Car Buyer Clock Warning

Clocking remains a very real threat to used car buyers, with unscrupulous sellers seeing the clocking of a vehicle as an easy way to raise its price and make some extra cash.

HPI is warning consumers to remain aware of this potential pitfall when buying a used vehicle as they could end up paying hundreds, or even thousands, of pounds more than they should for it.

Nicola Johnson, Consumer Services Manager for HPI, said: "Our analysis shows that clockers are avoiding the high end vehicles and concentrating on the every day vehicles.

"The relative ease of clocking these vehicles combined with sheer volume being sold represents the quickest buck for them and the biggest risk to the consumer.

"Worryingly clocked vehicles may also represent a safety concern. Vehicles with incorrect mileages may have also missed important services and part replacement dates, making them unreliable and potentially un-roadworthy.

"This means motorists must do all they can to protect themselves from this type of fraud to avoid paying over the odds for a clocked vehicle and landing them with a potentially dangerous vehicle."

Eight out of every 100 vehicles checked by HPI show a mileage discrepancy. Modern digital odometers are now commonplace, making it even easier for clocked vehicles to evade detection, as the traditional tell-tale signs of damage to screws or poorly aligned number are not visible.

HPI’s National Mileage Register now contains over 135 million readings, giving buyers extra assurance that a vehicle checked by HPI has not been clocked.

With more vehicle information than anybody else, HPI also confirms the vehicle description, whether it is currently recorded as stolen, been written-off by an insurance company or is subject to outstanding finance. The HPI Check offers a financial guarantee, offering added peace of mind to used car buyers at a time when finances are tight.

Ms Johnson added: "Buyers who conduct an HPI Check can rest assured that we will also check the mileage of the vehicle they are purchasing- meaning they won’t be paying too much or make repairs long before expected."

(PR/GK)