Combating Car Clocking: EU Regulation Targets Mileage Manipulation
Car clocking, the practice of altering a vehicle’s odometer reading, is experiencing a resurgence. While digital technology has replaced traditional methods, the underlying deception remains. A forthcoming EU regulation, set to close a legal loophole in May 2018, aims to curb this trend by restricting the operation of mileage adjustment services.
Vehicle history experts have observed a concerning increase in mileage inaccuracies, indicating a reversal of previous years’ decline. Estimates suggest that approximately 1.7 million vehicles in the UK may have falsified mileage.
The proliferation of digital odometers has facilitated “mileage correction” services, which often exploit the guise of repairing corrupted or inaccurate readings. This has contributed to the rise in car clocking.
Current Legal Landscape and EU Intervention
Existing UK regulations penalize dealers who knowingly sell clocked cars and require private sellers to disclose any mileage discrepancies to potential buyers.
The European Parliament has taken further action by banning companies specializing in odometer rollback. This move, championed by a Czech motoring organization, aims to eliminate the practice entirely.
However, concerns have been raised about the impact on legitimate dashboard repair services. The ban may force consumers with genuine dashboard malfunctions to incur higher costs at main dealerships, rather than utilizing more affordable mileage correction companies.
EU Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc clarified the directive’s intent: “The directive explicitly stipulates that if the odometer is found to have been manipulated with the aim of reducing or misrepresenting the distance record of a vehicle, the Member State shall ensure that appropriate penalties are in place. Consequently, the Commission considers that offering these sorts of services linked to the manipulation of the tachometer value cannot be considered a legal activity.”