What Is a Good Mileage for a Used Car and Other Important Factors

Whether you are going to buy your first car or the fifth, it can be tempting to go for the cheapest thing available. Used cars have their unique selling points – inexpensive price, less depreciation, and cheaper maintenance and repair. But, a secondhand vehicle could be a potential money pit too. You should be aware of several factors to prevent your money from being washed down the drain. One such important variable is the mileage. What is a good mileage for a used car?

We’ll get the answer along with explaining a few other points.

Is Checking The Mileage Everything That Matters?

Not necessarily, but it undoubtedly plays a big role. For example, there are two same make and model cars that are manufactured in the same year. One has 70,000 miles on it while the other runs around 200,000 miles. Which one will you prefer? The first one, obviously.

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But, fewer miles don’t make an old car better than other secondhand vehicles. Unless it’s a glaring difference, high- and low-mileage motor vehicles are not polar opposites.

We’ll get to know other crucial factors, but let’s focus on the mileage first. How many mileage is good for a used car?

What Is A Good Mileage For A Used Car?

While the total mileage depends on the age of the vehicle, the standard estimation is 12,000 miles per year. The mileage of a car used for regular commute and occasion long drives is likely to hover around 12,000 miles.

With the figures in mind, a 10-year old vehicle should have slightly more or less 120,000 miles on the odometer. There might be a problem if the figure varies by a significant margin. There is no rule of thumb about o many miles are too many. It’s not rare to have a high-mileage car in a tip-top condition simply because it comes from a renowned manufacturer or thanks to the previous owner who has taken good care of it.

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• Everything You Need to Know about Getting Good Gas Mileage
• How to Determine the Right Price for a Used Car?

You can apply another technique to solve your dilemma regarding what is a good mileage for a used car. The average lifespan of a car is 12 years in the United States before ending up in a junkyard or getting shipped to a third-world country. A 12-year-old vehicle will have around 144,000 miles on the odometer.

What you have to do is to calculate the mileage you can have from your secondhand vehicle. For example, you can drive it for another 70,000 miles if it already has 70,000 miles on it. In some cases, it is even safe to purchase a car that already has 150,000 or 200,000 miles on it. If it is from a good brand, you drive it a few more years with good maintenance.

Other Important Factors You Should Consider

Some people consider the mileage just a number because a few other things are equally important when gauging the longevity of a vehicle. As you already know what is a good mileage for a used car, pay attention to these factors too:

• Conditions of the braking system and transmission
• Oil changing intervals
• Frequency of brakes and tire checkups
• Regular maintenance

A high-mileage is not going to be a problem if you find the overall condition satisfactory.

What is a good deal when buying a used car? Watch the video below to see more details: