Cartell disputes clocking figures

Cartell.ie's own figures show clocking less prevalent that reported recently.

Words Paul Healy Published 16 May 2014

What's the news?
Cartell.ie, Ireland's leading vehicle data expert, has put out a press release that appears to throw doubt over recently reported figures on the instances of car 'clocking' in Ireland. Clocking, or the practice of altering a car's odometer to increase its value, has in recent days been reported to be apply to as many as 20 per cent of all vehicles in Ireland, but after a thorough examination of its own figures Cartell says the actual figure is closer to 10 per cent.

"We see no evidence of a spike in clocking, said Cartell Director Jeff Aherne. "Currently our own figures indicate that 10% of all vehicles for sale in the market, and checked with Cartell.ie, flag mileage issues. This isn't to diminish those numbers, which are still nearly double the comparable rate in the UK."

Clocking of a vehicle is now a criminal offence in the Republic of Ireland pursuant to section 14 of the Road Traffic Act 2014, but is still a relatively easy thing to affect with the consequence being that buyers are paying over the odds for a car. It can also mean a purchased vehicle is prone to unanticipated mechanical problems, or even, in extreme cases, rendering the vehicle less roadworthy.

Anything else?
The 20 per cent figure was recently quoted in an Irish Independent news piece, which found a car that had had 177,000km wiped off its clock. This was also mentioned in an interview with Pat Kenny on Newstalk radio.

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