Firms that offer to wind back the mileage on cars and other road vehicles will have been outlawed by mid May 2018 across the EU, AA Cars has learned.
As part of the AA’s work with motoring organisations across Europe , representing more than 35 million members; lobbying by the Czech motoring organisation revealed the clampdown on mileage adjusters.
In response to a question from the Czech group, EU Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc replied, “As the Honourable Member rightly points out, the new Directive on periodic roadworthiness tests foresees the compulsory check of the odometer during a roadworthiness check.”
She went on to explain, “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 services linked to the manipulation of the tachometer cannot be considered as a legal activity.
Member States are obliged to transpose the provisions of the directive by 20 May 2018 at the latest.”
David Bruce, director of AA Cars said, “This will close a massive loophole that some dodgy car firms and owners were using legally to knock miles off the clock and push up the value of a vehicle.
“I don’t expect that this will call time on ‘clocking’ for good, but it will remove the veneer of legitimacy that mileage adjustment firms were able to hide behind.”
AA Cars has outlined the potential safety and financial dangers of mileage adjustment in the past. These include:
- Critical mileage-related servicing and maintenance may be delayed or missed because the odometer indicates that the vehicle has done far fewer miles;
- Mileage-dependent parts replacement, such as cam belts, may be missed, potentially leading to catastrophically expensive engine and other damage;
- Car buyers may be scammed into paying thousands of pounds more for a car that has done many more miles and is therefore worth far less.
