Most clocked cars 2024: which models are more likely to have their odometer altered?

While the used car market has become more transparent throughout the years, odometer tampering is still prevalent worldwide. Buyers lose millions of euros to insincere sellers and it seems that the situation won’t change drastically any time soon.

But which models are the most popular among fraudsters? To answer this question, we explored thousands of history reports to make a list of the top 20 most clocked vehicle models.

From economy class cars to premium vehicles – any car can have its odometer altered. However, some cars end up being clocked more than others. Let’s find out what happened in the clocking department in 2024.

Key findings of the research

• 261,495 km – the highest mileage rollback in the study (Mercedes-Benz V-Class from Spain).
• 30.2% – the highest share of clocked models (Volvo V70 from Latvia).
• 6 – the number of Audi cars among the top 20 models with the most rollbacks.
• 4.5% – the share of clocked Citroen C4 models (the least rollbacks in the research).
• 7 – countries with at least one car model exceeding 10% of clocked vehicles.
• 11 – the number of premium cars among the top 20 most clocked vehicles.

German vehicle brands suffer from mileage fraud the most

The Audi A6 was the most clocked car on carVertical in 2024 – 8.4% of all models checked on our platform had an altered mileage. These are significant numbers, suggesting that 1 out 12 Audi A6 cars may have their original mileage forged.

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class (8.3%), Volkswagen Touareg (8.2%), BMW 5 Series (7.7%), and Volkswagen Passat (7.7%) are closely behind.

15 out of 20 most clocked vehicles belong to German manufacturers: Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, BMW, and Opel. German brands are known for their reliability, technological advancement, and premium features, making them an appealing option in the second-hand car market. However, this popularity also attracts scammers.

Scammers in different countries have different preferences for models to clock. In France, the Jeep Grand Cherokee is the most clocked model (5%), in Czechia – the Ford Mustang (13.5%), in the UK – Mercedes-Benz Sprinter (4.7%), in Romania – the Toyota Prius (19.7%), and in Italy – the BMW 5 Series (8.5%).

German brands are known for their reliability, technological advancement, and premium features, making them an appealing option in the second-hand car market. However, this popularity also attracts scammers.

Toyota Prius cars were the most clocked in Lithuania, Poland, and Romania, whereas the BMW 5 Series topped the list with the most rollbacks in Spain and Italy. The Toyota Prius often has clocked mileage due to its popularity among ride-sharing and taxi drivers, who accumulate high kilometers quickly, making it a target for odometer fraud to inflate resale value. The BMW 5 Series, on the other hand, is frequently clocked because of its premium reputation and strong demand in the used car market.

Some models may lose half of their actual mileage

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class not only ranks among the most clocked cars but also leads in the highest number of kilometers rolled back (130,680 km on average). Other heavily clocked models include the Skoda Octavia (101,830 km), BMW 5 Series (96,662 km), Volkswagen Touareg (96,285 km), and Ford Mondeo (95,467 km).

If such models are listed as having 100,000 kilometers on the odometer, their actual mileage could be double.

The Mercedes-Benz V-Class in Spain was clocked by the most kilometers in the research – 261,495 km. Cargo vans are often clocked more because they are typically used for commercial purposes, leading to high mileage from constant use for deliveries, logistics, and business operations. Manipulating the odometer allows sellers to make these vehicles appear less worn, inflating their resale value and appealing to unsuspecting buyers seeking reliable workhorses.

Which cars are less risky to buy?

The Citroen C4 is the least clocked car on the list with the share of 4.5%, meaning it’s almost twice riskier to buy the Audi A6 than the C4. The Skoda Octavia (4.6%), Ford Mondeo (4.6%), Audi Q5 (4.8%), and Volvo XC60 (5%) are also among the vehicles with the least mileage rollbacks.

The least risky cars in different countries vary. In Czechia, France, Latvia, Slovakia, Ukraine, and Finland, hatchbacks are clocked the least, in Spain and the UK – SUVs. However, every market is different, and the situation, even in neighboring countries, may differ significantly.

When looking for a used vehicle, nobody can be safe from fraudsters, therefore it’s important to check a car’s historical mileage and damage records. Performing a test drive and visiting a respectable dealership for an inspection also mitigates the chances of getting a vehicle in poor condition. Otherwise, you may risk losing money and compromise your safety.

When looking for a used vehicle, nobody can be safe from fraudsters, therefore it’s important to check a car’s historical mileage and damage records.

Is buying a clocked car a bad thing?

So, you’ve checked a vehicle on carVertical and discovered that its mileage was altered – what should you do? Always inform the seller about mileage discrepancies you’ve found and allow them to explain the situation. Not every seller is necessarily a bad guy, even though they’re selling a clocked car.

Sometimes, the odometer may have been altered in the past and the current owner doesn’t have any idea about it!

Clocked mileage means that the vehicle you’re interested in is worth less than its asking price, so you can try to negotiate a better price with the seller. However, keep in mind that it may be in a significantly worse condition than you expect.

Passing a technical inspection with a forged mileage may also cause trouble if you get caught. Some countries allow you to restore a car’s mileage to the original one. However, check out your local laws beforehand so that you don’t have any trouble when registering such a vehicle.

Methodology

carVertical’s research examined actual car history reports acquired by our users from January 2024 and December 2024. Odometer tampering records found in the reports were categorized by car model, converted into percentages, and ranked.

Operating in 30 countries, carVertical uses data from over 900 international databases, including those from law enforcement agencies, national and state registries, financial institutions, and classified ad portals. By processing millions of car history reports annually, the company provides insights, forecasts, and trends in the used car market.