NEW research by automotive data company HPI has revealed the top ten models likely to have a mileage discrepancy or have been 'clocked' and the most popular colours with car thieves.

Minibuses top the chart of vehicle types most likely to have a mileage anomaly and orange-coloured cars are top of the car thieves most wanted colours list.

HPI crunched the numbers to come up with a definitive list of the lifestyle types and colours of car most likely to have a mileage issue or register as being stolen following an HPI check.

According to HPI, the vehicle types most likely to have a mileage discrepancy are minibuses followed by luxury cars, roadsters or cabriolets, compact executive cars, estates, family cars and performance vehicles, coupes then 4x4s, executive cars and small family models.

The most stolen vehicle colours flagged following a check were orange, cream, pink, white, yellow, green, black, red and blue, grey then gold/silver.

HPI checks more than 363 million mileage readings on the National Mileage Register as standard in its car check.

It also confirms whether a vehicle is currently recorded as stolen with the police, has outstanding finance or has been written off, making it the best way for consumers to protect themselves from fraudsters.

Fernando Garcia, consumer director at HPI, said: "Our analysis of conducted HPI Checks reveals some fascinating vehicle insights. Customers must check before they buy to ensure that they are not buying a car that could be a danger to themselves and other motorists.

"Vehicle checks from HPI also reveal some shocking statistics that can affect the value of a car, including 726 cars found to have mileage discrepancies daily."

The National Mileage Register is the system used to check vehicle mileage by HPI and is the UK's largest, most accurate source for verifying and investigating mileage records.

The company's data has identified that one in 14 vehicles has a mileage discrepancy, this statistic was one in 16 in 2017 and one in 20 cars in 2014 - an increase of nearly 30 per cent in just five years. There's also a one in three chance of uncovering another hidden problem, including outstanding finance, previously being an insurance write- off, or recorded stolen.