Auction mileage vs MOT mileage: how to compare the readings
By Plateworthy · Updated · Editorial policy
An auction reading and an MOT reading may describe different dates, units and reporting conditions. Put them on one timeline before deciding there is a mileage discrepancy. Missing values should stay missing rather than becoming zero.
Write down date, value, unit and origin
Create one row for each usable observation. Preserve whether the original unit was miles or kilometres, and label auction and MOT readings separately. An approximate listing value is not the same measurement as a documented odometer observation.
For example, 100,000 kilometres is about 62,137 miles. A later entry around 63,000 miles is not automatically a rollback. Compare the original units, dates and documents before interpreting the apparent decrease.
Investigate decreases and unusual jumps
Ask for service invoices around the inconsistent dates, any instrument replacement record and an explanation of unit changes. A single inconsistent entry can be an error, while an unexplained sequence still needs investigation.
If the suspected mistake is on an MOT record, use the current official correction process with supporting evidence. A seller’s statement that it was ‘just a typo’ is a prompt to request that evidence, not a correction to the published record.
Keep uncertainty visible in your buying decision
A long interval without readings prevents a detailed account of use during that period. It does not establish that the car was parked, serviced or driven gently. Discuss the gap with the seller and compare dated documents.
Ask for a written mileage description in the sale paperwork and show the discrepancy to an independent professional where it affects value or condition. A history chart helps locate the question; it cannot prove which reading is true.
Common questions
- Does a falling mileage reading prove fraud?
- No. Unit changes, recording errors or documented instrument replacement can create an apparent fall. Unexplained readings still need evidence before you proceed.
Sources and further checks
Primary guidance checked for this update. Rules and individual circumstances can change; use the linked official service or advice where a decision depends on it.