Vehicle checks
Free car mileage check
See the odometer reading recorded at every MOT since 2005 and spot mileage that goes backwards.
How can I check a car’s mileage history?
Every MOT test records the car’s odometer reading on the day. The free check lists each reading with its date and works out the average miles per year, so any reading lower than the one before it stands out straight away.
Where the mileage figures come from
The tester reads the odometer at every MOT and the DVSA stores the figure with the result. That gives you a mileage timeline that doesn’t depend on anything the seller tells you.
The free check compares the average miles per year with a typical UK car, so you can see at a glance whether the car has done a lot of driving or very little.
Signs a car may have been clocked
- A reading lower than the one before it
- Yearly mileage that suddenly falls just before the car goes up for sale
- A year with no MOT when the seller says the car was on the road
- Wear that doesn’t fit the miles: a shiny steering wheel, worn pedals or a sagging driver’s seat on a low-mileage car
- Service stamps that are missing or come from garages you can’t trace
None of these proves a car was clocked. Instrument clusters get replaced and testers occasionally mistype a reading. Treat each one as a question for the seller and ask for invoices that back up the mileage.
How to check the mileage before you buy
- Run the free check and note the latest MOT reading.
- Compare it with the odometer in the car and the figure in the advert.
- Look along the readings for any drop or missing year.
- Ask for service invoices that show the mileage between MOTs.
Going further than the readings
The Car Health Check report reads the whole mileage record together with the MOT history. It flags readings that don’t add up and uses the mileage in the valuation, so you can see whether the asking price fits the miles.
FAQ
Questions people ask
Is the mileage check free?
Yes. Every recorded MOT mileage, the yearly average and the comparison with a typical UK car come with the free check.
How accurate are MOT mileage readings?
Each one is what the tester read from the odometer on the day. That makes the readings independent of the seller, though they can only be as accurate as the odometer itself.
What if the car has no MOT mileage?
A car younger than three years hasn’t had an MOT, so there are no readings yet. The check says when mileage isn’t recorded. You can then enter the advert’s mileage when you order a report.
Should I avoid a high-mileage car?
Not because of the number alone. A car that has done steady motorway miles with regular servicing can be in better shape than a low-mileage car used for short trips. The history behind the miles matters more.
Guides
More checks before you buy
Free car check
Check it before you go and see it
DVLA details, tax and MOT status, mileage and the full MOT history, free for any UK registration.