Any way to know if car has been clocked?

ninjasurfer1

Hi,
I am looking at buying a 2008 1.6 petrol avensis (from a garage) which is advertised with approx 12k miles on it. Is there any way of knowing if the car has been clocked?

I'm thinking of getting the AA car road check so would they be able to verify the mileage upon inspection?

Also, should 2nd hand cars be sold with the new eu standard tyres?

Thanks for any info.

kirving

I'd say the AA could check whether it's been clocked, I don't know for sure to be honest.

As regard the tires, if they haven't got the "E" mark they won't pass the NCT. Be wary of the garage changing them before(if) you buy it though, chances are they'll put the cheapest chinese crap they can get away with onto the car.

What's currently on it may very well be better than a cheap repalcement.

Reloc8

Check service history - intervals should be recorded (easy to fake)

Check wear and tear on drivers seat & pedals etc. (should be almost brand new at 12k).

AA inspection does not include a history check if I recall correctly so run one of those with AA (they give you a discount on the inspection if you get one with them) or motorcheck or cartell - that can show up anomalies on mileage too.

After the AA check you'll be able to speak to the tech who did the inspection and discuss whether he copped anything suspicious as well from his physical inspection of the undercarriage & interior.

slimjimmc

There's no way to be 100% certain a car hasn't been clocked unless there are regular records of mileage (e.g. service records) or the car logs the true mileage in tamper-proof memory. The car's history and condition would usually yield clues to since excessive wear and tear could be due to excessive mileage.

The E-mark is not a new standard, it has been illegal to sell and fit non E-marked tyres here for over 10 years but it was only introduced as an NCT check last year. There should be no cars with unapproved tyres but it's always worth checking.

coylemj

Reloc8 wrote: »

Check service history - intervals should be recorded (easy to fake)


AA inspection does not include a history check if I recall correctly so run one of those with AA (they give you a discount on the inspection if you get one with them) or motorcheck or cartell - that can show up anomalies on mileage too.

motorcheck and cartell can tell him if there's finance outstanding but nothing else given that it's a three year old car, you said yourself that service history can be faked. That car hasn't been through any official agency of the state since it was registered, nobody can validate the mileage or prove that it has or has not been clocked.

Service receipts from a reputable garage would be the only thing that I'd accept as proof of the mileage.

Reloc8

So...if motorcheck showed it had been imported in 2009 with 80,000 miles on it that would be pointless information ?

All I said was history check can throw up anomalies - the example above might be conclusive, there are other pieces of information that can emerge which can corroborate/call into question mileage. Its about being as safe as you can be - if OP is getting an AA inspection it would be a false economy not to run it through the history check as well.

With AA or motorcheck you get a discount off the inspection for running the history which effectively costs nothing in any event.

shawnee

If you are buying from a garage, then he should have no difficulty in giving you the previous owners name and a quick discussion with him will usually help to find out if the car was regularly serviced and where and indeed if the mileage is genuine. There is really no physical check that will tell if a car has been clocked.:p

slimjimmc

shawnee wrote: »

If you are buying from a garage, then he should have no difficulty in giving you the previous owners name and a quick discussion with him will usually help to find out if the car was regularly serviced and where and indeed if the mileage is genuine. There is really no physical check that will tell if a car has been clocked.:p

Data protection would prevent the garage giving previous owner's details to a third party without consent, but the dealer could ring him up directly.

Anyway ringing the previous owner is not conclusive proof that it was never clocked since he could have had it clocked to up his trade-in value before the dealer ever saw it. All it can do is improve confidence, rightly or wrongly.

shawnee

slimjimmc wrote: »

Data protection would prevent the garage giving previous owner's details to a third party without consent, but the dealer could ring him up directly.

Anyway ringing the previous owner is not conclusive proof that it was never clocked since he could have had it clocked to up his trade-in value before the dealer ever saw it. All it can do is improve confidence, rightly or wrongly.

Data protection act not in force in many areas !! If the previous owner has no difficulty with giving his/her name then the garage can do that, only recently I was given this information without even requesting it from a main dealer when test driving a car ! There is no inconclusive proof however , this could indeed reassure the buyer of the validity of the mileage.

lomb

Yes you can tell if its clocked at those miles. Basically at those miles the car should still probably be on its original tyres and definately the rears. A look at the tread levels will give a good guide as to the miles. The tyres will be a matched make and model and a premium make like michelin.

If unsure about normal tread wear for distance compare tyres with 2010 cars of the same make/model with the same miles.

coylemj

lomb wrote: »

Yes you can tell if its clocked at those miles. Basically at those miles the car should still probably be on its original tyres and definately the rears. A look at the tread levels will give a good guide as to the miles. The tyres will be a matched make and model and a premium make like michelin.

If unsure about normal tread wear for distance compare tyres with 2010 cars of the same make/model with the same miles.

If a garage went to the bother of clocking the mileage I'm sure they would have no difficulty in fitting the appropriate tyres to match the claimed mileage.

slimjimmc

shawnee wrote: »

Data protection act not in force in many areas !!

DPA applies to anyone who holds personal data, that most definitely includes dealers.

shawnee wrote: »

If the previous owner has no difficulty with giving his/her name then the garage can do that,

So he's given consent

shawnee wrote: »

only recently I was given this information without even requesting it from a main dealer when test driving a car ! There is no inconclusive proof however , this could indeed reassure the buyer of the validity of the mileage.

Agreed, as I previously mentioned all it can do is give confidence, however that confidence could be misplaced if the previous owner had something to hide. You'd be placing your trust in the previous owner, which is usually reasonable.

Reloc8

coylemj wrote: »

If a garage went to the bother of clocking the mileage I'm sure they would have no difficulty in fitting the appropriate tyres to match the claimed mileage.

In principle no but what they do is fit cheapo new ones and tell you they're great for sticking new tyres on it.

bazz26

Tyres are not an accurate indication either as they could have been replaced for a number of reasons, i.e. pucture damage, uneven wear, etc.

Also I would put money on a 3 year old car with only 12k miles having little or no service history as most owners of low mileage cars tend to think they only need a service when they hit a certain mileage interval rather can going by a time interval.