9:31 am, October 9, 2026
Cazoo is calling on the government to make deliberate vehicle mileage alteration a specific criminal offence – as new research finds six in ten used-car dealers believe clocking has increased in the UK over the past five years.
The study of 310 UK used-car dealers found 81% consider clocking a serious issue for the industry. Dealers estimate that, on average, 14% of second-hand cars they encounter may have had their mileage deliberately altered.
Backed by the Vehicle Safe Trading Advisory Group (VSTAG), Cazoo is calling for strong protections for buyers and legitimate dealers.
VSTAG supports proposals to make deliberate vehicle mileage alteration a specific criminal offence, while 90% of dealers surveyed also support the introduction of such an offence.
The campaign forms part of Cazoo’s Honestly, Finally commitment to greater transparency in the used-car market, working with dealers and the wider industry to drive change.
Clocking involves deliberately reducing a vehicle’s recorded mileage to make it appear less used. While it can already be prosecuted under fraud and consumer protection laws, there is no specific offence of altering a vehicle’s mileage.
Cazoo believes closing this gap would help protect buyers from mileage fraud and support dealers working to prevent clocked vehicles entering their stock.
While the government has confirmed measures to tackle the clocking of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles ahead of the introduction of pay-per-mile taxation from April 2028, Cazoo believes action is needed now to protect the wider used-car market, including petrol and diesel vehicles.
The research also highlights dealers’ concerns about the technology used to alter mileage. More than two thirds (68%) believe changing the mileage of a modern car is easy with the right equipment, technology or software.
Among dealers who believe clocking has increased, 67% cite technological advances that make digital mileage alteration easier. Almost half (47%) point to the relatively low cost and ready availability of equipment online, while 45% identify the potential financial gain from selling a clocked car.
Older vehicles are considered particularly vulnerable by 53% of dealers. More than a quarter also identify commercial vehicles and vans (28%) and electric vehicles (27%) as particularly susceptible.
Dealers surveyed report taking a range of measures to verify mileage before selling a vehicle. More than three quarters (77%) say they check MOT history while 63% say they check service history.
Other checks reported by dealers include comparing mileage with the vehicle’s condition (45%), inspecting for signs of mileage tampering (43%), checking digital manufacturer records (39%) and using third-party vehicle history checks (37%).
Alongside its campaign for legislative change, Cazoo has added MOT history to its website listings. Where available, this shows the date, result and recorded mileage of each MOT test from official DVSA records and, in most cases, a mileage chart.
Where the readings do not follow the expected pattern, buyers are prompted to ask the dealer and check the official record on GOV.UK.
The feature does not determine whether a vehicle has been clocked, as inconsistent readings can also result from, for example, recording errors or a replaced odometer.
As part of the campaign, Cazoo doctored some images and clocked our own editor-in-chief James Baggott
Lucy Tugby, chief marketing officer at Cazoo, said: ‘The law as it stands simply doesn’t go far enough. Selling a clocked car can already be prosecuted under fraud and consumer protection laws, but there is no specific offence of altering a vehicle’s mileage.
‘We believe a dedicated offence would send a much clearer message and act as a stronger deterrent.
‘Dealers are already doing the work to check mileage, with more than three quarters of those surveyed saying they check MOT history before selling a vehicle. They deserve stronger protection against clocked cars entering their stock.
‘We shouldn’t wait until 2028 or limit protections to one type of vehicle. Closing the loophole now would help create a fairer, safer used-car market.
‘Our ‘Honestly, Finally’ commitment is about working in partnership with dealers to bring greater transparency to the market.
‘Giving customers clearer information before they enquire can help generate better-informed leads and make conversations at the dealership smoother. Tackling clocking is part of putting that commitment into practice.’
Debbie Parkinson, senior operations & trust manager for Cazoo and member of VSTAG, said: ‘Clocking remains a very real concern and VSTAG fully supports proposals to make deliberate mileage alteration a specific criminal offence to better protect motorists and legitimate dealers.
‘As vehicle technology has evolved, so too have the methods used to alter mileage, which makes having robust checks in place more important than ever.’
Cazoo is inviting dealers, motorists and the wider automotive industry to support its petition calling for deliberate mileage alteration to become a specific criminal offence. To support the petition, visit Change.org.