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One of my little pleasures in this covid, WFH world is checking cars that park outside illegally on the school run for VED and MOT and reporting them if they're missing anything. School holidays have put an end to that jolly jape but the council have now thoughtfully provided road works so I get a longer-than-normal glance at many passing cars.
I realise my life is worthless - kill me now.
Anyhow, there's an Astra Sport Thing that I see regularly and hear parping its wastegate all over the place, today I clocked the plate and thought in a moment of idleness that I'd check whether it's taxed and MOT'd. It is both of those things, but I noticed it had only done tiny mileage between MOTs. Intrigued, I investigated further and it has what, to my mind, is a suspicious history of low mileage in the current ownership. Last V5 was 2016 - in the years since it's recorded 143, then 55, then a whopping 322, 200, 141 and finally 23 miles between MOTs, and it's had advisories for tyre wear two years apart. I see this car most days - if it was only ever driven from one end of the street to the other, it would have clocked more than 23 miles, and I'm pretty sure it's regularly parked during the day outside the garage we get our cars serviced at.
So, quite apart from the fact that I REALLY need to get a better hobby, is there anything I can do and, more interestingly, SHOULD I do something about it?
Discuss. Then kill me. Please.
Then kill me.
Judging by your hobby obsession, I think you are dead inside already.
🙁
I don't think it is illegal to drive a vehicle where the odometer is not working properly? Nor would it be illegal to sell a vehicle in such a situation - the crime would be in misrepresenting its mileage.
Its odd - but not as odd as spending your time looking these things up.
Go the whole way - you are almost there already.
Pop a tracker on it next time you see it parked up. Then, spend the next year monitoring its location. Nothing obsessive, just once every hour or so. You could note it all down in a little brown leather notebook. Then, in a years time time you can present your evidence to....I'm not sure...... and wham, the sense of satisfaction in a job well done.
Tyre wear advisories 2 years apart answers your question, they did very low milage between mots and hence have not replaced them.
Meanwhile I suggest retraining as a traffic warden or executioner or some other hated profession as you are obviosuly built for it. You could be a police informant? Were you a prefect at school, or just a creep?
Tyre wear advisories 2 years apart answers your question, they did very low milage between mots and hence have not replaced them.
Alright Poirot - so how do you explain the car not getting a tyre wear advisory in the year between the two MOTs with advisories then eh?
Yeah i think overall you need to get a life, this has gone a step beyond idle curiosity and is verging on being creepy.
How would you feel if someone knew that information about your son/daughters car?
Nothing actually wrong from a legal standpoint, but it’s a bit weird for sure.
Screw these guys, you do you baybay!
I bet you could build your own ANPR camera, without too much trouble. Write a code to automatically check the plates 🫠
How would you feel if someone knew that information about your son/daughters car?
Genuinely, why would I care? None of this is private, and it's all easily-accessible - I can give you my reg and it'll take you 30 seconds to look it up. I think I'd be more concerned if my son or daughter was clocking their car every year.
Alright Poirot – so how do you explain the car not getting a tyre wear advisory in the year between the two MOTs with advisories then eh?
Well Miss Marple, not all testers are dilligent, maybe in the middle year they didn't bother to advise as they couldn';t be arsed as it wasn't a failure.
In fact it makes it seems even more likely that it has not been driven much.
Automatic Nosey Pondo Recorder
Well Miss Marple, not all testers are dilligent, maybe in the middle year they didn’t bother to advise as they couldn’;t be arsed as it wasn’t a failure.
In fact it makes it seems even more likely that it has not been driven much.
Hmmm, so the MOT tester is in on it too. And with car parked at the garage......could it be the MOT tester's car?
Hang on..
143, 55, 322, 200, 141, 23
It's a code. It's so obvious what going to come next.
In fact it makes it seems even more likely that it has not been driven much.
It drives past our house most days.
Is this the new trainspotting?
Yes, report them.
And no, it doesn't surprise me how many posters are seemingly in favour of clocking cars.
Is this the new trainspotting?
What with the rail strikes and all... 🙂
Hang on..
143, 55, 322, 200, 141, 23
It’s a code. It’s so obvious what going to come next.
It's a snitch-a-fasty sequence.
My god OP, get help! Meth is a helluva drug.
🙂
Could be 3 identical cars all with the same cloned plates.
Get a life
Have they broken the law?
Report them to whom, and for what?
And no, it doesn’t surprise me how many posters are seemingly in favour of clocking cars.
Well that is a bit of a stretch, considering most people are questioning the narrative that OP has come up with - lets face it there is currently no evidence of actual wrongdoing on the drivers part here.
Could be replacing the Speedo cluster between mots - next time you walk past it see if you can see the current mileage shown and compare it to the last mot.
I had to get a Speedo cluster repaired, and bought a spare off eBay just to check it was the cluster at fault, would be very easy to swap between the two between mots racking up mileage on one and not on the other.etc....
Have they broken the law?
Report them to whom, and for what?
That's kind of part of my question, think it's been answered.
Well that is a bit of a stretch, considering most people are questioning the narrative that OP has come up with – lets face it there is currently no evidence of actual wrongdoing on the drivers part here.
No, it's all anecdotal. But I do think it unlikely that a car I see regularly drive past our house only did 23 miles between its last two MOTs, and less than 900 miles in total since it last changed hands 6 years ago.
Automatic Nosey Pondo Recorder
Deserves recognition.
It’s a code. It’s so obvious what going to come next.
Oooh, something about Prince Andrew, Jews and Middle Eastern Arms deals?
check the other cars at the garage. perhaps they’re all at it.
if you are planning to report the driver. that you should make the effort to find out how far the car moves. start by following him home for a few days and get a closer look at his tyres.
alternatively, you could just ask the driver what’s going on.
To be fair, these boy racer shitheaps are rarely running. It's probably been on jack stands for most of its life.
It might have been SORN until the last MOT and then sold on to someone who now drives it daily. Even more likely if it's a track day style car. A friend's puma pretty much does the miles to get to 1 track and one MOT a year.
I don't get why some people are so offended, data can be fun especially if you have a boring job to avoid
No, it’s all anecdotal. But I do think it unlikely that a car I see regularly drive past our house only did 23 miles between its last two MOTs, and less than 900 miles in total since it last changed hands 6 years ago.
Oh yes, it is highly unlikely that is the case, on that I completely agree.
The reasons why will almost certainly remain a mystery to all except the driver and/or the MOT tester.
I would be damn curious too, more in a 'working the mystery out' way rather than a 'finding something to report way' though. Don't take that the wrong way, reporting no insurance/mot is a good thing that I fully support.
I don’t think they are really committing any offences unless they try to sell it and are misrepresenting the mileage .
You are not alone in checking peoples cars out though 😉
We play a little game, where if we see someone driving like a chunt or parked like one then we check it out. Pound to a pinch of shit, they are usually no mot or tax or sometimes both. Particularly the ones who think you should give way to the left when entering a roundabout types. Just remember most of the time these folks are often without insurance, licence etc
Hmmm, so the MOT tester is in on it too. And with car parked at the garage……could it be the MOT tester’s car?
Joking aside, this is likely. Local garage near us got done for having pretty much everyone that worked theres car faking through MOT's
Hang on..
143, 55, 322, 200, 141, 23
It’s a code. It’s so obvious what going to come next.
Is there a hatch in the middle of the island and weird smoke off in the distance?
It definitely lives at the local garage. 😉
If you knew the garage then perhaps trading standards?
Its probably only a crime when its advertised for sale, so I reckon anyone you report it to will be unable to do anything with the information.
A good community copper would hopefully take the info and go and check out the rest of the cars legality in the spirit of community policing. But fat chance of that happening.
Its odd how we all would hate buying a clocked car, but lots of posters think you are odd for suggesting that you report it. In some societies your behaviour is normal and expected. British people are odd about this sort of thing.
Personally if I see or suspect a crime I'm all for telling the police. I've rung up to inform them of a suspected fly tipper - I reckon they did nothing about it, the crap was left in the layby when I went past later that day.
So carry on with your snooping, just don't tell anyone you do that as a hobby. But do come back to let us know what the police think of your snooping.
As hobbies go, this seems more interesting than stamp collecting.
Does the person drive like a ****? If so, report the fishy odometer goings on, if not, leave it.
Its odd how we all would hate buying a clocked car, but lots of posters think you are odd for suggesting that you report it.
It is a funny thing about the British mentality isn't it.
As an aside, I've noticed in my estate over the decade I've been here that a lot of the lease cars that the younger residents have seem to be out and about all the time but come return time they all seem to have a visit from a mobile mechanic that advertises Mileage Correction on Facebook a lot. Curiosity got the better of me over lockdown so I kept a note of a few of the reg plates on cars being returned that were getting on to 3 years old. One was a Golf R that I know was got on the cheap leases they were throwing about a few years ago, on about 5k a year mileage. Despite being out every night, being spotted racing around etc it popped up having had an MOT at 13,486 miles. I imaging there's a lot of ex-lease cars in your local Car Supermarket that have had rollbacks in a similar fashion, anyone would be livid to pay top price for a car with a lot more miles than it said on the dash.
But to suggest reporting it? You get shot down as a grass 🤣
Its odd how we all would hate buying a clocked car, but lots of posters think you are odd for suggesting that you report it.
It is an utterly pathetic thing about the British mentality isn’t it.
Ftfy
Its odd how we all would hate buying a clocked car, but lots of posters think you are odd for suggesting that you report it.
No, we think it's odd that anyone would be taking time out their day to note down odometer readings on a random car in the street.
There could be any number of technical reasons that the odometer isn't working properly (gearbox swap, clock or cable just broken) but at the end of the day NOTHING illegal has happened. It's only illegal to deliberately understate the mileage when selling.
Its odd how we all would hate buying a clocked car, but lots of posters think you are odd for suggesting that you report it.
I don't think people think they are odd for thinking about reporting it - we think it is the overall behaviour that is very strange.
There could be any number of technical reasons that the odometer isn’t working properly (gearbox swap, clock or cable just broken)
Yeah right... So for 6 years running the car has miraculously managed to record some miles, but a ridiculously low number
but at the end of the day NOTHING illegal has happened. It’s only illegal to deliberately understate the mileage when selling.
Regardless of the legality, its a **** move. End of.
No, we think it’s odd that anyone would be taking time out their day to note down odometer readings on a random car in the street.
Checking MOT history and VED online takes seconds, and the mileage recorded on the last six year's worth of MOTs on this one stood out a mile, so to speak - I wasn't actively looking to see what mileage it had done between MOTs (that would be weird 😉 ), it was just so startlingly, obviously unusual.
Hmmm, so the MOT tester is in on it too. And with car parked at the garage……could it be the MOT tester’s car?
A bit like how my mechanic son seemed to have no problem getting an MOT on his +500bhp turbo'd 2-litre hatch - the one that when he starts it up all the car alarms in the vicinity go off...
Yeah right… So for 6 years running the car has miraculously managed to record some miles, but a ridiculously low number
Umm, yes, that's the very definition of a broken speedo. The driver pin could be broken and only just catching on each revolution causing it to only work intermittently, I've seen it happen with flow meters and gearboxes at work, it's really not unusual.
If it's a special model the clocks are probably unique, maybe that's why it's not been replaced. I really can't see how it can be construed to be a "dick move" when nobody here knows the truth of the story.
not as odd as spending your time looking these things up.
This.
But to suggest reporting it? You get shot down as a grass
I'll repeat the same question I asked earlier, specifically relating to the odd milage noticed.
Report to whom, and for what?
I googled those 143, 55, 322, 200, 141, 23 mileage numbers and got this...
https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/buses/who-runs-your-bus?intcmp=44680
I think we can all draw our own conclusions there.
Umm, yes, that’s the very definition of a broken speedo. The driver pin could be broken and only just catching on each revolution causing it to only work intermittently, I’ve seen it happen with flow meters and gearboxes at work, it’s really not unusual.
If it’s a special model the clocks are probably unique, maybe that’s why it’s not been replaced. I really can’t see how it can be construed to be a “dick move” when nobody here knows the truth of the story.
If only the person who's owned it for six years and drives it to a garage every day knew someone who could fix it - good job it worked every time it was MOT'd... 🙂
I don't really see the issue. Anyone who wants to buy it will check the MOT history, see the mileage figures and run.
If anything I think the car is devalued because of this.
good job it worked every time it was MOT’d
That's an interesting point.
I have never seen an MOT test a speedometer beyong having operational lighting and nothing crazy going on. Not saying it doesn't happen, but actually checking the speedo works beyond this is barely feasable. The car is only ever on low speed rollers to check braking function so they won't know if that needle barely moves or now.
I have never seen an MOT test a speedometer beyong having operational lighting and nothing crazy going on
Odo operation isn't part of the test.
Noone has yet come up with an answer to the 'who would you actually report this to?' question. There's nothing illegal about owning a car with a broken or clocked odo.
pondo -
That’s kind of part of my question, think it’s been answered.Posted 18 hours ago
There’s nothing illegal about owning a car with a broken or clocked odo.
Yeah I think tis just misrepresentaion at sale that is the issue, so agree, nobody to report to anyway. Apart from Pondo reporting to work at the funpolice.
If only the person who’s owned it for six years and drives it to a garage every day knew someone who could fix it
Yeah, no. If its had a gearbox swap it may not be running at the same ratio. If the clocks are broken then you would need a whole new set which, again, if its a special model would require tracking some down first.
But that's immaterial, the fact still exists that nothing they are doing is wrong or illegal except in your head. Why don't you just write an angry letter to your local newspaper and give us all a laugh when you turn up on APILN. Remember to pull a proper fummin face and do lots of pointing.
Thanks be to Jesus that I just don't care.
Apart from Pondo reporting to work at the funpolice
Clocking cars is just a bit of fun - every day's a school day! Thanks all for... Well, just thanks. 🙂
Clocking cars is just a bit of fun
Nobody bar you and perhaps general thinks this is being clocked. And, once again, for the umpteenth time it's not an offence unless it's misrepresented at the point of sale.
Pondo - regarding reporting uninsured and untaxed cars do you repeat your checks a few weeks after reporting?
If yes then do any of the vehicles get taxed or insured? - curious to see if reporting has any results.
Anyone who wants to buy it will check the MOT history, see the mileage figures and run.
If anything I think the car is devalued because of this.
Maybe. Maybe not. Somebody will buy it without checking.
It does beg the question why anyone would intentionally clock the miles so low as to be completely unbelievable? Which maybe does point to another reason (that the odo simply doesn't work).
What you need to do is set up alerts for the exact make and model coming up for sale in the area on eBay and Auto Trader. When it does, then you can pounce.
Nobody bar you and perhaps general thinks this is being clocked.
Sure - 884 miles in six years on a car I see driven most days, sounds totally legit, HAS to be that dodgy speedo cable, right? 😀 But it IS just anecdotal and no-one cares, so don't worry about it.
And, once again, for the umpteenth time it’s not an offence unless it’s misrepresented at the point of sale.
Ah, so he IS just doing it for fun - fair play, who even knew that was a thing! 🙂
Pondo – regarding reporting uninsured and untaxed cars do you repeat your checks a few weeks after reporting?
If yes then do any of the vehicles get taxed or insured? – curious to see if reporting has any results.
Mmm, not directly - only if they keep parking like eedjits on the yellow lines or across the pavement. I can think of a few that HAVE subsequently been taxed, and a couple that haven't, I suspect very little happens when these things are reported, but I don't know. I'm sure the police have much more important stuff to do than chase these gits up.
It could equally be that they are running it into the ground and scrapping it, therefore don't want to spend any cash unless absolutely necessary.
And I thought my old hobby of collecting pencils was weird.
Jesus wept you need to get a life and start actually reading what's being written rather than what you think people are saying. I've explained already what (could be) the case. As have plenty of others. I won't be wasting any more time on this tedious nonsense, there's some grass outside I need to check is still growing.
Remember to pull a proper fummin face and do lots of pointing.
And crouch in a 'dunapoo' pose.
Clocking cars is just a bit of fun – every day’s a school day! Thanks all for… Well, just thanks.
TBF I think we all know that the person probably is clocking the car and on another thread we'd be baying for their blood and demanding sausages brayed into lawns, wee in their shoes etc, but it's more fun laughing and pointing at you for your abject weirdness about it.
Jesus wept you need to get a life and start actually reading what’s being written rather than what you think people are saying. I’ve explained already what (could be) the case. As have plenty of others. I won’t be wasting any more time on this tedious nonsense, there’s some grass outside I need to check is still growing.
You think it's a dodgy speedo cable, right? I think that's less likely than it being clocked - all we have here is a difference of opinion, that's all. Bye. 🙂
Is this going to be one of those weird turn-around threads, where the OP reveals that someone has. in fact, reported him for clocking his car when he only drives it 150 metres a day to his job at the corner shop, so the mileage is absolutely genuine? 😀
Why not offer to buy the car? If the mileage is represented then BAMM! You have your case.
Not sure how you prove the mileage is wrong though. You have only circumstantial evidence. Unless you let on that you know more, like the fact that it gets driven every day. And you do a test drive to check the function of the odo.
Somewhere on .gov or DVSA there is an online list of all the checks and interpretations in the MOT test. Please show me the paragraph that says the odometer is tested and has to be working.
Please show me the paragraph that says the odometer is tested and has to be working.
This would be the relevant section:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-inspection-manual-for-private-passenger-and-light-commercial-vehicles/7-other-equipment
The odometer doesn't need to be working, but... Easiest way to disable the odometer is to disconnect the drive cable - either at the back of the speedometer, or at the sensor/drive gear at the gearbox. Doing this would also disable the speedometer (edit)- which *does* need to be working (endedit)
Would the drivers insurance company be interested in how many miles per year he was actually doing vs how many he said he was doing?
do cars with digital odometers still use a cable? how old is the astra?
'08. Not quite at the stage yet where I'm peaking in through the window to see if the odometer's digi or analogue. 🙂
But... those cars are a proper PITA.
Odometer cables from gearboxes... Lol!
In some societies your behaviour is normal and expected.
Aye, East Germany and the USSR spring to mind.
I think you should diversify. Hosepipe ban on the way, think of the opportunities to report transgressions. Curtain twitching nirvana.
Dod this plan ever go ahead? Sounds ideal.