Car Mileage Check: MOT Mileage History Analyser

Paste the test dates and readings from the official GOV.UK MOT history and see straight away whether any reading went down, by how much, and how many miles a year the car did.

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This car mileage check works on the MOT mileage readings themselves. Get them free from the official GOV.UK MOT history service, which shows the odometer reading recorded at every MOT since 2005, then paste or type the test dates and readings into the box above. Motwatch sorts them by date, flags any reading lower than the one before and by how many miles, shows the miles driven between each pair of tests as a yearly rate, and points out long gaps with very little use. Nothing is looked up or uploaded: the check runs on the numbers you enter, in your browser.
Car mileage check example

How to check a used car’s mileage history

  1. Get the readings: enter the registration on GOV.UK MOT history and note each test’s date and mileage.

  2. Paste or type them: one test per line, date first, for example 10 May 2025 92,450 miles or 2024-05-12 84120. Add km if a reading is in kilometres and fail if that test failed.

  3. Look at the verdict: a red box lists every reading that is lower than the one before, with both dates and the drop in miles.

  4. Read the table: each row shows the change since the previous test and the yearly rate for that gap.

  5. Check low-use gaps: gaps of 300 days or more with under 1,000 miles a year are flagged; ask why (laid up, SORN, or a reading worth checking).

  6. Compare with paperwork: match the readings against service stamps, invoices and old MOT certificates before you pay.

  7. Keep a copy: the result stays on screen only; copy the readings into your notes or take a screenshot if you want to show the seller or a dealer what you found.

Tip: if the seller gives you a service book, add the service dates and mileages as extra lines. Service records between MOTs fill the gaps and make a wound-back reading easier to spot.

Reading MOT mileage for signs of clocking

Clocking means winding back an odometer so a car looks less used than it is.

Detecting odometer tampering from MOT mileage readings

Every MOT records the odometer reading, so the MOT history is a dated mileage trail. If a later test shows fewer miles than an earlier one (for example 29,300 miles in 2022 after 47,800 miles in 2021), the history has a drop of 18,500 miles that needs explaining. Innocent causes exist: an instrument cluster replaced under warranty, a reading entered in kilometres instead of miles, or a typing error at the test. Clocking is the other. A clean result here does not prove a car is unclocked: an odometer wound back before its first MOT, or wound back and then driven past the previous reading, leaves no drop in the MOT record.

What the average mileage tells you

Motwatch divides the miles between the first and last reading by the years between them. Compare it with how the car looks: worn pedal rubbers, a shiny steering wheel and tired seat bolsters on a car showing very low mileage are worth questioning.

If you think a car has been clocked

Clocking itself is not illegal, but selling a clocked car without telling the buyer is; dealers must not mislead buyers about mileage. Report a suspected clocked car to Trading Standards through the Citizens Advice consumer service.

Kilometres, imports and replaced clusters

Imported cars and some dashboards record kilometres. If one test is in km and the next in miles, the history can look like a big jump or a big drop. Mark km readings with “km” and Motwatch converts them at 1 km = 0.621371 miles before comparing. When an instrument cluster is replaced, the new one may start at zero or at a different reading; garages should record the change, so ask for the invoice.

Gaps and low use

A car that was off the road (SORN), stored or abroad will show long gaps or little mileage between tests. That can be genuine, but it is also where a reading could be changed without leaving a drop, so ask what the car was doing in those years.

Frequently asked questions

Does this check look up a registration?

No. It analyses the dates and mileages you type or paste. The readings themselves come from the free GOV.UK MOT history service.

Can a mileage drop on an MOT be a simple mistake?

Yes. Testers sometimes mistype a reading, and km/miles mix-ups happen. The pattern usually shows it: one odd reading followed by readings that carry on from the earlier trend.

Is clocking a car illegal in the UK?

Altering an odometer is not illegal in itself, but selling a car with a wound-back reading without disclosing it is an offence under consumer protection law.

How do I report a clocked car?

Contact Trading Standards through the Citizens Advice consumer service, with the MOT history and any adverts or invoices showing the mileage.

Does Motwatch charge for mileage checks?

No. The analyser is free and needs no account. The GOV.UK MOT history service is also free.

What is a normal yearly mileage?

It varies with use. Use the yearly rate per gap in the table to see whether the car’s use was steady or changed suddenly, rather than comparing with a single national average.

Can I check the mileage of a car I don’t own?

Yes. The GOV.UK MOT history service only needs the registration number, and anyone can view it.

See all MOT Tools.