Drivers urged to check their mileage ahead of losing £4,758 in December

Drivers have been issued a mileage warning which could cost them an eye-watering amount. A used car expert has warned people with secondhand motors are at risk of losing THOUSANDS to used car sellers and secondhand garages.

Matas Buzelis from carVertical warned: "Drivers in the UK are overpaying for clocked cars to the tune of more than three-quarters of billion pounds a year. This fraudulent practice is not only cheating them out of their hard-earned money, it’s tricking them into buying a car that has travelled many more miles than they’re aware."

Clocking can also help sellers get more for the vehicle, with scammed buyers paying an average of £4,758 more. "Vehicle history checks provide valuable insight into whether a car’s mileage has been tampered with, as well highlighting other potential problems such as damage and any outstanding finance," he said.

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"Data is helping buyers to assess the condition of a car and making the buying decision easier than ever before." According to Motorway, each 20,000 miles added to a car’s mileage can reduce its value by an average of 20%. So, if a car is worth £5,000 then travels another 20,000 miles, its price could drop by £1,000.

Another reason why people clock cars is to avoid the big pence-per-mile charges associated with going over your agreed mileage at point of sale. Cars bought on finance often come with a mileage allowance. If you go over your allowance, you’ll be charged a fee.

By clocking their financed car, someone can avoid pence-per-mile charges by making it look like they’ve travelled under the mileage limit, when in reality they’ve exceeded it. Admiral, a car insurance firm, explains: "There are two main reasons why people commit mileage fraud, with the first being to sell used vehicles for a higher price than they’re worth.

"If a car is worth £5,000 and has 80,000 miles on the clock, the seller could probably get more for it if the mileage was only 50,000."