One in Seven Used Cars in the UK May Have a Tampered Odometer

A fresh analysis reveals that Britain’s used car market remains riddled with hidden manipulation. Diagnostic platform Carly has discovered that more than 16 percent of inspected vehicles showed signs of mileage or identity fraud.

Carly, a leading European vehicle diagnostics platform, published data that would make even the most seasoned car buyer pause. After analysing more than 2.5 million diagnostic sessions and data from 550,000 UK users, the company found that 16.25 percent of vehicles displayed clear evidence of odometer rollback or VIN number tampering.

In other words, roughly one in seven used cars could be hiding more than a few scuffs on the front fender. Odometer “rejuvenation” has become so common that even officially serviced and seemingly immaculate vehicles may, in reality, be heavily worn.

Carly’s system connects directly to a car’s OBD port and cross-checks mileage readings from multiple control units, including those inaccessible to the naked eye. The software flags inconsistencies, VIN mismatches, and possible resets that a traditional visual inspection might easily miss.

The study found no regional bias—the problem is equally widespread from north to south, in big cities and rural areas alike.

Researchers emphasize that in today’s uncertain economic climate, with new car prices remaining high, digital verification has become an essential step when buying a used vehicle.

Carly’s report makes one thing clear: odometer fraud didn’t vanish with analog dashboards—it simply evolved into the digital age. And like any well-played bluff, it works only until the buyer starts asking the right questions and uses the right tools.