Car Control Sign in Check a car

Check the mileage before you buy.

We put every recorded odometer reading on a chart and flag anything that doesn't add up, so a clocked car stands out in seconds.

Letters and numbers from the number plate. Spaces don't matter.

How it works

Last updated 1 November 2026.

Car Control's mileage check is in the Basic report, which costs £3.99 including VAT, and in the Premium report at £6.99. Basic covers every mileage reading, MOT history, a market valuation and the factory specification. It is a one-off payment with no subscription, and the preview is free.

Why mileage matters

Mileage is one of the biggest factors in a used car's price. Winding back an odometer, known as clocking, can make a car look thousands of pounds more valuable than it is, and hides wear on the engine, gearbox and suspension. Selling a car with a false mileage without telling the buyer is illegal, but it still happens.

How our mileage check works

  1. We collect every reading. MOT testers record the odometer at each test. We take all of them for the car and convert kilometres to miles where needed.
  2. We put them in date order. Each reading should be higher than the one before, so we compare every reading with the highest one recorded so far.
  3. We flag what doesn't add up. A reading lower than an earlier one, a long gap without a test, or an odometer the tester couldn't read each gets a clear warning.

You also see the car's average miles per year next to the national average of about 7,100 miles a year for a car in England (DfT National Travel Survey 2024), so an unusually low figure stands out.

What a warning means

A lower reading is a strong reason to ask questions, but it isn't proof of clocking. Testers sometimes mistype a number, and a replaced instrument cluster can reset the reading. Ask the seller to explain it, and check that service stamps and invoices show mileage that fits the timeline.

Checks to do when you see the car

  • The mileage on the dashboard should be higher than the last MOT reading in your report.
  • Wear on the steering wheel, gear knob, pedals and driver's seat should match the mileage.
  • Service history stamps and receipts should show mileage that rises steadily.

The mileage check is included in both the Basic report (£3.99) and the Premium report (£6.99).

Questions buyers ask

How can I tell if a car has been clocked?

Compare the odometer readings recorded at each MOT. If a reading is lower than an earlier one, the odometer may have been wound back. Car Control charts every reading and flags this automatically.

Can a mileage check prove a car was clocked?

No. It shows readings that don't add up, which is a strong reason to ask questions. A tester's typing mistake or a replaced instrument cluster can cause the same pattern, so check the service records too.

Where do the mileage readings come from?

From the official MOT records held by the DVSA. The odometer is recorded at every MOT test.

Is the mileage check free?

The free preview confirms the car and shows how many mileage readings we hold. The mileage check itself, with the full chart, every reading and any warnings, is in the Basic report, which costs £3.99 including VAT.

What's a normal mileage for a used car?

The average car in England covers about 7,100 miles a year (DfT National Travel Survey 2024). A much lower average isn't wrong on its own, but it's worth asking why.

Other checks before you buy

Car history checkEverything in one report: mileage, MOT, write-off, finance and stolen. MOT history checkEvery test, failure, defect and advisory since 2005. Write-off checkFind out if an insurer ever wrote the car off, and in which category. Car finance checkMake sure there's no money still owed on the car. Stolen car checkCheck the car isn't recorded as stolen before you pay.