Motorists looking at buying a used car should be wary of accepting the reading on an odometer at face value, it has been claimed.

According to vehicle information group HPI, models advertised by private sellers as offering low mileage may not be all they seem.

It urged buyers to be cautious and scrutinise the service history of any car they are tempted to purchase.

Motorists were advised to try and judge whether previous mileage figures seem to match the condition of the vehicle in question.

HPI warned recently replaced rubber pedals could indicate the seller is trying to hide the car's true history.

It suggested drivers pay close attention to how worn the driver's seat is, as this is harder to replace and could hold vital clues to the sort of distance covered by the vehicle.

Earlier this month, HPI said buyers should only agree to meet at the seller's home address.

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