Used Car Mileage: What's Good & What to Avoid | Phil Long Dealerships (2024)

Used Car Mileage: What's Good & What to Avoid | Phil Long Dealerships (1)

When you are searching for the best used cars in Colorado Springs to buy, you might wonder what is considered to be "good mileage" on a used car. We will walk through the current average mileage on all used cars and what is considered the best mileage to look for. It's our job to help you find the perfect used car at the best price, but not all high mileage cars are worth the investment. Let's take a closer look at the used car mileage and what you can expect.

View Low Mileage Used Car Inventory

What's the Average Mileage of Used Cars on the Road?

There's a general rule you'll want to stick to while looking at the mileage on a potential used car purchase. Lower is better. The average mileage a car accrues per year is 12,000 miles. Given that number, the average 10-year-old car should have roughly 120,000 miles on the odometer. You can use these numbers to determine if the car you're looking to buy is considered to have high mileage or low mileage for the age of the vehicle. Usually, the fewer miles that a car has been driven, the better. If you can find some used cars with fewer than the average miles on most used cars sold today, you will be in better shape. Of course, higher miles aren't always a bad thing. If the car was used to commute on the highway, it doesn't have as much wear as a vehicle with city miles. Depending on the manufacturer and production years, certain used cars take on less wear and operate just fine with higher mileage accumulation. Regular maintenance and upkeep of the car over its lifetime plays a vital role as well.

For Used Cars, What's the Optimal Mileage to Look For?

For the most part, you want to look for low mileage used cars. There's no rule to how many miles on a used car is too much, but by attempting to stick to the 12,000 miles per year rule is a great place to start. Find out how old the car is, multiple the number of years by 12,000, and if the number on the odometer is significantly higher than that, some concern might be warranted. You would then want to do an in-depth check on the car to see how well the car was maintained and if there were any major replacements or repairs. This is a goodguidelineto use, whether it is a car, truck, SUV, or luxury model you're looking to buy.

How Does Accrued Mileage Affect Used Car Prices?

Used Car Mileage: What's Good & What to Avoid | Phil Long Dealerships (2)

Consider this. You're looking at two cars of the same make, model, year and condition. One car has 30,000 miles and the other car has 90,000 miles. If you manage to find used cars with low mileage, you might find yourself paying a little more to get behind the wheel. Subsequently, the first car will cost more because there has been less operation, meaning less wear and tear, so that car is of a higher value to the consumer. That doesn't necessarily mean that car #2 is a bad choice, or a bad vehicle, as mileage alone is not the sole reason why you should buy car #1 over car #2. Of course, you have the option to save money by choosing something with higher than average mileage, but you might end up with more repairs down the road. If you stick to theaverage car mileageper year calculation, you get a delicate balance of value and reliability.

For Used Cars, What Mileage Should I Steer Away From?

Most of today's cars are built to last at least 150,000 miles. That doesn't mean that you want something with that many miles on it, but it helps you to determine what mileage will work for you. With that said, diesel engines typically last longer than gasoline engines, so you can feel a little more at ease after buying a higher mileage vehicle if it is equipped with a diesel powertrain. Some brands also tend to last longer than others. For example, Toyota and Honda are known for vehicles exceeding 200,000 miles regularly.

Should I Consider Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles?

When you buy a certified pre-owned car, you receive more assurances. These vehicles are newly used and feature fewer mileage as part of the deal. Certified pre-owned vehicles undergo strict inspections and have additionalused car warranties. To receive these guarantees, you will pay slightly more, but you spend less on repairs, and you receive maximum reliability while getting in a car that still feels brand new.

Phil Long CertiRide

Every car manufacturer dictates its own rules for their certified used car program. Some of them use a 150-point inspection, while others require a 172-point inspection. There are also various mileage limits between the various programs. Phil Long Dealerships now offers our very own certified pre-owned program outside of what the manufacturer offers calledPhil Long CertiRide. With Phil Long CertiRide, we are able to certify more used cars regardless of the manufacturer and give our customers a better product. We only certify used vehicles that are 5 years old or newer and have less than 50,000 used car mileage. Our vehicles undergo a 125-point inspection and come with a 3-year warranty. You also get 7 days to try it out and exchange the model if you don't like it. When you look at our used car inventory, you will browse with an additional peace of mind knowing that these are some of the best used cars in the Colorado Springs area. On top of that, we offer superior discounts and incentives, so you don't need to spend more. Contact us today with any questions about the CertiRide program.

Used Cars for Sale in Colorado Springs

Browse our inventory of used cars for sale in Colorado Springs by clicking the button below. We have one of the largest used car inventories in Colorado and New Mexico. Shop today and save!View Used Car Inventory

Used Car Mileage: What's Good & What to Avoid | Phil Long Dealerships (2024)

FAQs

What mileage is too high when buying a used car? ›

Traditional wisdom used to warn car buyers to keep away from vehicles with over 100,000 miles. Put simply, though, the 100,000 mile-marker is no longer a good indicator for buying used. If a vehicle has been properly maintained, it can last several hundred thousand miles.

Is 200 000 miles bad for a used car? ›

As a general rule, most vehicles begin to seriously degrade at around 150,000 miles. It is considered rare, and therefore outstanding longevity, if a car reaches 200,000 miles on the road. That said, there's more to identifying good versus bad mileage on a used car than just the odometer reading.

What is the best age and mileage for a used car? ›

We suggest you consider a 4- to 6-year-old vehicle with less than 50,000 miles. But it's essential to consider how an owner drove the car, whether city, highway, or a mix of miles, and how well the driver cared for the car. It is also important to be wary of used cars with unusually low mileage.

At what mileage should a car be replaced? ›

A conventional car can last for 200,000 miles. Some well-maintained car models will reach 300,000 or more miles total. The average passenger car age is currently around 12 years in the United States. Choosing a well-built make and model can help extend your car's longevity.

What is the best mileage for a second hand car? ›

On average, a car should have around 10,000 miles per year. So, for an easy way to calculate how many miles on a used car is too much, just multiply its age by 10,000. For example, a five-year-old car would ideally have 50,000 miles or less on its odometer.

Is it bad to buy a car with over 100K miles? ›

Some makes and models are inherently more robust than others. Certain brands have a track record for producing vehicles that can easily surpass the 100,000-mile mark without breaking a sweat. However, truly ANY car can be reliable if it's been well-maintained and doesn't have a history of major issues.

Is it bad to buy a car with 150K miles? ›

Used Car Mileage Shopping Tips

If the car has 100,000 miles on it, that's still nearly four years of driving to get to the average. In some cases, you can be fine buying a used car with 150,000 or even 200,000 miles on it, because maintenance helps them last far beyond what many people have come to expect.

Is it worth fixing a car with 200k miles? ›

Depending on the car's value, repairing it might be worth the money to keep it going for a few more years. However, most modern gasoline-powered vehicles will start to struggle after the 200,000-mile mark. Electric cars can usually make it up to 300,000 miles before they're considered well used.

How long will a car with 150K miles last? ›

Many modern cars with 100K-150K miles are in great condition and will easily go another 100K. However, if a car has not been maintained properly and has been driven hard or previously wrecked, it can be junk with only 30K miles on the odometer.

At what mileage should you sell a car? ›

60,000-70,000 miles: Most manufacturers' powertrain warranties expire in that range, and the second major maintenance is scheduled to occur. Selling before reaching those benchmarks will get you a better price for your car than selling afterward.

What is the best year of used car to buy? ›

The Best Time to Buy a Used Car

Purchasing a used vehicle that is 2-3 years old means that you are getting a relatively new car in good condition without being affected heavily by depreciation.

What is the best age to buy a second hand car? ›

When shopping, is there a best age for purchasing a used car? Cars are usually reliable for up to five years if they've been looked after. But a well-maintained 10-year-old car could be a better investment than a newer model that hasn't been cared for as well. Budget is also a major factor.

At what mileage do most cars start having problems? ›

It can be somewhat risky to buy a vehicle that has racked up more than 100,000 miles. Even if it's well-maintained and has about 100,000 miles left in it, such a car is already past its prime. Generally, vehicles are likely to start experiencing problems after the 100,000-mile mark.

What is bad mileage for a used car? ›

Often, 100,000 miles is considered a cut-off point for used cars because older vehicles often start requiring more expensive and frequent maintenance when mileage exceeds 100,000.

At what mileage do cars need maintenance? ›

Every vehicle has its recommended maintenance intervals. Typically, every 30,000 miles, you should inspect, change, or replace certain components. This may include oil changes, tire rotations, brake inspections, and spark plug replacements.

Is 75000 miles a lot for a used car? ›

If you would like to drive your next used car for five years, for example, you'll want to find a car that has at least another 75,000 miles of expected life ahead of it. With that in mind, a good mileage range for a used car would be between 75,000 and 100,000 miles, since many cars last beyond the 150,000-mile point.

Is 50k miles a lot for a used car? ›

Finding a four-year-old car with 50,000 miles on it can be a great deal, as it means that the driver used it a little less than average, and it could have more life left in it. However, you should be a bit wary of vehicles that are a decade old with only 50,000 miles to show for it.

Is 60k miles a lot for a used car? ›

So, what is considered high mileage for a used car that is five years old? It should have no more than 60,000 to 75,000 miles on the odometer. If it has more than that, the car has likely gone through a lot of wear and tear in a short amount of time, and may not last much longer without needing serious repairs.

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