How to check a car's mileage history

Mileage is one of the biggest factors in a used car's price. Removing 30,000 miles can add hundreds or thousands of pounds to the asking price — money you pay for wear that hasn't gone away. High real mileage also means components like the timing belt, clutch, suspension and turbo may be closer to failure than the odometer suggests.

Every MOT test in the UK records the odometer reading, and the government publishes this history free of charge. Look at the readings year by year:

• The mileage should rise steadily between tests — never go backwards.
• A drop between any two tests is a red flag for clocking.
• Very low annual mileage (under ~2,000 miles a year) on an ordinary family car can be genuine, but deserves a closer look.
• Gaps in the MOT history may mean the car was off the road — or tested abroad or under a different registration.

Our free MOT check shows this history instantly from the registration number.

• Worn pedal rubbers, a shiny steering wheel and a sagging driver's seat on a supposedly low-mileage car.
• Stone chips and windscreen wear inconsistent with the displayed mileage.
• Service history stamps or invoices showing higher mileage than the odometer now shows.
• A digital odometer with misaligned digits or dashboard screws showing tool marks.

MOT records only go back so far and only capture one reading a year. A full vehicle history check cross-references mileage records from additional sources — such as service visits, leasing returns and previous sales listings — and flags any inconsistency as a mileage discrepancy, along with other mileage records the MOT history alone won't show.

If a check flags a discrepancy, ask the seller to explain it and show supporting paperwork. If they can't, walk away — a clocked car is worth less and may be hiding serious wear.