HPI, the firm that provides vehicle checks for the motor trade and also for consumers has applauded news that changes are to be made to crack down on legitimate 'clocking' of cars.
For those who are unfamiliar with the term, 'clocking' is when the car is tampered with so it appears the car has done less miles than it actually has. This means that the car can be sold for a higher price, which is not only unethical as a selling tool, but also could risk the safety of the consumer driving it.
The positive news comes from Business Minister Anna Soubry, who has pledged a law to help close the loophole which allows fraudsters to alter a car's odometer. Around 1.7 million cars in UK have been tampered to show the wrong mileage which can pose a danger to not only themselves, but other road users.
The reason why it poses a danger is due to a modern car's ECU, which is linked to systems such as the airbags, ABS and ignition. When a car is clocked it knocks everything out of sync, meaning that this affects the safety warnings, which could lead to legal issues in the event of an accident.
Neil Hodson, deputy managing director for cap hpi explains further, “Clocking is a blight on the used car industry. It’s a fast and easy way for unscrupulous sellers to make money, with many simply thinking, ‘Why not?’. But here is a perfect example of why not – serious problems can occur with a vehicle.
“Firstly, there is the potential to miss important servicing and warning light indicators, as the car’s various different components will be reading different mileages. By changing the mileage, a clocker will actually be causing conflicts within the cars electronics and interfering with the normal routines for servicing and repair. In addition, the manufacturer’s warranty is likely to be void if the car is discovered to have been clocked."
Hudson also commented: “News that Business Minister Anna Soubry is going to take a stand against mileage correction firms illustrates just how serious a problem clocking continues to be to this day and we are delighted that the spotlight is falling on these fraudsters again."