The European Parliament is to outlaw firms that offer to wind back the mileage on cars and other vehicles, often called ‘clocking’, by mid-May 2018.
EU transport commissioner Violeta Bulc said: "The directive explicitly stipulates that if the odometer is found to have been manipulated with the aim of reducing or misrepresenting the distance record of a vehicle the Member State shall ensure that appropriate penalties are in place.
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"Consequently the Commission considers that offering services linked to the manipulation of the tachometer cannot be considered as a legal activity. Member States are obliged to transpose the provisions of the directive by 20 May 2018 at the latest."
Despite the existence of penalties in the UK regarding clocking, aiming to ensure dealers do not sell clocked clockers, there are cars in the market with fraudulent mileage.
According to vehicle information provider HPI, one in 20 vehicles checked by the company has a mileage discrepancy.
"Of course, the new rules won’t end all instances of clocking, but it removes the firms that hide behind the label of legitimacy to help dishonest sellers adjust their mileage to make a fast profit," said Neil Hodson, managing director for HPI.
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