Drivers should be careful when they are in the market for a second hand vehicle. If you do not know what you are looking for, drivers run the risk of finding themselves the victim of a bad deal. It is important to test all of the main features to ensure that they are in working condition. Perhaps it is even worth getting a second opinion from an expert to guarantee that you aren’t purchasing a vehicle that will be unusable in just several months time. At Accept Car Finance, we put every vehicle we sell via car finance through an intensive 101-point quality inspection so that our customers can be confident they are buying a car that is in great condition. However, not everywhere does this.

One of the ways that buyers can be ripped off is through car clocking. According to new research, 2.3 million vehicles around the United Kingdom have had their mileage modified. This is done to make vehicles appear as if they are newer than they are. As such, the cars can be price tagged at a higher cost. Customers around the country are wasting an estimated total of £800m because of this. Furthermore, there are safety concerns facilitated by car clocking. Doing this means also delays when drivers should be taking their vehicles to be serviced. It means that essential car parts may get worn out faster than a driver would expect them to.

Car clocking is more commonplace now than it has ever been before. At one time, only one in twenty cars had had their mileage altered. However, this figure is much higher in 2017. One of the main reasons for this is because the technology used to do it is more widely available. It can be bought with relative ease, and at a fairly reasonable price, online. Cap HPI, who published the research into car clocking, suggest that the problem is worsening because of this and customers are the ones to suffer for it.

Customers in the market for a second hand vehicle through car finance should be aware of this. Although companies like us have quality checks in place to alleviate the risk of car clocking, knowing how to spot a clocked car can be valuable knowledge. For instance, customers should keep their eyes peeled for electronic glitches, which may be a side effect of car clocking. A small fee can also be paid to conduct an official vehicle check, which allows customers to validate a vehicle’s history. This usually includes the mileage. Furthermore, the external condition of the car might be a warning sign of car clocking, like if the mileage suggests it is almost brand new but the interior is worn and old-fashioned.