Rider guides › Buying used
How to spot a clocked motorbike from its MOT history
A clocked bike looks fine on the dash. Its MOT history often tells a different story. Here's how to read the mileage record, what's innocent, and what isn't.
Why MOT history catches clocking
Every MOT records the odometer reading. For bikes tested in England, Scotland and Wales, the history goes back to 2005, and it's public. Winding back a clock is easy on many bikes, but the readings already on record don't change. Put the readings in date order and the story usually tells itself.
The warning signs
- Mileage goes backwards. A reading lower than an earlier one is the clearest sign. It can be a typing error by the tester, so ask, but it needs a good explanation.
- Mileage stalls, then jumps. Two hundred miles a year for three years, then thousands, can mean readings were rolled back and the bike carried on as normal.
- A sudden low reading compared with the bike's age and the wear you can see.
- Gaps between tests. A year or more without an MOT is common on bikes, often because they were laid up. But a gap is also where miles can disappear, so ask what it was doing.
- Kilometres and miles. Imported bikes and some dashboards record in km. A switch between units makes the numbers look wild when they're fine. Convert before you judge (1 km is about 0.62 miles).
- Clocks replaced. Dashboards do get changed after a fall or a fault. That's legitimate, but there should be a receipt, and the seller should tell you the true mileage is unknown or what it was.
Match it against the bike
Low miles should look like low miles. Check for wear that doesn't fit the reading: worn footrest rubbers and grips, a shiny seat, polished tank and knee areas, a worn gear lever tip, and lots of stone chips. Compare service receipts and old MOT certificates with the MOT history. Mileages on receipts that are higher than a later MOT reading are a red flag.
What the law says
Government guidance describes clocking as a criminal offence. Selling a bike with a falsely low mileage can be an offence under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, and it can also be fraud under the Fraud Act 2006. "Mileage correction" businesses exist, but the government notes legitimate reasons to correct a mileage are very rare. If a dashboard is replaced, the honest approach is to record the change and tell any buyer. If you think you've been sold a clocked bike, report it to Trading Standards through the Citizens Advice consumer service.
If your own bike's MOT record has the wrong mileage because of a tester's mistake, you can get it corrected. Within 28 days, ask the MOT centre; after that, report it to DVSA online. You'll need evidence of the correct mileage dated within a day of the test, such as the MOT invoice or a service receipt.
Tickover's free MOT check charts every recorded mileage, converts kilometres, and flags readings that go down and long gaps between tests. The app's full report adds questions to ask the seller.
Quick answers
Can you tell if a motorbike is clocked from its MOT history?
Often, yes. Look for readings that go down, mileage that stalls and then jumps, and long gaps. Then check the wear on the bike matches the mileage.
Is clocking a motorbike illegal in the UK?
Government guidance describes clocking as a criminal offence. Selling a bike with a falsely low mileage can be an offence under consumer protection law and the Fraud Act 2006.
Why does the MOT mileage go down on my bike's history?
It can be a tester's typing mistake or a km and miles mix-up. If it's your bike, you can ask the MOT centre within 28 days or report it to DVSA with evidence.
How far back does MOT mileage history go?
For bikes tested in England, Scotland and Wales, to 2005. For Northern Ireland, to 2017.
Is a replaced speedo a problem?
Not if it's documented. Ask for the receipt and the mileage at the time, and treat the total mileage as unknown if there's no record.
Related guides
- Buying a used motorbike: the checks that matter
- Free motorbike MOT history check
- Motorbike MOT: what's checked and how to pass