MOT redesigned to tackle clocking

25/07/11

By Gemma Roberts

The MOT certificate is to undergo a redesign in a bid to prevent dodgy dealers from clocking cars and defrauding innocent motorists.

Ministers will change the motoring certificate so that it includes not only the mileage at the time of the latest test but also readings from previous years.

Mike Penning, road safety minister, told the Daily Telegraph: "These measures would give motorists the power to make the right decisions and avoid getting scammed into buying potential death traps."

He added: "It will also deter those who attempt to defraud law-abiding motorists and help to identify organised criminals who will often use clocking alongside more serious offences."

There could be up to 700,000 cars on the roads which have been clocked - the practice of increase its value by taking miles off the car's clock.

Clocking costs innocent consumers nearly £600 million annually and while this is not against the law, it is an offence to attempt to then sell the vehicle.