The Nissan Qashqai is the most clocked car in Britain, as fraudsters increasingly exploit undetectable technology to wipe thousands of miles from used vehicles and inflate their prices.
Clocking, the illegal practice of reducing a vehicle's recorded mileage, was prevalent in the 1980s and 1990s but was largely eradicated by the introduction of digital speedometers. However, the rise of cheap, legal plug-in devices sold online has caused a new surge in mileage fraud.
These "mileage blockers" or "mileage freezers" pause the odometer while the car is driven, affecting the engine control unit (ECU) and other peripheral systems. According to vehicle history check firm carVertical, this allows unscrupulous sellers to increase used car values and helps drivers evade excess mileage charges on finance agreements.
Vehicle data company HPI warned that clocked cars can display a full service history with seemingly legitimate but false mileages. By pausing rather than reducing the mileage, fraudsters also avoid MOT discrepancies, creating the illusion that the vehicle has simply been left unused.
The most clocked vehicles
CarVertical's data for the first half of 2026 revealed the 20 models with the highest rates of mileage tampering, identifying the Nissan Qashqai crossover as the most targeted vehicle for the second consecutive year.
Of the nearly 750,000 Qashqais registered in the UK, up to 77,500 could have altered mileage. The model's tampering rate jumped from 3.4 per cent in 2024 to 9.7 per cent in 2025, and reached 10.8 per cent in the first six months of 2026. Fraudsters deleted an average of 12,250 miles from the SUVs, adding hundreds of pounds to their resale value.
Matas Buzelis from carVertical said the constant used market supply of the popular Qashqai makes its mileage "particularly important because two otherwise similar cars can command very different prices depending on what is showing on the odometer."
The Skoda Octavia, frequently used by taxi and private hire businesses for its comfort and reliability, ranked second. Checks found 8.2 per cent of Octavias raised fraud alerts, with an average of 17,869 miles wiped.
Audi models featured heavily, taking six spots in the top 20 after not appearing in the previous two years. The Q5 SUV was third with an 8.1 per cent clocking rate and 18,452 miles deleted, followed by the A6 at 7.4 per cent with 21,511 miles removed. The Q7 (6.2 per cent), A5 (5.9 per cent), A3 (5.5 per cent), A4 (4.6 per cent) and TT sports car (4.3 per cent) were also targeted.
Buzelis advised drivers buying the four-ring marque to inspect MOT and servicing paper trails, noting the data shows manipulation is not "restricted either to cheap cars or to one particular type of vehicle."
The Land Rover Defender saw the largest average mileage reduction, with 51,237 miles wiped. Its clocking rate rose to 7 per cent, up from 6.4 per cent in 2025 and 3 per cent in 2024. CarVertical attributed this to older 4x4 models, which ceased production in early 2016 but have since increased in value and are easier to manipulate than the modern SUV.
Other heavily clocked models included the BMW 5 Series (3.8 per cent rate, 38,388 miles wiped) and the Volkswagen Passat (4.3 per cent, 31,745 miles). The Range Rover, Land Rover Discovery, Volvo XC90, Vauxhall Astra, and Vauxhall Corsa also remained in the top 20 from the previous year. CarVertical said the recurring models indicate mileage fraud is a "persistent risk in parts of the used-car market rather than simply affecting a changing selection of vehicles."
Most clocked car models in 2026 (January to June)
- Nissan Qashqai: 10.8 per cent (12,250 average miles clocked)
- Skoda Octavia: 8.2 per cent (17,869)
- Audi Q5: 8.1 per cent (18,452)
- Audi A6: 7.4 per cent (21,511)
- Land Rover Defender: 7 per cent (51,237)
- Audi Q7: 6.2 per cent (19,412)
- Audi A5: 5.9 per cent (22,482)
- Audi A3: 5.5 per cent (17,995)
- Land Rover Range Rover: 5.2 per cent (26,006)
- Vauxhall Astra: 5.1 per cent (26,150)
- Land Rover Discovery: 5 per cent (23,888)
- Volvo XC90: 5 per cent (18,382)
- Volkswagen Golf: 4.7 per cent (22,185)
- Audi A4: 4.6 per cent (21,266)
- Audi TT: 4.3 per cent (15,650)
- Volkswagen Passat: 4.3 per cent (31,745)
- Vauxhall Corsa: 4.3 per cent (19,294)
- BMW 3 Series: 3.9 per cent (14,955)
- BMW 5 Series: 3.8 per cent (38,388)
- Renault Clio: 3.7 per cent (26,492)
Safety and legal loopholes
Buying a clocked car risks severe consequences beyond overpaying. Artificially low mileage conceals wear on key components, which can result in early hefty repair bills, increased breakdown risks, and accidents as aging parts surpass their intended lifespan.
Despite dozens of UK-based providers selling the £200 to £900 devices as "100 per cent untraceable and safe," "99 per cent undetectable," and "for off-road or research use only," dealers can still struggle to identify the tampering. The hardware is widely available in the US and increasingly sold in the UK, with some companies offering installation by "fully qualified technicians."
Altering a vehicle's mileage is not illegal in the UK, but selling a car without disclosing known discrepancies violates consumer protection laws. Traders can be prosecuted if they are proven to have acted for financial gain.
Jon Clay, identification director at HPI, said mileage fraud remains a legal grey area. "The issue is that selling a vehicle with incorrect mileage is only an offence if the discrepancy is not declared, and proving that can be very difficult," he said. "A reputable dealer could unknowingly sell a clocked car and face liability, while there is often no direct route to prosecute the person who altered the mileage in the first place."
Following a 2016 roadworthiness consultation where then-Transport Minister John Hayes acknowledged concerns, the Department for Transport only committed to "consider further what measures, if any, are needed," a response criticised by consumer groups and industry bodies.
Pay-per-mile EV tax
Industry experts warn the clocking problem could escalate significantly from April 2028 if the government implements its proposed pay-per-mile tax on electric vehicles. Announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in her Autumn Budget last November to offset declining fuel duty revenues, the policy would charge EV owners 3p per mile and plug-in hybrid drivers 1.5p per mile.
Motorists would self-declare their expected annual mileage, which would be verified at MOT tests for credits or additional payments. Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said the scheme could create a strong temptation for "unscrupulous drivers to clock their battery-powered cars," making the used EV market more treacherous for buyers. Related reports note that electric cars can be tracked for the charges, and that used EVs are more likely to be clocked than petrol or diesel models.
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