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.

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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

Used Car Mileage: What's Good & What to Avoid | Phil Long Dealerships? ›

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.

What is too high mileage for a used car? ›

What is considered high mileage on a 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.

When buying a used car what mileage should you look for? ›

To determine whether a car has reasonable mileage, you can simply multiply 12,000 by its age. That means good mileage for a car that's 5 years old is 60,000. Significantly more or fewer miles could indicate a problem or trouble in the future.

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.

What is the sweet spot for used cars mileage? ›

The sweet spot for mileage often aligns with the average annual mileage accumulation, which hovers around 12,000 to 15,000 miles. A used car with moderate mileage, ideally below the annual average, suggests that it has been driven responsibly and not subjected to excessive wear.

Why shouldn't you buy a car with high mileage? ›

Vehicles with over 100,000 miles typically face more frequent issues with major components such as the engine, transmission and suspension. The average cost of engine repair or replacement can range from $3,000 to $8,000, while transmission repairs can cost between $1,800 and $3,400.

At what mileage should a car be replaced? ›

How many miles does a car last? A conventional car can last for 200,000 miles. Some well-maintained car models will reach 300,000 or more miles total.

What is a good mpg for a used car? ›

This is the average fuel economy the car gets in city driving conditions. If you do a lot of city driving, you'll want to look for a car that gets good city mpg as well as highway mpg. A car that gets at least 25 mpg in the city is considered good gas mileage.

Should I buy a car with 50k miles? ›

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.

Can you reset mileage on a car? ›

But the main question is whether resetting the information is legal. Of course, resetting an odometer or any such action is illegal in the United States. There is a Federal statute in force that forbids it and many states created specific laws outlawing it as well.

What is the best mileage to sell a used 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 second hand mileage? ›

Good mileage for a used car is around 20,000 km (12,400 mi) per year. Mileage assessment also depends on factors like make, model, maintenance, and driving conditions. Excessive mileage concerns start beyond 185,000 km, but well-maintained cars can last longer.

Which website is best for used cars? ›

Best Used Car Websites of 2024
  • Best for Cheap Cars: CarGurus.
  • Best Advanced Search Functions: Autotrader.
  • Best Basic Option: CarsDirect.
  • Best for Classic Cars: Hemmings.
  • Best for Mobile: Autolist.
  • Best for Comparing Options: AutoTempest.
  • Best Auction Site: Cars & Bids.

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

There's no absolute number of miles that is too many for a used car. But consider 200,000 as an upper limit, a threshold where even modern cars begin to succumb to the years of wear and tear.

What's the best miles for a used car? ›

Experts agree that the common rule of thumb on mileage for a used vehicle is roughly 12,000 miles added for each year of ownership. That means, for example, good mileage for a used vehicle that's five years old would be around 60,000 miles.

What is the best mileage to get rid of a car? ›

30,000 to 60,000 Miles

It's a good idea to sell your car before it hits 60,000 miles if you don't want to spend a lot of money on repairs and replacement parts. During this mileage bracket, your car should be about five years old, meaning it'll still command a substantial amount.

Is a used car with 200k miles bad? ›

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.

Is 150k miles on a used car bad? ›

If a vehicle is 10 years of age, it should have between 120,000 miles and 150,000 miles on the odometer. If a vehicle has accumulated substantially more miles or fewer miles, an inquiry related to this should be investigated.

Is a 20 year old car too old? ›

Additionally, maintenance costs can quickly add up as cars age. Parts are harder to find, and labor is more time-intensive. If these concerns make you uneasy, avoid cars over 20 years old. This rule of thumb may help ensure your vehicle choice is still safe, reliable, and affordable.

Is a 15 year old car too old? ›

But when it comes to cars, owning a car well past the 10-year mark should no longer be a badge of honor. Due to safety reasons, if you have the money, you should probably start looking for a new car after a decade.

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