Have you ever seen a vehicle that looks really old yet has a really low mileage reading? If you have, then you must be extremely careful with your next vehicle purchase. Some of the vehicles placed for sale in dealerships, auctions, and private sales could have their odometers clocked and their mileage reduced, leaving unsuspecting customers to pay more than the actual market value of the vehicle. This is why it is recommended that car buyers check the mileage on cars before fully committing to any purchase. In this article, we will discuss how to check the true mileage on a car in the UK using the Smart Car Check car registration check tool. We will cover everything you need to know, from why checking the mileage is important to how to use the tool to get accurate results.
Why is it important to check the mileage on cars?
Before we dive into the details of how to check the mileage on a car, let’s first discuss why it’s important to do so.
Verify the vehicle’s overall condition
First and foremost, the mileage of a car can give you an idea of its overall condition. A car with low mileage is generally considered to be in better condition than one with high mileage. This is because a car with low mileage has been driven less and, therefore, has experienced less wear and tear on its components. So, if you spot a vehicle with more excessive wear and tear on parts such as the seats, steering wheel, pedals, etc. than expected, be sure to suspect that your vehicle may be defective and be in bad condition.
Identify mileage discrepancies
Secondly, checking the mileage can help you identify any discrepancies in the car’s history. For example, if the mileage on the odometer doesn’t match up with the mileage recorded in the car’s history report after a mileage check, it could be a sign that the vehicle has been tampered with or has had its mileage rolled back.
Estimate Resale Value
Finally, knowing the true mileage of a car is important for resale purposes. If you ever decide to sell your car, potential buyers will want to know its mileage, and if the mileage is incorrect or has been tampered with, it could negatively affect the car’s value.
Now that you know the importance of carrying out mileage checks on cars, let’s take a look at some signs that could indicate that a vehicle has had its mileage reduced.
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How do you know if your car’s mileage has been tampered with?
There are several signs that the mileage on a car may have been rolled back or tampered with. Here are some of the most common signs to look out for:
Wear and tear
One of the most obvious signs that a car’s mileage has been rolled back is the presence of excessive wear and tear on that vehicle. A car with low mileage will typically show less wear and tear than a car with high mileage. As earlier mentioned, it’ll be good to keep an eye out for wear and tear on the seats, steering wheel, pedals, and other parts of the car’s interior, as they can be good indications that the mileage of your UK vehicle has been tampered with.
Odometer Tampering
Most often, when the odometer of a vehicle has been tampered with, there will most definitely be scratches or other dents around the odometer or dashboard. In vehicles with screens and displays, most times when the odometer has been tampered with, you will find an asterisk after the mileage reading. To make sure that you don’t end up purchasing a damaged or defective car, by taking a close look at this section, you can identify if the vehicle has had its mileage rolled back or not.
Check the Report
Check the car’s service history and carry out an MOT check to see if the recorded mileage matches the mileage on the odometer. If there are any discrepancies, it could be a sign that the car’s mileage has been tampered with. After the check, it is recommended to generate a car history report from a reliable source like SmartCarCheck and review it to see if any mileage discrepancies have been recorded. The Smart car check report features
- MOT history and the mileage records
- If the MOT test was passed or failed
- Any failures or advisory notices by the MOT department after the MOT test, and more.
It also features:
- Vehicle specifications
- Vehicle registration details
- Auction records
- MOT & Tax dues
- Exported alert
- Mileage discrepancy
- ULEZ compliance
- Running costs
- Vehicle performance
- Fuel economy
- C02 emissions
- SafetyEuro N cap
- Mileage history
- MOT history
- Recalls
- Vehicle log book details
- Number of previous keepers
- Number of plate changes
- Color changes
- SMMT details
- Scrapped
- Imported/Imported Non EU
- Certificate of destruction issued
- Electric vehicle charging data, and more
Overall, the best way to be completely sure of a car’s reliability is by checking the mileage. Unsure of how to check mileage on a car? We’ll talk about it in the next section.
How do I check mileage on my car?
Now that we understand why checking the mileage on a car is important, let’s discuss how to do it. There are several methods you can use to check the mileage on a car, including:
- Check the odometer: The odometer is the most common way to check a car’s mileage. It’s the gauge on the dashboard that displays the total number of miles the car has been driven. To check the mileage on a car, simply look at the odometer and take note of the number displayed.
- Check the service history: The service history is a record of all the work that has been done on the car, including any maintenance or repairs. The service history should include the mileage at the time of each service, so you can use this information to get an idea of the car’s true mileage.
- Check the MOT history: The MOT is a mandatory annual test that all cars over three years old must undergo in the UK. The MOT test includes a check of the car’s mileage, so you can use the MOT history to get an idea of the car’s true mileage.
While these methods can give you a good idea of a used car’s mileage, they’re not always as detailed and accurate as you may expect. This is why it’s important to use a reliable tool like SmartCarCheck to get an accurate reading of the car’s mileage instantly.
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How to use SmartCarCheck to check the mileage on a car
SmartCarCheck is a vehicle check tool that allows you to get a comprehensive report on a car’s history, including its mileage. Here’s how to use the tool to check the mileage on a car:
Step 1: Visit the SmartCarCheck website
The first step is to visit the SmartCarCheck website. SmartCarCheck has provided detailed car history reports for several vehicles over the years, with its database housing millions of records. With SmartCarCheck, you can expect the best services and a detailed car history report containing:
- Auction records
- Previous keepers, plate, and color
- Alerts
- MOT History
- MOT and tax dues
- Vehicle description
- Vehicle performance
- Mileage history, and more
With a vehicle history report, you can be sure to make the best decisions during any car purchase and avoid falling victim to car scams and frauds.
Step 2: Enter the car’s registration number
Once you’re on the SmartCarCheck website, fill out the provided form with the necessary information and enter the car’s registration number into the search bar. This will instantly bring up a comprehensive report on the car’s history, including its mileage.
Step 3: Review the mileage section of the report
After generating the car history report, you may now review the document for inconsistencies and alerts. If the mileage on the SmartCarCheck report matches the mileage on the odometer, service history, and MOT history, then you can be confident that the car’s mileage is accurate. However, if there are any discrepancies, it could be a sign that the car’s mileage has been tampered with or has been rolled back.
It’s important to note that SmartCarCheck also provides other valuable information about the car’s history, including its previous owners, auction records, its current MOT status, and more.
All of this information can help you make an informed decision when buying a used car. So, the next time you’re in the market for a used car, be sure to check mileage on used cars using SmartCarCheck’s mileage check tool, and rest assured that you’re making a wise investment.
