Buying a Used Car: What Kind of Mileage to Look For?
Based on recent surveys, at least one third of Americans plan to buy a car within the next year. If you’re among them, you definitely have plenty to choose from, don’t you? At least 40 brands are on the market right now, offering an estimated total of 5,000 new models that branch out into numerous trim levels. With all those choices at your disposal, picking just one can be difficult.
Of course, if you’re like many potential car buyers, you may be more interested in used models than new ones. That places even more choices at your fingertips. Several considerations come into play when you’re buying a used vehicle from a dealership like autoplex waxahachie, not the least of which are age, condition, interior space, and tech features.
Mileage is also a major factor. What kind of mileage should you look for when buying a used vehicle, though? How much is too much, and how low can you go without being unrealistic? Keep reading to find the answers to those questions.
Why Mileage Matters
First, let’s delve into why mileage matters when you’re buying a used vehicle. On the most basic level, a vehicle’s mileage shows how far its previous owners drove it. That’s only a basic figure, though. Mileage can tell you a great deal about the vehicle itself, especially when combined with other factors, such as its age, condition, and price.
Estimated Wear and Tear
For one, a vehicle’s mileage can tell you a lot about how much wear and tear it has. If you’re in the market for a used car, truck, van, or SUV, you can’t expect it have no wear and tear at all; after all, it has had at least one previous owner. Still, the more a vehicle has been driven, the more stress its engine, transmission, and other components have been through.
Those with high mileage may have significant deterioration that you could end up paying for in the long run. At the same time, they may not last as long as you need them to. Again, though, excessive mileage may not mean that a vehicle isn’t worth buying. Other factors come into play here.
Maintenance and Repairs
That leads us into the next point: maintenance and repairs. Vehicles with high mileage may need more attention than those with lower mileage. As a result, they’ll cost you more to keep up and running. You may even have to invest more in them right from the start. Some vehicles are exceptions, but as a general rule, high-mileage cars usually need more extensive, and expensive, care.
Resale Value
Mileage also affects a vehicle’s resale value. Those with high mileage are almost always worth less. That’s important for a couple of reasons. On one hand, it can tell you whether a vehicle’s listed price is reasonable.
You can weigh the price against those of similar vehicles via resources like NADA and Kelley Blue Book to determine if it’s worth what the owner or dealership expects to get out of it. If the asking price is far higher than average, look at its condition, age, and other factors, and consider potentially negotiating for a lower price. In the event the price is unusually low, you may want to question if the vehicle has hidden damage or other issues that could cause you trouble down the road.
On the other hand, there’s the vehicle’s future value to think about. How much value will it have left if you decide to sell it later on? If its mileage is already so high that it’s significantly affecting its value, you may not be able to recoup very much of your investment when you sell it.
What Mileage Range Is Best in a Used Vehicle?
Now, let’s look into the mileage you can expect in used vehicles. Those with less than an average of 12,000 miles per year are considered low-mileage vehicles. More than 15,000 miles per year is considered high. Anywhere between those two figures is considered average.
For example, finding a vehicle that’s five years old with 60,000 to 75,000 miles is essentially normal. That same vehicle with only 30,000 to 40,000 miles would be on the low end of the spectrum. One that’s five years old with more than 100,000 miles would be a high-mileage vehicle.
Consider the Types of Mileage
Having said all that, not all mileage is the same. There’s a difference between highway miles and city miles. Many people claim that’s nothing more than a myth, but they’re wrong. Driving in the city typically entails short trips, frequent idling, and dealing with stop-and-go traffic. That’s hard on a vehicle, so it causes a great deal more wear and tear.
In contrast, highway miles aren’t as demanding. Driving on the highway generally involves constant speeds, longer trips, less idling, and less stress on the brakes. With that being the case, it doesn’t cause as much deterioration.
When sellers tell you that most of the mileage on their vehicles comes from highway driving, you can’t always be sure they’re being honest. Certain signs may help you decide, though. If a vehicle has higher-than-average mileage for its age, that might be an indication that it has been on the highway more than in the city. Highly worn gas and brake pedals on a relatively new, low-mileage vehicle may indicate excessive city driving. Those aren’t always surefire signs, but they may give you something to think about.
Finding the Right Used Vehicle
Countless used vehicles are out there for you to choose from. As you’re looking at age, make, model, condition, and other aspects, be sure to factor mileage into the equation too. It can determine how long a vehicle will last, how much it might cost you over time, and how much money you’ll get if you eventually decide to sell it along with other important details. Not all mileage affects vehicles the same way, and one with seemingly high mileage shouldn’t necessarily be avoided. Consider the additional factors mentioned here along with mileage to determine if a used vehicle is worth your time and money.
