What's good mileage for a used car?

11/21/24 9:04pm

I’m in the market for a used car. I’ve never bought one before, but my old man is a strictly new car buyer, so he’s not going to be much help. Is there any kind of rule regarding how old a car should (or can) be if you’re buying used? What about mileage? Is there a “sweet spot” where the deals tend to be really good on the mileage front? I guess I’m just looking for guidance on how to think about buying a used car when it comes to maximizing the value for my money, the lifespan of the car, and any potential maintenance costs. Thank you everyone!

Bryan Hamby
Professional Auto Broker

11/21/24 10:04pm

It really depends on each specific car you look at. So, you want to do a product quality check and make sure that the miles of the car are going to match the age and appearance. So, if it has low miles on it but it looks beat up and worn down, it might not be that great of a deal compared to a car that has double the miles but has been well-maintained.

You also want to make sure that the paperwork and registration are current. Otherwise, you might be responsible for back late fees and taxes that were on it. You want to check to make sure that it passes smog tests, too. If you buy a car that can’t pass the emission tests, it doesn’t matter how good of a deal it was—you won’t be able to drive it legally.

Last, you want to ask if the seller has run a vehicle history report. Some dealers will run vehicle history reports to be helpful for the sale themselves, but private sellers often won’t. So, just to sum things up, it’s not necessarily about the mileage and the money on its own. You’re looking for a car that is in good shape relative to the price point you’re at. This may take some shopping around to get your head adjusted to, but it’s the only way I’d recommend thinking about this.

WikiWombatChaser358

11/22/24 5:14am

I know this isn't helpful but it depends on the car. For example, I'd happily buy a Lexus with 100K miles since they're dependable and built to last. But if I had a Nissan with that many miles, I probably wouldn't go for it. If you know what kind of cars you like driving, do some research into what a good mileage for that specific model is.

WikiSealChaser638

11/22/24 11:18am

Keep in mind that mileage isn't the only factor. If a car only has 20K miles on it but it's decades old, things like rubber components and electronic systems will have aged. Try to strike a good balance of car age and mileage

WikiErmineSeeker308

11/22/24 5:46pm

The fewer the miles, the better. Take a look at your options for buying a used car and you'll see the mileage range that your options fall into. Pick a car that's on the lower end of that range if you're not comfortable learning more about cars and just want to be safe.

Charley Helvy
Automotive Expert

12/10/24 6:10pm

There are lots of variables to consider when buying a used car. First, evidence of regular services is super important before looking directly at the mileage. For example, if I was buying a Lexus SUV from a person and it had 80,000 miles on it, I would pay a lot less if there were no records of Lexus performing periodic services on it. If that same car was at the Lexus dealership with the same mileage and they showed me records that the previous owner kept up with the recommended Lexus maintenance schedule, I would be willing to pay a higher price.

The overall brand resale value also has an impact. Honda has a reputation for having higher resale values at higher mileages than other manufacturers. I recommend doing some research to look at reliability statistics for the manufacturer and include that in your mileage considerations. Next, look at the engine type. Diesels are built for strength and longevity so a mileage of 50,000 + wouldn't be as concerning for a diesel engine as it would be in a gasoline car.

Bottom line: I would say be wary of cars with over 50,000 miles on them, but don’t be scared of going over 50k if some of the factors I mentioned above fall in line.