more difficult to clock than modern digital odometers. The mileage is recorded using a mechanical process on what looks like a barrel combination lock. A series of wheels numbered 0-9 are held together in a barrel format by a spring, interconnected by a tiny spigot at the number nine position. The farthest right-hand wheel turns as the car is driven, and when it reaches nine and as it trips over to 0, the wheel to the left of it clicks over to 1 and so on.

To clock a car, the screws securing the speedo binnacle have to be removed, potentially leaving tell-tale signs in the process. The barrel has to be removed and the wheels prized apart to disengage the interconnecting spigot, without breaking the spring and without damaging the wheels and the numbers.

Once separated, the selected wheel can be manually turned to display the required number. When done and all the numbers are lined up, the odometer- mileometer- is reinstated. While analogue mileometers are often associated with classic cars, they can be more difficult to alter compared to modern digital odometers.

Digital Mileage Clocking and ECU Manipulation

Digital odometers have eliminated the need for the removal of any components and the risk of any tell-tale damage. The process is completed by manipulating the vehicle electronic control unit (ECU) by plugging in a laptop with the appropriate software. However, cars have evolved to record mileage in the key and in other in car electronic devices. This not only leads to the discovery of a clocked car, but the date when it was done.

Are Mileage Blockers Illegal? CAN Blockers Explained

A further evolution led to the production and ready availability of CAN blockers or mileage blockers, which are electronic installations which can stop the odometer recording the miles or changes the way the mileage is recorded, both on the dashboard and in the ECU(s).

These CAN filters are often plugged in behind the speedo binnacle but can be virtually wireless. However, this also raises the question, "Is clocking a car with a digital odometer illegal?"

Clocked Mileage: Risks and Detection Methods

In some instances, mileage blockers are undetectable, but not always. In many high-performance cars and prestige vehicles, the gear box ECU is not affected by the CAN blocker and continues to record the real mileage. It all too often goes unnoticed, as this data is not regularly checked.

What does happen is that vehicles do not get properly serviced due to the mileage not recording properly, and the vehicle not being submitted to main dealer through fear of the truth being discovered.

This leads to component and in some cases, engine and transmission failure, triggering the interrogation of the gearbox ECU and other in-car electronic devices which continue to accurately record mileage. Inaccurate mileage due to clocking can also lead to the car not being properly serviced, eventually causing component and even engine and transmission failures.

Is Clocking Cars Illegal?

Despite a number of proposals here in the UK and Europe, clocking cars and the firms that do it have not yet been outlawed.

It is however illegal to clock and sell a clocked car which could well amount to fraudulent misrepresentation and or breach of statutory duty under consumer protection law. In reality, few car dealers engage in clocking and reselling, and the majority disclaim the accuracy of the odometer reading in the small print.

However, this isn’t the whole story and as much as dealers want to cover their backs against mileage fraud, they can’t have their cake and eat it by pricing cars as if the mileage and service history is genuine, and get out of jail when it’s found not to be. If you've bought a clocked car from a dealer, this could amount to fraudulent misrepresentation and could fall under the breach of statutory duty under consumer protection law in the UK. This could mean you can reject a clocked car and recover your money.

If you’ve bought a clocked car, phone for first free expert advice.