FAQs
As a general rule, you should assume that the average car owner puts 12,000 miles on a car each year. 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.
What is an acceptable mileage for a used car? ›
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 considered good MPG for a used car? ›
It's also important to consider the car's city mpg rating. 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.
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.
Is 85000 miles a lot for a used car? ›
So, a car that is five years old would have about 75,000 miles to be considered “average.” Anything significantly more, and a car is considered to be “high mileage.” Anything significantly less, and it's a “low mileage” car.
How much is high mileage for a used car? ›
Mechanics usually agree on the figure as 'average' car use. More than that is considered high mileage, so a three-year-old car with 40,000 miles, for example, would be in the high mileage range. Still, mechanics typically use the phrase 'high mileage' when a car has 100,000 miles or more on the odometer.
What's the best mileage to sell a car? ›
60,000 to 100,000 Miles
If you want to squeeze the most value out of your vehicle, this mileage bracket is probably the best time to sell.
What is the most reliable and economical used car? ›
What are the Most Fuel-Efficient Cars on the Used Car Market?
- Ford Fiesta 1.6 TDCi ECOnetic – 85.6 mpg.
- Volvo V40 D2 SE – 78.5 MPG.
- Volkswagen New Golf 1.6 TDI 105 – 74.3 mpg.
- Citroen New C4 Picasso 1.6 e-HDi – 70.6 mpg.
- Peugeot 2008 1.6 e-HDi – 70.6 mpg.
- Ford New Focus 1.5 TDCi Estate – 74.3 mpg.
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.
Is a 7 year old car too old? ›
Is a 7-year-old car too old? - Quora. The last time a 7-yo car was too old, cars all had carburetors. These days, most 7-year-old cars are almost as good as new. The average 7-year-old car these days has under 90,000 miles on it, while having an expected lifetime of over 250,000 miles.
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. If a car's mileage is far larger than the average, then you will have to take a deeper look at the car's history.
At what mileage should a car be replaced? ›
Typically, a conventional vehicle lasts for 200,000 miles. The average automobile age in the United States has increased over the past several decades. Currently, it's around 12 years for a passenger car, according to data from IHS Markit and the federal government.
Is buying a used car with 50k miles bad? ›
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.
How many miles is OK to buy 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.
What's the best miles for a used car? ›
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. That said, mileage can be misleading.
Is it worth buying a car with 80000 miles? ›
A vehicle with 80,000 highway miles can sometimes be in better shape than a car driven hard in the city with 50,000 miles on the odometer. A wary buyer should use as a general rule of thumb that most cars are driven 12,000-15,000 miles per year.
Is 50 000 miles on a used car bad? ›
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 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 it worth buying car with high mileage? ›
First, it can create a lower price tag for you. Cars typically lose about 60% of their original value within the first five years, and the depreciation is generally higher for vehicles with more mileage. Therefore, if you buy a five-year-old car with 100,000 miles on it, you stand to buy it at a significant bargain.
