According to valuations guide Glass's, current drivers are clocking their cars in order to avoid excess mileage penalties on fixed mileage leases. An increasing number of drivers are relying on mileage adjustment companies using specialist equipment in order to artificially reduce the number of miles on their odometer. Because most of the vehicles involved are supplied new and are less than three years old, they don't have an MOT certificate and often only have a single service stamp.æ As a result, the paper trail can't be used as proof that the mileage has been changed. Rupert Pontin, head of valuations for Glass's, said: "Some drivers facing a PCP returns charge may consider clocking as an easy way of avoiding payment but their actions are illegal. "The issue tends to come to light when the car is prepared for sale either by the original dealer or another who has subsequently bought the car, probably at auction. 'When they plug the vehicle into their diagnostic rig as part of their standard vehicle preparation procedure and, depending on the model, an error code will show what has occurred. "This places the dealer in a very difficult position because it is next to impossible to prove when the clocking took place. It is often too late to take any action against the driver because the PCP returns paperwork has already been processed and, anyway, they will usually just deny that they have clocked the car." Pontin said that several cases of this type have been seen in recent months at both dealerships and motor auctions. "At this stage, it is very difficult to say how widespread this practice might be but we are certainly seeing an increasing amount of industry 'chatter' about the subject and it is considered a growing problem, especially as PCPs continue to massively increase their market penetration," added Pontin. Clocking by dealers _ which was once considered almost the norm within the motor trade _ has now become almost non-existent as a result of the severe and strict penalties now in place for those caught.
