How seriously to take RMI mileage records?
Discussion
I’ve put a deposit on a new daily driver. It’s not a special car, but well priced due to high miles (51k, 2.5 years old).
I’ve since checked the manufacturer’s online service history and done two HPI-type checks. This has thrown up some mileage discrepancies.
Only two of the RMI (HPI industry member, like tyre place or garage) records match the pattern of the service records. There are 3-4 RMI records that don’t seem right, being either higher or lower than the service mileages.
I’m minded to pass on this car because even if it’s all fine, the car’s next buyer will have the same doubts.
But I’m left wondering whether this is a unique case. I’ve seen several cars have at least one maybe mis entered RMI mileage, leaving me wondering how seriously to take these mileage entries.
I’ve since checked the manufacturer’s online service history and done two HPI-type checks. This has thrown up some mileage discrepancies.
Only two of the RMI (HPI industry member, like tyre place or garage) records match the pattern of the service records. There are 3-4 RMI records that don’t seem right, being either higher or lower than the service mileages.
I’m minded to pass on this car because even if it’s all fine, the car’s next buyer will have the same doubts.
But I’m left wondering whether this is a unique case. I’ve seen several cars have at least one maybe mis entered RMI mileage, leaving me wondering how seriously to take these mileage entries.
It's common sadly.
Quite often it's as simple as a seller putting the mileage in the V5 box leaving a blank box at the end rather than the front.
Ie writing 41000-
- being the blank
Rather than -41000
This can create a reading of 410,000 miles.
Or they can be MOT mistakes.
They have to be rectified by the issuing MOT test centre, and I think there's a time limit for them to be able to do it themselves.
I'd pass on it unless the discrepancy can be sorted.
I used to remarket cars to the trade.
If I offered a car to a dealer with a mileage discrepancy I'd often get one of the following replies.
1. Sorry, not for me.
2. Shame about the mileage discrepancy, let me know if you get it sorted.
3. Why are you wasting my time, and yours, offering me a car with a mileage discrepancy.
So my advice, find another car unless the dealer can get it sorted.
Quite often it's as simple as a seller putting the mileage in the V5 box leaving a blank box at the end rather than the front.
Ie writing 41000-
- being the blank
Rather than -41000
This can create a reading of 410,000 miles.
Or they can be MOT mistakes.
They have to be rectified by the issuing MOT test centre, and I think there's a time limit for them to be able to do it themselves.
I'd pass on it unless the discrepancy can be sorted.
I used to remarket cars to the trade.
If I offered a car to a dealer with a mileage discrepancy I'd often get one of the following replies.
1. Sorry, not for me.
2. Shame about the mileage discrepancy, let me know if you get it sorted.
3. Why are you wasting my time, and yours, offering me a car with a mileage discrepancy.
So my advice, find another car unless the dealer can get it sorted.
I will admit that a discrepancy in the mileage on the MOT test site records, has me running away. Every time I have asked about it, without fail the seller has said 'oh yes, it was a typo from the tester'.
But then why not get it re-typed?
I am sure some can be genuine but nah, a massive red flag for me. Is why I go through my own MOT details within minutes of it all going online, do not want the same issues.
But then why not get it re-typed?
I am sure some can be genuine but nah, a massive red flag for me. Is why I go through my own MOT details within minutes of it all going online, do not want the same issues.
Thanks both.
These are RMI (retail motor industry; garages etc) records of mileage, not MoT.
The car is 2.5 years old and has had one MoT just recently prior to sale, showing 51k miles. The manufacturer service records show miles building progressively, so no problem there.
But there are a bunch of RMI records that are not the main dealer, and these are below the main dealer service miles recorded despite being the same date or after the service.
Im probably going to give this car a miss but wondered how common RMI mismatches like this are.
These are RMI (retail motor industry; garages etc) records of mileage, not MoT.
The car is 2.5 years old and has had one MoT just recently prior to sale, showing 51k miles. The manufacturer service records show miles building progressively, so no problem there.
But there are a bunch of RMI records that are not the main dealer, and these are below the main dealer service miles recorded despite being the same date or after the service.
Im probably going to give this car a miss but wondered how common RMI mismatches like this are.
jondude said:
I will admit that a discrepancy in the mileage on the MOT test site records, has me running away. Every time I have asked about it, without fail the seller has said 'oh yes, it was a typo from the tester'.
But then why not get it re-typed?
I am sure some can be genuine but nah, a massive red flag for me. Is why I go through my own MOT details within minutes of it all going online, do not want the same issues.
I bet the large majority of car owners hear “your car has passed” and take the MOT certificate without giving it a second glance. But then why not get it re-typed?
I am sure some can be genuine but nah, a massive red flag for me. Is why I go through my own MOT details within minutes of it all going online, do not want the same issues.
The Cardinal said:
Thanks both.
These are RMI (retail motor industry; garages etc) records of mileage, not MoT.
The car is 2.5 years old and has had one MoT just recently prior to sale, showing 51k miles. The manufacturer service records show miles building progressively, so no problem there.
But there are a bunch of RMI records that are not the main dealer, and these are below the main dealer service miles recorded despite being the same date or after the service.
Im probably going to give this car a miss but wondered how common RMI mismatches like this are.
So lets get this straight, your looking at a 2.5 year old car, its not due a MOT till its 3, but its had 1?These are RMI (retail motor industry; garages etc) records of mileage, not MoT.
The car is 2.5 years old and has had one MoT just recently prior to sale, showing 51k miles. The manufacturer service records show miles building progressively, so no problem there.
But there are a bunch of RMI records that are not the main dealer, and these are below the main dealer service miles recorded despite being the same date or after the service.
Im probably going to give this car a miss but wondered how common RMI mismatches like this are.
The service history is correct at the main dealer, but there are receipts for other works at other places where the mileage is wrong? what other works has it had in 2.5 years?
Correct about the MoT and main dealer services.
The HPI-type reports also record a total of 6 other mileage entries. These are the problem, but come with no indication of who made them (“RMI mileage”). They could be tyre garages, other services etc - anyone who is signed up as HPI register member who commits to share their own records of car mileages to the register.
I guess the concern is that the previous owner was habitually reporting lower miles or somehow overwriting the odometer prior to main services. One RMI error is not unusual, but to have 3-4 seems odd.
The HPI-type reports also record a total of 6 other mileage entries. These are the problem, but come with no indication of who made them (“RMI mileage”). They could be tyre garages, other services etc - anyone who is signed up as HPI register member who commits to share their own records of car mileages to the register.
I guess the concern is that the previous owner was habitually reporting lower miles or somehow overwriting the odometer prior to main services. One RMI error is not unusual, but to have 3-4 seems odd.
The Cardinal said:
Correct about the MoT and main dealer services.
The HPI-type reports also record a total of 6 other mileage entries. These are the problem, but come with no indication of who made them (“RMI mileage”). They could be tyre garages, other services etc - anyone who is signed up as HPI register member who commits to share their own records of car mileages to the register.
I guess the concern is that the previous owner was habitually reporting lower miles or somehow overwriting the odometer prior to main services. One RMI error is not unusual, but to have 3-4 seems odd.
Don't buy that car, it's what we call a story car.The HPI-type reports also record a total of 6 other mileage entries. These are the problem, but come with no indication of who made them (“RMI mileage”). They could be tyre garages, other services etc - anyone who is signed up as HPI register member who commits to share their own records of car mileages to the register.
I guess the concern is that the previous owner was habitually reporting lower miles or somehow overwriting the odometer prior to main services. One RMI error is not unusual, but to have 3-4 seems odd.
You'd never be able to sell that to a dealer.
What type of dealer is selling that car?
Do they not do simple checks before buying stock?
The Cardinal said:
Correct about the MoT and main dealer services.
The HPI-type reports also record a total of 6 other mileage entries. These are the problem, but come with no indication of who made them (“RMI mileage”). They could be tyre garages, other services etc - anyone who is signed up as HPI register member who commits to share their own records of car mileages to the register.
I guess the concern is that the previous owner was habitually reporting lower miles or somehow overwriting the odometer prior to main services. One RMI error is not unusual, but to have 3-4 seems odd.
Could it just be replacement tyres an or brakes have been done by a third party garage and they havent checked the actual mileage and have just made it up. The HPI-type reports also record a total of 6 other mileage entries. These are the problem, but come with no indication of who made them (“RMI mileage”). They could be tyre garages, other services etc - anyone who is signed up as HPI register member who commits to share their own records of car mileages to the register.
I guess the concern is that the previous owner was habitually reporting lower miles or somehow overwriting the odometer prior to main services. One RMI error is not unusual, but to have 3-4 seems odd.
Mileage descrepancy would prevent me from buying it.
After my mum passed away I went to sell her car and the garage that had previously MOTd it had enter the mileage wrongly by displacing two numbers. Too much time had passed for them to correct it - there is only like a two week window for them to be able to do anything.
Went to sell it to WBAC and they halved the original offer when they saw the mileage descrepancy, even though they could see the mistake.
After my mum passed away I went to sell her car and the garage that had previously MOTd it had enter the mileage wrongly by displacing two numbers. Too much time had passed for them to correct it - there is only like a two week window for them to be able to do anything.
Went to sell it to WBAC and they halved the original offer when they saw the mileage descrepancy, even though they could see the mistake.
I did buy a car with a mileage discrepancy (my current car), although it was an 11 year old, £11k car at the time. Not sure I'd have been so bold with something much newer, pricier and (by extension) harder to sell on privately.
Fortunately the mileage discrepancy is so ludicrous that it's obviously an error and there's no conceivable way the car could have covered the mileage stated at the second MOT, that anyone with half a brain and not a "computer says no" attitude will see the situation.
Its MOT history looks like this:
2016 - 17,695 miles
2017 - 793,891 miles
2018 - 38,571 miles
2019 - 42,962 miles
In the 11 months between the 2016 and 2017 MOTs, it would have needed to average 100mph, all day, every day, for the entire year. I'm sure when I come to sell that some people will want a significant discount because they will see this as the likely reason for that mileage, but those people are not my buyer.
Fortunately the mileage discrepancy is so ludicrous that it's obviously an error and there's no conceivable way the car could have covered the mileage stated at the second MOT, that anyone with half a brain and not a "computer says no" attitude will see the situation.
Its MOT history looks like this:
2016 - 17,695 miles
2017 - 793,891 miles
2018 - 38,571 miles
2019 - 42,962 miles
In the 11 months between the 2016 and 2017 MOTs, it would have needed to average 100mph, all day, every day, for the entire year. I'm sure when I come to sell that some people will want a significant discount because they will see this as the likely reason for that mileage, but those people are not my buyer.
I bought my latest car with a discrepancy - basically the trip computer had been reset about 1500 miles after the car was new, and at MOT/service time someone had entered the trip computer mileage rather than the odometer. A daft but easy mistake for someone to make but I hope when the time comes to sell people can understand it.
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