Cazoo is calling for a specific criminal offence for mileage alteration after 60% of used car dealers surveyed reported concerns about rising clocking.
The study of 310 UK used car dealers found six in 10 believe clocking has increased over the past five years, while 81% consider it a serious industry issue.
Dealers estimated that, on average, 14% of the second-hand cars they encounter may have had their mileage deliberately altered.
The figure reflects dealers’ suspicions rather than a verified rate of clocking.
Nine in 10 respondents supported making deliberate mileage alteration a specific criminal offence. The proposal is also backed by the Vehicle Safe Trading Advisory Group (VSTAG).
Call for stronger protection
Clocking involves reducing a vehicle’s recorded mileage to make it appear less used.
Lucy Tugby, chief marketing officer at Cazoo, said: “The law as it stands simply doesn’t go far enough.
“Selling a clocked car can already be prosecuted under fraud and consumer protection laws, but there is no specific offence of altering a vehicle’s mileage. We believe a dedicated offence would send a much clearer message and act as a stronger deterrent.
“Dealers are already doing the work to check mileage, with more than three quarters of those surveyed saying they check MOT history before selling a vehicle. They deserve stronger protection against clocked cars entering their stock.
“We shouldn’t wait until 2028 or limit protections to one type of vehicle. Closing the loophole now would help create a fairer, safer used-car market.”
The Government plans to introduce offences for odometer tampering and prohibit the supply or installation of devices used to tamper with odometers as part of legislation for Electric Vehicle Excise Duty.
The mileage-based charge for electric and plug-in hybrid cars is due to begin in April 2028.
Cazoo wants action before then to protect the wider used car market, including petrol and diesel vehicles.
Technology raises concerns
More than two-thirds of dealers surveyed, 68%, believe mileage on a modern car is easy to change with the right equipment, technology or software.
Among those who believe clocking has increased, 67% attributed this to technological advances that make digital mileage alteration easier. A further 47% cited the relatively low cost and availability of equipment online, while 45% identified the potential financial gain from selling a clocked vehicle.
Older vehicles were considered particularly vulnerable by 53% of respondents. Commercial vehicles and vans were identified by 28%, and electric vehicles by 27%.
Debbie Parkinson, senior operations and trust manager at Cazoo and a member of VSTAG, said: “Clocking remains a very real concern and VSTAG fully supports proposals to make deliberate mileage alteration a specific criminal offence to better protect motorists and legitimate dealers. As vehicle technology has evolved, so too have the methods used to alter mileage, which makes having robust checks in place more important than ever.”
Dealers’ mileage checks
The survey found 77% of dealers check MOT history before selling a vehicle, while 63% check service history.
Other measures included comparing mileage with vehicle condition, used by 45%, inspecting for signs of tampering, 43%, checking digital manufacturer records, 39%, and using third-party vehicle history checks, 37%.
Cazoo has added MOT history to its vehicle listings. Where available, the feature displays the date, result and recorded mileage of each test from official DVSA records, alongside a mileage chart in most cases.
Where readings do not follow the expected pattern, buyers are prompted to question the dealer and check the official record on GOV.UK.
The feature does not establish whether a vehicle has been clocked. Inconsistent readings can also arise from recording errors or a replacement odometer.
Cazoo is inviting dealers, motorists and the wider industry to support its petition calling for deliberate mileage alteration to become a specific criminal offence.
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