The best way to stamp out clocking is to maintain an accurate database of odometer readings for all motor vehicles. Unfortunately the Consumer Protection Act does not apply to transactions between private individuals which leaves you unprotected if you buy a clocked car from a private seller. This means that any business knowingly selling or offering for sale a used motor vehicles with altered or reduced odometer readings is breaking the law. However under the Consumer Protection Act 2007 misleading commercial practices are considered to be an offence. The physical action of clocking a car is not in itself illegal. The odometer is the instrument that records a vehicles mileage, and clocking involves the intentional understatement of a vehicle's mileage. 'Clocking' is the term used to describe the action of manipulating the odometer reading on a second hand car in an effort to misrepresent it's past history. But there are many steps you can take to protect yourself against clocking. Our fleet partners continue to lend their support, and we're in discussions with a number of private sources that can also help. This would add another 6 - 8 million readings, but cars under four years would still be at risk. We're in the process of lobbying the Department of Transport for access to the NCT mileage database. We started this three years ago with the Irish National Mileage Register ( INMR) and have over 1.2 million audited records now on file, but there's plenty more to be done. The only sure fire way to combat clocking is to build a reliable database that takes regular odometer readings from independent sources. ![]() It shows the increase in incidents of clocking that MotorCheck has identified since March of this year. ![]() When we started analysing the data even we were amazed at the increase in clocking over the past 6 months, and the lengths some sellers will go to in an effort to squeeze a few more euros out of a potential buyer. The show exposes the rising trend of 'car clocking', and MotorCheck was asked to take part in the programme. Car mileage 'clocking' is as big a problem as ever.Ĭan you believe it's been 19 years since this clip first aired on Top Gear, and despite all the advances that have been made in modern motor cars 'clocking' is as big a problem as ever?Īt Motorcheck we've been helping buyers avoid clocked vehicles for over three years, and were thrilled when the production team behind 'Buyer Beware' (RTE1's consumer watchdog) approached us to appear on a forthcoming show.
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