Free Car Mileage Check
Verify mileage history and detect odometer tampering before you buy a used car.
The basics
What is a Car Mileage Check?
A car mileage check verifies a vehicle's recorded mileage over time to detect odometer fraud, also known as 'clocking'. By comparing mileage readings from annual MOT tests and other sources, you can spot inconsistencies that suggest tampering. Our free mileage check gives you instant access to historical mileage data. For a complete vehicle history report, upgrade to our premium service.
Full Mileage History
View recorded mileage at every MOT test going back years, creating a clear picture of how the car has been used.
Detect Clocking
Spot odometer rollbacks instantly. If mileage decreases between records, the car has likely been clocked.
Understand Usage
See average annual mileage to understand if the car was used for commuting, business, or occasional trips.
Know the True Value
Higher mileage means more wear. Accurate mileage data helps you assess the car's true worth.
Inside the report
What a mileage check actually shows you
A real report, not a screenshot. The mileage panel is what this page is about, but the checks around it are worth a look too.
Is the vehicle still on finance?
If a lender still has an interest in the vehicle, they can repossess it from your driveway. The seller keeps your money.
- Searched against
- The UK finance register
- Agreement types
- PCP, HP, lease, unit stocking
- Report shows
- Agreement type, date and status
- Recorded by
- The lender, not the seller
Source: UK Finance Register
Has it been written off?
Insurers record a category when a vehicle is damaged badly enough to be uneconomical to repair. Cat S and Cat N vehicles can legally return to the road.
- Searched against
- MIAFTR, the insurance loss register
- Categories covered
- A, B, C, D, S and N
- Report shows
- Category, and the date of loss
- Also covered
- Salvage and total-loss records
Source: MIAFTR
Does the mileage add up?
Every MOT reading is on record. A reading that goes down, or a jump that does not fit the pattern, is the clearest sign of a clocked vehicle.
- Readings used
- Every MOT reading on file
- Looking for
- Readings that fall, or jump
- Report shows
- The full run of readings, in order
- Also covered
- Average miles a year
Source: DVSA MOT history
Is it recorded as stolen?
A car reported stolen and never recovered stays flagged on the Police National Computer. Buying one means losing the vehicle and the money.
- Searched against
- The Police National Computer
- Marker covers
- Vehicles reported and not recovered
- Report shows
- Whether a theft marker is held
- Also covered
- The vehicle's registration status
Source: Police National Computer
How many hands has it passed through?
Frequent keeper changes can mean a problem car being passed along. The V5C record shows every change of keeper since first registration.
- Source record
- The DVLA keeper record
- Report shows
- How many keepers it has had
- Dates given
- First registration and last change
- Also covered
- How many V5Cs have been issued
Source: DVLA
Has it crossed a border?
An import can be fine, but it changes the history you should expect to find, and an exported marker on a vehicle still being sold here is a red flag.
- Markers checked
- Imported and exported
- Covers
- Vehicles first registered abroad
- Report shows
- Which marker is held, and when
- Also covered
- Whether UK history starts late
Source: DVLA
Has it been scrapped?
A certificate of destruction means the vehicle should not exist on the road. Vehicles with cloned plates borrow the identity of scrapped vehicles.
- Markers checked
- Scrapped, and destroyed
- Covers
- Certificates of destruction
- Report shows
- Whether the record was closed, and when
- Also covered
- Whether the VIN matches the record
Source: DVLA
Has the plate been changed?
Plate changes are legal and common, but they are also how a past identity gets buried. The full history lists every registration the vehicle has worn.
- Source record
- The DVLA registration record
- Report shows
- Every plate the vehicle has worn
- Dates given
- The date of each change
- Also covered
- Personalised plates added and removed
Source: DVLA
What does the MOT record say?
Every test, pass, failure and advisory since the vehicle's third year. Advisories are the useful part: they are a mechanic telling you what was already wearing out.
- Tests listed
- Every test on record
- Report shows
- Result, date and mileage for each
- Also covered
- Advisories and reasons for failure
- Goes back to
- The vehicle's third year
Source: DVSA MOT history
Is there an outstanding safety recall?
Manufacturers issue recalls when a fault could be dangerous. The work is free, but it only happens if somebody books it in, and a recall can sit unactioned for years.
- Searched against
- The DVSA recalls database
- Report shows
- Recalls affecting this vehicle
- Also covered
- Recall history for the model
- Cost to put right
- Free, at a franchised dealer
Source: DVSA recalls database
Has it been resprayed?
A recorded colour change can be a personal choice. It can also be how accident repairs or a previous identity stop being obvious at a glance.
- Source record
- The DVLA vehicle record
- Report shows
- Every recorded colour change
- Dates given
- The date of each change
- Also covered
- The colour at first registration
Source: DVLA
Does the vehicle match its paperwork?
The VIN on the vehicle should match the one on the record. When it does not, you are looking at a cloned or altered identity, and everything else in the history belongs to a different car.
- Compared
- The VIN against the DVLA record
- Report shows
- Whether plate, VIN and record agree
- Catches
- Cloned and altered identities
- Also covered
- How many V5Cs have been issued
Source: DVLA
What will it cost to tax?
The rate depends on emissions and registration date, and the difference between bands is large enough to change which vehicle you should buy.
- Source record
- The DVLA tax record
- Report shows
- Tax status, and the date it runs out
- Rate given
- The annual rate for this vehicle
- Based on
- Emissions and registration date
Source: DVLA
What is actually under the bonnet?
Engine size, power, fuel type and economy, taken from the manufacturer record rather than the advert. Useful for checking a listing describes the vehicle it is actually selling.
- Taken from
- The manufacturer record
- Report shows
- Engine size, power and fuel type
- Also covered
- Economy, emissions and gearbox
- Useful for
- Checking the advert is accurate
Source: Manufacturer data
What will it cost to keep?
Fuel, servicing, insurance group and tax in one place, so the monthly cost of owning the vehicle is visible before you commit to it rather than after.
- Report shows
- Fuel, tax, insurance and servicing
- Fuel worked out from
- The vehicle's own economy figures
- Adjustable
- By the mileage you actually drive
- Also covered
- Typical service and MOT costs
Source: Car Owl running-cost model
What will it be worth later?
What the vehicle is worth now and what it is likely to be worth in three years. Depreciation is usually the largest single cost of owning a vehicle, and the easiest one to ignore.
- Report shows
- What the vehicle is worth today
- Ranges given
- Private sale and trade
- Projected to
- Three years ahead
- Based on
- Age, mileage and market data
Source: Car Owl valuation model
What has happened to this vehicle?
Keeper changes, MOT tests, mileage readings and plate changes on one timeline. Patterns that are invisible in a list of dates tend to be obvious once they are in order.
- Events shown
- Keepers, MOTs, mileage and plates
- Ordered by
- Date, from first registration
- Also covered
- Stretches with no record at all
- Drawn from
- DVLA and DVSA records
Source: DVLA and DVSA records
What should you check in person?
A checklist built around this specific car, including what its own MOT advisories say to look at. It turns a viewing into something you can work through rather than guess at.
- Built from
- This car's own MOT advisories
- Also built from
- Known faults for the model
- Report shows
- What to check, in viewing order
- Includes
- Questions to ask the seller
Source: Car Owl
Also in every full report: VIC marker · Unpaid loan records · Common faults and typical repair costs · Fuel cost calculator · Priority support · 100% money-back guarantee
Step by step
How Do I Check a Car's Mileage History?
Checking a car's mileage history with Car Owl takes seconds. We pull official mileage records from MOT tests to show you exactly how the odometer reading has changed over time.
- 11 MOT Readings
- No Anomalies
- MOT Valid
- Year
- 2019
- Colour
- Blue
- Fuel
- Petrol
- Engine
- 1,997 cc
Enter Registration
Type the vehicle's registration number into the search box above to start your free mileage check.
View Mileage Timeline
See mileage recorded at each annual MOT test, creating a complete timeline of the car's use.
Spot Red Flags
Identify any inconsistencies, sudden drops, or suspicious patterns that could indicate fraud.
What drivers say
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Warning signs
Understanding Car Mileage Fraud
Mileage fraud, also known as 'clocking', remains one of the most common scams in the used car market. Understanding how it works helps you protect yourself.
What is Car Clocking?
Clocking is when a car's odometer is deliberately rolled back to show fewer miles than the vehicle has actually travelled. This illegal practice makes the car appear less worn and more valuable than it really is. Modern digital odometers can be clocked using specialist equipment, making it harder to detect without checking official records.
How Common is Mileage Fraud in the UK?
Mileage fraud affects hundreds of thousands of vehicles in the UK. Industry estimates suggest 1 in 16 used cars has a mileage discrepancy. The average victim loses around £2,000 by overpaying for a clocked vehicle. Clocking is illegal under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations, but detection often relies on buyers doing their own checks.
What Are the Signs of a Clocked Car?
Beyond checking mileage records, look for physical signs of high use that don't match the stated mileage. Worn pedals, a shiny steering wheel, saggy driver's seat, and excessive wear on gear knobs all suggest high mileage. If the mileage seems too good to be true for the car's age and condition, it probably is.
Why it matters
Why Check Mileage Before Buying?
Mileage directly affects a car's value, reliability, and remaining lifespan. A vehicle with genuine low mileage is worth significantly more than one with hidden high use. Our mileage check helps you avoid overpaying for a clocked car.
Avoid Overpaying
A 100,000 mile car is worth far less than a 50,000 mile example. Make sure you're paying for genuine mileage.
Predict Reliability
Higher mileage means more wear on engine, gearbox, and suspension. Know what you're buying.
Protect Future Value
Buying a clocked car means you'll lose money when selling. True mileage follows the vehicle.
At a glance
Verify Mileage Instantly
Accurate, Official, 100% Free
Car Owl's mileage check uses official MOT records to verify any vehicle's mileage history. Detect clocking and fraud in seconds with our free tool.
Official MOT Mileage Data
Our car mileage check uses official DVLA records, showing the exact mileage recorded at each annual MOT test.
Visual Mileage Timeline
See mileage progression clearly displayed, making it easy to spot any drops or inconsistencies that suggest fraud.
Check Mileage History Now
Don't trust the odometer alone. Our free mileage check verifies the true history using official MOT records.
Still unsure?
Frequently Asked Questions about Mileage Checks
How can I check if a car has been clocked?
Enter the registration into our free mileage check. We'll show you the mileage recorded at each MOT test. If the mileage ever decreases or shows suspicious patterns, the car may have been clocked.
Is clocking a car illegal?
Yes, clocking is illegal under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. It's a form of fraud that can result in prosecution. However, enforcement is difficult, so buyer vigilance is essential.
How common is mileage fraud?
Industry estimates suggest around 1 in 16 used cars has some form of mileage discrepancy. That's over 2 million vehicles on UK roads with potentially false mileage readings.
Can digital odometers be clocked?
Yes, modern digital odometers can be reprogrammed using specialist diagnostic equipment. In some ways, they're easier to clock than older mechanical odometers. Always verify mileage with official records.
What's the average annual mileage for a car?
The average UK car covers about 7,000-8,000 miles per year. Significantly lower or higher mileage isn't necessarily bad, but it tells you how the car was used.
What if the mileage check shows a discrepancy?
If mileage decreases between MOT tests or the current odometer doesn't match the progression, walk away from the deal. A clocked car is worth significantly less and may have hidden mechanical wear.
How far back do mileage records go?
MOT mileage records are available from 2005 onwards. This gives you up to 20+ years of mileage history to analyse for most vehicles.
Can I claim compensation if I bought a clocked car?
Yes, you have legal rights if you've been sold a clocked car. You can claim a refund under consumer protection laws. Keep all evidence and contact Trading Standards or seek legal advice.
Does high mileage mean a bad car?
Not necessarily. A high-mileage car that's been well maintained (mostly motorway miles) can be more reliable than a low-mileage car that's done lots of short trips. It's about condition, not just numbers.
Should I still check mileage when buying from a dealer?
Absolutely. While reputable dealers should verify mileage, not all do thorough checks. Cars can change hands multiple times, and clocking can happen at any stage. Always verify independently.