Following news that the Government plans to consult on extending the MoT period from three years to four, HPI, provider of the HPI Check, warns that the risk of clocking fraud could significantly escalate.
The new plans were announced in the budget, which prompted an industry backlash concerning the risk to consumer safety, if vehicles are left without an MoT for an extra year. However, HPI sees a hidden threat from clockers, who will take advantage of the extension to turn back the mileage and sell them on to unsuspecting buyers.
Neil Hodson, Managing Director for HPI, says of the Chancellor’s proposal, “There are clearly some safety concerns surrounding the idea of extending the MoT period by a further 12 months, but there is also an increased risk of fraud.
“Whilst it’s fair to assume that older cars are the most likely to have their mileage reading altered, the reality is that around a third of all cars checked by the trade with HPI are found to have a mileage discrepancy within the first three years of their life. Extending the period for a further fourth year, would see the number of pre-MoT cars with a suspect mileage, increasing, putting used car buyers at significant risk.”
