Is High Mileage a big deal?

Is High-Mileage Bad? In short – not necessarily. (Especially if you follow these tips for caring for your car.) In fact, a high-mileage car could point to better standards and technology in the automotive industry.


Is it worth buying a 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.

How high of mileage is too high?

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.


Is it worth buying a car with 100k miles?

In many cases, the answer is yes! The 100,000-mile marker is the sign of a true veteran. You'll know the vehicle has experience and proven capability you can rely on. If you'd like to learn more about what to look for when checking out the odometer on a used car, read our guide below.

Should I buy a car with 120k miles?

Mileage will vary between vehicles, but a decent rule of thumb to follow is that people drive an average of about 12,000 miles a year. Therefore, 120,000 miles would be a good mileage for a used car that's about 10 years old. Determining good mileage for a used car will require a bit of math.


Should You Buy a High Mileage Car?



Are cars with 200k miles worth it?

Although it may have been well maintained, the purchase of a vehicle with over 200,000 miles on the odometer might lead to significant maintenance costs. At this point, the car is likely nearing the end of its useful life, and you may soon need to either invest a significant sum in repairs or replace it entirely.

Is it worth buying a car over 150k miles?

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 it okay to buy a car with 90k miles?

If a car is 10 years old and only has 90,000 miles on it, mileage alone indicates that it could be a good deal. However, if it has had four owners during that 10-year span, there's a strong possibility that at least one of the owners didn't properly maintain the vehicle.


At what mileage should I buy a used car?

Average Car Mileage per Year

Experts agree that the common rule of thumb on mileage for a used vehicle is roughly 12,000 miles added each year of ownership. That means if you are looking at a 5-year old vehicle, it should have about 60,000 miles on it.

What is the disadvantage of buying a car with high mileage?

Distance affects a car's value

Due to its high odometer reading, a certain measure of wear-and-tear is brought into the depreciation calculations, leading to a lower trade-in value than for the low-mileage car, which is seen as “closer to pristine”.

How do you fix high mileage?

Here's what you need to do.
  1. Oil Change. ...
  2. Check and Top Off or Replace Fluids. ...
  3. Check and Replace Filters and Belts. ...
  4. Tires. ...
  5. Wax and Wash. ...
  6. Battery Care. ...
  7. Engine Treatment. ...
  8. Clean Fuel System.


Can high mileage damage an engine?

Cars with a lot of mileage are at a higher risk of leaks. As the engine ages and becomes worn, seals can easily leak. This can quickly lead to engine failure or cause parts and components to break or require repair.

What is worse high mileage or age?

While it's a good idea to consider the age of a vehicle and the number on its odometer, it's more important to look at how well the owner maintained the car. A 10-year-old car with 100,000 miles may have received more TLC than a five-year-old model with 50,000 miles.

How long can a car last with high mileage?

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.


Can a car mileage be reset?

The Federal statute is quite clear. 49 USC 32703(2) says a person may not “disconnect, reset, alter, or have disconnected, reset, or altered, an odometer of a motor vehicle intending to change the mileage registered by the odometer.”

What to avoid when buying a used car?

If you don't like the deal, there is nothing wrong with walking away.
  1. Failing to Line up Financing Before Shopping.
  2. Shopping Based on Monthly Payments Alone.
  3. Foregoing the Test Drive.
  4. Not Having the Car Checked by a Mechanic.
  5. Making Initial Negotiations in Person.
  6. Buying Based on Looks.
  7. Not Running a Vehicle History Report.


Is buying a 10 year old car worth it?

When buying a used car that's 10-years-old or older, your primary concerns are purchase price and reliability. Don't pay more than that 10-year-old car is worth. And, pick a car with a solid reputation for dependability. No car is really too old if you follow those rules.


Is 170 thousand miles on a car a lot?

A vehicle should have 10,000 miles put on it per year on average so any vehicle with less than 10,000 x Years = X is considered low mileage. Another standard of mileage is a car with over 100,000 miles is considered high mileage.

What age is best to buy a car?

What's the “Sweet Spot” for Used Car Age? In retaining “like new” quality and inheriting a slower depreciation rate, the best used car age for buying is 2-3 years. In fact, Americans are saving up to $14,000 on a 3-year-old vehicle.

How many miles should a 20 year old car have?

How many miles should a 2020 car have in 2022? A used 2020 car should have around 24,000 miles.


Can a car last 500 000 miles?

Depending on how well you treat your car, you could potentially reach over 500,000 miles. In fact, there's a driver whose car reached even more than that.

How many miles can an engine last?

Average engine lifespan

For some time, the average lifespan of a car's engine was eight years, or 150,000 miles. New designs, better technology and improved service standards in recent years have increased this average life expectancy to about 200,000 miles, or about 10 years.

Should I buy a car with 500k miles?

The current quality of high-mileage used cars ultimately comes down to its maintenance. A 500,000-mile used car or truck has obviously seen its fair share of wear and tear but if the damages wear repaired immediately and the parts were changed when they were supposed to, the vehicle is bound to survive long.


What percentage of cars make it to 300 000 miles?

Believe it or not, a lot of vehicles don't last that long. Only 1% of vehicles make it past the 200,000 mile mark. Just . 03% of cars roll over the 300,000 mile mark, which is pretty incredible.

What percentage of cars hit 200k miles?

iSeeCars says while the average vehicle has 1.2% of its vehicles reach 200,000 miles, there are 15 vehicles that are more likely to reach this milestone. Truck-based SUVs make up most of the list and Toyota is very well represented accounting for 6 of the top ten vehicles.