The selling of a clocked car is illegal; yet buying the software to clock a car is still a legal and attainable action. As you can imagine, this can leave quite an easy loophole for individuals intending on deceiving their potential customers. Last year alone saw a 10% increase in the selling of cars with misrepresented mileage odometers! It is crucial, therefore, to know what clocking is and how to spot it. Below I will provide information on just that.
First off, let me give you a little definition and background information on what clocking is. Basically, clocking is a term used when a dealer or private seller tries to alter the mileage on the vehicle they are trying to sell. Most often than not, this is done to raise the value of the vehicle and get as much money from the buyer as possible. Believe it or not, newer cars are more tampered with than older models.
It is important to note that it has become more difficult to clock a car in recent years, due to the introduction of digital odometers—but it is possible nevertheless.
To check if a car you are interested in buying has been clocked, you should start by checking the electrical system. If the car’s mileage was tampered with, this will show as a malfunction in the vehicle’s electrical system. The malfunctions will be evident by basic electrical glitches, such as dimming lights from a charging malfunction and any problems on the vehicle’s trip computer.
Another step you should take is checking the service history on the vehicle. Compare the paperwork and see if there are any discrepancies among the information there versus on the mileage odometer.
Also, double-check the mileage. Sometimes, sellers wind back a car’s mileage on the first viewing—so as to show that the car has less miles on it than it does in reality—and then roll it forward to the real reading before the buyer drives away with it!
You may also want to consider conducting an HPI vehicle check to accurately check the car’s history.
Besides checking whether or not a car has been clocked when purchasing a used vehicle, you should also note any damages or things that need fixing, and think about the money that will be required to fix these things. Check everything from the tires to the seat belts. Seat belts are crucial components of a vehicle, so you should take some extra time inspecting them. If you see that a seat belt won’t stay buckled, or the plastic seat belt buckle cover is broken on a belt, car seat belt buckle repair may be needed. For such an important task, you need to look for a trustworthy company. The company Safety Restore specializes in car seat belt buckle repair among other seat belt repair services. Simply log onto safetyrestore.com and select the car seat belt buckle repair service!