Andy Burnham has been urged to tighten one second-hand car rule, with fears that all used car buyers in the UK are at risk. Lucy Tugby, Chief Marketing Officer at Cazoo, warned current rules around vehicle clocking don't go far enough, urging Mr Burnham to close loopholes.
Dealers report rise in clocking
Motorists can technically alter their vehicle mileage, also known as clocking, with rules only in place around knowingly selling an altered vehicle. A new survey from Cazoo of hundreds of used-car dealers has found that as many as six in ten (60%) believe vehicle clocking has increased over the past five years.
Dealers estimate that as many as one in seven (14%) of second-hand cars they come across may have had their mileage deliberately altered, putting buyers at risk. As many as 67% of dealers polled admitted that advances in technology have made it easier to digitally alter a car's mileage, with 47% pointing to the low cost and ready availability of clocking technology online.
Loophole leaves buyers at risk
A clocked car effectively makes a vehicle look newer than it is, meaning second-hand buyers could be overpaying for used cars. Lucy said: "The law as it stands simply doesn't go far enough. Knowingly selling a clocked vehicle can already be prosecuted under fraud and consumer protection laws, but there is no specific offence of altering a vehicle's mileage, which makes cases harder to bring.
"That loophole leaves honest dealers having to guard against clocked cars entering their stock and puts buyers at risk."
Government considering new measures
The Government is considering new measures to help prevent clocking of electric vehicles ahead of the new pay-per-mile fee in 2028. The new tax will require garages to verify mileage rates to work out payments, and clocking could make this a lot harder.
However, Cazoo has stressed that Mr Burnham shouldn't wait for two more years, with action needed now to protect the wider used-car market in the UK. According to Cazoo, as many as nine in ten car dealers (90%) agree that altering a vehicle's mileage in itself should be against the law.
Lucy added: "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."
