What Is Good Mileage for a Used Car?
When you buy a used car, you need to balance many factors to find the best car for you. Those factors include price, year, make, model, features, vehicle history, and, of course, mileage. Depending on your individual lifestyle and needs, the exact amount of mileage you’re willing to accept may shift.
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 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. The average age of a car on the road today is about 12 years old, which speaks to the quality of vehicles produced in recent years.
Many used cars may have been rental or fleet vehicles, which can result in higher-than-average mileage when being sold on the used car market.
Learn more about rental or fleet vehicles and how it affects value.
How Many Miles Can a Car Last?
When considering the purchase of a used vehicle, even though mileage and age are the most obvious, many factors can affect the life of a car. Your due diligence on the vehicle should also include the following:
The automaker’s reputation as a reliable brand and a top performer over the long haul. Our Vehicle Research Pages include a Reliability & Repair tab showing the average cost of unexpected repairs for a specific year, make, and model.
How the vehicle was driven, either racking up its miles from city driving, highway driving, or a combination of both.
Whether the car has any accident or other damage reported (including whether its odometer has been rolled back or if it has been involved in a flood situation).
Whether there are adequate maintenance and service records.
Was the car a rental, subject to the carefree abuse of rental-car drivers? Or is that a misconception, leaving you the chance to get a used-car steal?
Many of these details can be found in a Carfax Vehicle History Report, which is a crucial tool when determining which used car to buy.
2014 Toyota Corolla / Photo Credit: Toyota
Are High-Mileage Cars a Good Investment?
High-mileage cars can be a great bargain, provided the car has a good reputation for reliability and has been well-maintained. Our Vehicle Research Pages can give you information about a model’s reliability, and a Carfax Vehicle History Report can tell you whether a particular car was properly maintained by prior owners.
All that being said, you need to decide what mileage range you’re willing to consider. If you’re looking for a longtime car that you’ll put a lot of miles on each year, your preference will be lower than someone looking for a very cheap car that won’t get driven many miles each year.
For example, if you’re looking for a longtime car, you might want one with fewer than 50,000 miles on it. If you’re looking for a cheap car for limited driving or short-term, 100,000 miles on the odometer might not scare you off.
Start by figuring out your needs, then do the math. Make sure the cars you’re considering can go the distance you’re planning for them, or you may be back on the search before you want to be.
Highway vs. City Driving
How and where a car was driven can make a difference when calculating a good mileage for it.
For example, if a vehicle is three years old with 40,000 miles and was used exclusively in stop-and-go city traffic, say, for deliveries, that can be a red flag to a potential buyer.
That particular vehicle could be in worse shape under the hood because of the wear-and-tear on the transmission and brakes, for example, than a similar make and model that’s three years old, has 60,000 miles, and was driven by a sales representative on interstate highways.
If the maintenance and service records check out, a vehicle used for highway driving with more miles that fits this description would be a better purchase because its engine and other parts will not have been worn out as much.
Other Factors That Affect a Car’s Value
A new vehicle loses roughly 20% of its value in the first year of ownership, but the depreciation levels out to about 60% after five years. However, the exact depreciation rate depends on a car’s age, mileage, and other factors.
The best way for a vehicle to maintain its value when it is ready to be traded in or sold is to keep the mileage low and be current with service and maintenance.
Other factors that could affect a vehicle’s depreciation rate are:
Supply of the particular model, especially if the demand outpaces the supply.
Current auto prices (they’ll help determine the trade-in value of a used car).
Incentives offered on newer models of the same vehicle.
Where it was used – was it in the snowy, salty North or the sunny, snow-free South?
Is it considered to be a reliable car?
Include these metrics in your used car search, and you will have a clearer picture of the availability and value of the inventory in this tight used car market. These tools will guide you in making the right decision about what a good used car mileage is for your budget and driving needs.
Our Used Car Listings include a chart showing the number of cars in each mileage range. As you can see, the average mileage for used SUVs for sale is low – around 50,000 miles.
Our Vehicle Research Pages include a Reliability & Repair tab that shows you the average cost of unexpected repairs for a specific year, make, and model.
Knowing a car’s mileage doesn’t tell you the whole story. A Carfax Vehicle History Report can tell you what happened during a car’s life, such as accidents, unexpected repairs, and use as a rental or fleet car.
If you have questions about this story, please contact us at Editors@carfax.com
What mileage is good for a used car?
The mileage of a used car is one of the easiest ways to assess how much it's been used and how much life is left in it. You can expect a one-year-old car with only 5,000 miles covered to look and feel practically new, while a car with 150,000 miles is likely to show lots of wear and tear both physically and mechanically - and potentially have some reliability issues if it hasn't been maintained well.
Modern cars often last well beyond 200,000 miles - with some relatively regularly being seen with more than 300,000 miles on the clock - provided they've been serviced regularly and looked after well. This means that what classes as a good mileage for a used car is very different to just 10 or 20 years ago, when fewer cars may have been able to rack up so many miles.
The mileage of a car can have a huge impact on its value. Lower mileage cars are often seen more positively by buyers, who are often happy to pay a premium for a car that is perceived as being fresher. On the flip side, some savvy drivers will hunt for well looked after higher mileage cars, as they can be much more affordable and just as reliable.
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Keep reading to find out what a typical UK average mileage is, so you can get a yardstick to judge second-hand cars from. You can expect some variations between petrol and diesel cars (with diesel cars often being more expensive new but costing less to fuel - making them a popular choice with higher-mileage drivers), along with the pros and cons of choosing a car with a higher mileage.
Overall, though, there is no set rule; a suitable mileage for a car can depend on everything from fuel type to which brand of car you are considering. If you want the newest, freshest car and are willing to pay for it, going for a low-mileage vehicle can be the right move. If, however, you want the best value car and are happy to pay a bit more in maintenance, going for a higher-mileage model at a lower price is likely to be the way to go.
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How many miles should a car have?
According to the Office for National Statistics, the average number of miles a car travelled in the UK during 2020 was 6,800 miles. We think this should be taken with a pinch of salt, though, as the coronavirus pandemic definitely cancelled the odd journey or two.
Figures for 2019 put the average annual figure at 7,400 miles and, although this number is a few years out of date, it is probably a more accurate representation of ‘normal’. With the 2019 figure in mind, we dusted off the BuyaCar abacus and calculated how many miles a typical car will have travelled per year of its life. The table below shows a breakdown.
Age of car in years Average mileage 1 7,400 2 14,800 3 22,200 4 29,600 5 37,000 6 44,400 7 51,800 8 59,200 9 66,600 10 74,000 15 111,000 20 148,000
The numbers above are best thought of as guidelines, as there are plenty of nuances between the different types of cars depending on their fuel type, size and also how they are used. A three-year-old diesel commuter car is likely to cover a reasonably high mileage, while a 20-year-old sports car will typically cover fewer miles.
What is high mileage for a petrol car?
Petrol cars are better suited to shorter trips than diesel cars (due to their lower purchase costs and reduced emissions of some pollutants, which can contribute to health issues for those in urban areas). As such, you can sometimes find petrol cars that are four, five, six or more years old that have travelled less distance than your average two-year-old car. A classic example of a low-mieage petrol car is one run by someone who rarely travels further than the shops and back.
As such, the average mileage of a petrol car is typically slightly less than the overall car average (as this includes diesel models, too) - 6,000 to 7,000 miles per year is a good benchmark. Therefore, a petrol car that has travelled an average of 9,000 miles per year could be considered relatively high mileage.
Although petrol cars are better suited to shorter journeys, they are by no means bad at long-distance driving - especially in the case of economical models. It is just that traditionally, the fact diesel cars are usually more economical than petrol equivalents on long motorway journeys means that drivers who do lots of miles per year tend to choose them over a petrol model.
For people expecting to use motorways only to see family from time to time or to go on the rare longer trip, a petrol car could well work out the better option, though, as this type of driver wouldn't benefit from diesel models' increased fuel economy. For help deciding on whether a diesel car is right for you, take a quick look at our ‘should I buy a diesel car’ guide.
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What is high mileage for a diesel car?
It is much more common for higher-mileage cars to be diesel-powered. This is because they tend to be more expensive to purchase, but also more economical than petrol models, especially at motorway speeds. This means that those who do the highest mileages have the most to save in fuel costs by choosing a diesel car over a petrol equivalent.
As such, the average annual mileage for a diesel car is normally around 9,000 to 10,000 miles. A higher mileage car might have travelled on average 15,000 miles per year, with many covering well 20,000 miles per year. It is not uncommon for taxis and company cars to exceed 25,000 miles per year, with a reasonable number racking up even 35,000 or 40,000 miles each year.
Many manufacturers specifically engineer diesel cars to be able to travel tens of thousands of miles each year without fuss and, as a result, diesel cars can often travel long distances between services. For example, Audi recommends that many of its models are serviced every 9,300 miles if driven frequently for short distances - the type of driving more suited to petrol models than diesel cars.
However, if the same cars are driven more regularly for long journeys - such as motorway journeys, the type of trip more suited to diesel than petrol cars - the mileage before a service is needed can increase all the way up to 18,600 miles. Handily, Audi and a number of other car makers include clever software in their cars which informs the driver when the car needs to be serviced.
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Risks of buying an older car with a low mileage
One of the more appealing combinations when shopping for a car is an older model with lower miles. This could potentially mean that you get the benefit of a reliable car, which hasn't been used too heavily, while saving thousands of pounds compared with getting a newer model with the same mileage. While this can be true, there are a couple of risks associated with getting an older car - even if it has a low mileage.
First, is the level of manufacturer warranty cover you get - if you get any. A three-year, 60,000-mile warranty is fairly standard on new cars sold in the UK (with a few brands offering five or even seven years' cover). Once either the time limit or mileage cap is reached, drivers lose the safety net of manufacturer cover, should certain parts of the car fail.
It is possible to buy used car warranties, though, which enables you to get a cheaper, older car and still benefit from additional peace of mind. With all warranties, it is important to check the small print to see which parts are covered and which exclusions and uses may void a warranty - such as using a car for motorsport or commercial purposes.
Another risk is the reduced use of a car translating into a lack of maintenance. Sometimes, drivers who do very few miles might miss a service here or a recommended inspection there, as they feel they haven't used the car much and so there's no need. This can be a false economy, as some car parts wear due to usage and others wear over time, with materials such as rubber degrading regardless of how much the car is used.
This is important as car manufacturers normally quote the lifespan of key components in mileage or time terms. Timing belts, which are common on a lot of cars, can need to be replaced to avoid them snapping and causing catastrophic damage to the engine. Shorter intervals for this might be every 72,000 miles or five years, so can impact drivers of older vehicles.
A 10-year-old, low-mileage car may not have covered 72,000 miles, but if the previous owners didn't bother to replace a belt over the car's first decade, for instance, it is possible it could get brittle and snap, causing significant damage that would have been prevented by servicing the specified part on time. As with all cars, making sure lower mileage cars have been maintained as per their manufacturer’s recommendations is a good way to mitigate the risk of unexpected repairs.
The last risk is specific to diesels. Modern diesel engines need to regularly get up to full temperature in order to stay healthy (hence why they aren’t as well suited to short trips as petrol engines, as they don't get hot enough). Lots of brief drives can cause unburnt fuel to build up and clog up the exhaust, ultimately leading to reliability problems. If you find the perfect diesel car but are worried about this, buying or financing through a retailer gives you more after-sales protection if there are issues soon after getting the keys.
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Risks of buying a newer car with a high mileage
The more you use something the more likely it is to go wrong, right? Not quite. While some badly looked after lower mileage cars can be unreliable, a well looked after high mileage car can prove to be incredibly reliable. That said, higher mileage cars do come with some additional risks.
Just like with lower mileage cars, it is important that the manufacturer's maintenance schedule has been adhered to. In this instance, though, it is likely that more maintenance will have been needed. Items such as water pumps (which circulate water to keep the engine cool) are often replaced around the 60,000-mile mark as a matter of caution. If works like this haven’t been carried out, there is more chance of a car unexpectedly going wrong.
In addition, higher mileage cars will have experienced greater wear and tear on components such as clutches and brake discs and pads. These are often referred to as ‘consumables’ and they will need replacing more frequently if a car is mostly driven in stop-start traffic. This is because when cruising along the motorway drivers can travel dozens of miles before needing to brake or change gears - meaning that each mile adds little wear to the car - whereas in a city or town they may need to brake and change gear every 20 metres.
How a car is driven can shorten the life expectancy of consumable parts, too. Performance cars are often driven hard - with more strain put on the engine, brakes and gearbox. As a result, drivers may find they need to change the clutch in as little as 15,000 miles. Meanwhile, the clutch in a relatively small car with a manual gearbox could last up to 100,000 miles without needing changing.
If you are looking for a high-performance car, therefore, keep this in mind when shopping around. It is a similar story with off-roaders - if a vehicle has been taken off-roading regularly, it will likely have been driven over rough terrain and potentially through deep mud and water, putting more strain on engine, transmission and suspension parts. This can accelerate the speed at which components need replacing so factor this in when hunting for your car.
Warranty is another cause for concern when buying a car with a higher mileage. If the mileage is above the manufacturer limit then the car will be out of warranty - even if it's still within the warranty time period. Happily, some car makers offer particularly long warranties - which last up to seven years or 150,000 miles in some cases. Below is a table of some of the longest standard warranties offered by manufacturers in the UK.
Car manufacturer Used car deals from Warranty period Warranty mileage limit Hyundai £5,495
or
£121.82 per month*
5 years Unlimited mileage Kia £5,500
or
£132.89 per month*
7 years 100,000 miles MG £5,600
or
£131.88 per month*
7 years 80,000 miles Toyota £5,531
or
£104.41 per month*
10 years* 100,000 miles* SsangYong £5,999
or
£221.33 per month*
7 years 150,000 miles Renault £5,599
or
£143.28 per month*
5 years 100,000 miles
*Toyota’s warranty requires that you service your car through an official Toyota garage to qualify - doing so automatically activates the warranty. The good news is that you can buy a second-hand car that has not been serviced by Toyota recently, take it to an approved garage and then qualify for 12 months of cover following the service.
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General mileage tips and advice
In summary:
The average annual mileage for a car in the UK is around 7,000 miles
Regardless of mileage, make sure a car has been maintained in line with the manufacturer’s recommendations
Higher mileage cars can be wise purchases - provided they have been well looked after
Lower mileage older cars can offer great savings, but need to be maintained properly to reduce the likelihood of any issues
High-performance and off-road cars may have low mileages, but wear and tear on components could be greater than with standard cars if they've been used to their full potential
*Representative PCP finance - Ford Fiesta:
48 monthly payments of £192
Deposit: £0
Mileage limit: 8,000 per year
Optional final payment to buy car: £2,923
Total amount payable to buy car: £11,926
Total cost of credit: £2,426
Amount borrowed: £9,500
APR: 9.9%
BuyaCar is a credit broker, not a lender. Our rates start from 6.9% APR. The rate you are offered will depend on your individual circumstances.
What mileage is good for a used car?
What Is Good Mileage for a Used Car?
Make sure you’re getting your money’s worth when buying a used car with our guide to mileage and other indicators of car condition.
So you’ve decided to buy a used car. One of the first questions you’ll likely be asking yourself is how many kilometers it has on its odometer. Why? Because the answer to this question will likely tell you if the car is in good condition and forecast how long you’ll be able to use it.
But are things really that simple? As you’ll be able to see in this article, “good mileage” can be a very abstract concept and there are a lot of other factors you need to consider to make it certain you’re making the right purchase.
Read on to find out how to treat used car mileage when making a purchasing decision and what other information you need to ensure you’re really getting your money’s worth.
Understanding mileage: what does it mean?
Car mileage is a relatively simple concept: it refers to the number of miles/kilometers a car has traveled since it was manufactured. However, this small piece of information is actually an indicator of the general condition of the vehicle you’re planning on buying.
Generally speaking, used cars with a higher mileage have a chance of showing signs of wear and tear, which can lead to higher maintenance costs. But, some car brands are incredibly resilient and remain loyal companions to their owners for a very long period of time.
Nevertheless, used cars with mileage on their odometers come at a lower price, an important consideration for buyers. In other words, a smart buyer can choose a used vehicle that’s going to serve them well for years to come at a really good price.
In fact, as a general rule, cars are said to lose a fifth of their value after every 32,000 km. Here’s an example calculation to illustrate this depreciation:
Illustration: eCarsTrade / Data: CarWow
All of this means that used car mileage is one of the first things you should be looking at when you’re making your purchasing decision.
But that’s not the whole story. There are actually mileage benchmarks you can rely on to tell you if a car’s mileage is in accordance with its age. In addition to that, considering some other factors can provide you with more valuable insights on the car's condition and tell you if you’re really getting your money’s worth.
More on that in the following sections, but for now let’s say that the question “what’s good mileage for a used car” is more tricky to answer than it might seem at first glance.
Average mileage for different types of used cars
If you’re in the market for a used vehicle and want to ensure you’re buying something with good mileage (and, therefore, less wear and tear as we mentioned in the previous section), you’re probably wondering if there are any benchmarks you could rely on to help you make the right purchase.
In other words, you’re asking the question, “what is a reasonable or average mileage for a car this age?”.
The good news is that there is an answer to this question. The bad news is that the figure isn’t very reliable. But let’s review it anyway.
Illustration: eCarsTrade / Data: Progressive
So, for example, if you’re looking at a five-year-old car, it’s reasonable to expect that this car will have somewhere between 80,000 and 100,000 km on its odometer. If that’s the case, that means the car probably wasn’t overused.
If it has traveled more than that, you might be looking at increased maintenance and a shorter lifespan as its new owner. If the odometer shows less than 80,000 km, then you might have stumbled upon a good find (mileage-wise, at least).
This seems straightforward, so why are we saying that this average figure isn’t a reliable benchmark? Well, because different types of cars are used in different ways.
For example, commuter and family vehicles often have a much higher mileage than this benchmark. Traveling to and from work every day, driving the kids to school, going on family vacations - all of this puts kilometers on the odometer, which makes looking for this type of car with below average mileage an almost unattainable goal.
On the other hand, a luxury car is used more for leisure and less for everyday purposes. Therefore, it’s reasonable to expect it’s going to have less mileage.
All in all, while there is a mileage benchmark to help you in your decision-making process, it’s an ideal number. Realistically, your future car will have a mileage somewhere above or below this figure.
Other factors indicative of car condition
As we said before, a used car’s mileage isn’t the only indicator of its condition. Other factors come into play here and in certain circumstances, they can even take precedence over mileage. You can find a few examples below.
Driving conditions and patterns
Certain driving conditions can make a car age faster. By age, we mean that the car’s parts wear down more rapidly and become more susceptible to break downs.
One of the best examples of this is whether the car has been driven primarily on city roads or used more on highways. In the former case, the more frequent braking, gear-shifting, and driving in lower gears cause more damage to the car and make it appear older, even if its mileage isn’t that high.
On the other hand, highway driving is much smoother and less harsh on the car’s components. In fact, it can sometimes make more sense to buy a used car with a higher mileage that was driven primarily on highways than a commuter car with lower mileage that spent too much time in city traffic.
Service history
Small problems can become giant (read: expensive) issues when car owners don’t follow the rules of good maintenance. And if you’re the next owner of a used car, the repairs for those minor issues might have to be paid for out of your pocket.
At the very least, your chosen used car should have a clean service history. Fortunately, regular (obligatory) maintenance is always recorded and can easily be verified.
So, if you’re a private buyer, make sure you always ask to see the service log for the vehicle to make certain the car has been appropriately maintained.
If you’re a car trader, you can take extra precautions by working with car sourcing companies who keep immaculate service records and can guarantee a car’s condition at the moment of purchase.
For example, if you’re working with eCarsTrade, the complete service history (as well as guaranteed mileage) will be available online for the vast majority of our cars.
eCarsTrade takes quality compliance very seriously
In fewer words, don’t take any chances. Verify the car’s service history before you commit to buying.
Car brand and reputation
Automotive enthusiasts like to joke that some car brands (actually, all of them) are less dependable than the brand they drive. But all jokes aside, there is real evidence that some car makes are more dependable than others.
In that case, it also could make sense to choose a quality brand car with more miles under its belt then a less reputable one with a smaller count on the odometer.
So, as you’re researching your used car, make sure you devote some time to researching its brand and how reputable it is. If you’re buying a quality brand, you can definitely let a few extra miles on the odometer slide.
Evaluating a used car mileage in the context of other factors
As you were able to see during the course of this article, mileage is a vital indicator of a used car’s condition lifespan, but it’s by no means the only one. Therefore, making the best purchasing decision comes down to a good balance between mileage and other factors we discussed here.
Does the car you’re considering have more kilometers than you expected, but the owner used it mainly for long-distance drives on highways and relied on public transportation for their work commute? Then don’t write it off so easily because there’s a high chance the car is in great condition.
Are you trying to decide between a sturdy, well-traveled Toyota and a less reputable brand car with lower mileage? Toyota’s reputation could prove to be the deciding factor here.
Also, keep in mind that not all factors here are tied to the car itself. What about your needs? Can you afford to buy a newer used car on your current budget? Are you planning on buying a new car in a couple of years and just need an “in-between” car until then? Ultimately, a “good car mileage”, among other things, depends on what you can afford and how you’re going to use it.
Finally, it’s always a good idea to get a second opinion, so if you have a knowledgeable mechanic friend or cousin, show them a video of the car and ask them to evaluate the car with you.
Remember, your goal isn’t to buy a car with the smallest mileage possible. Your goal is to find a vehicle you’ll be able to depend on for years to come. Or a vehicle that you will be able to resell to someone else who can depend on it for years to come.
Good used car mileage is what you make of it
We hope this article was able to provide you with enough information to help you make the best used car purchasing decision for your needs. Remember, car mileage can tell you a lot about your intended car, but so can things like driving conditions, service history, brand, and a host of other factors.
One place where you can find every bit of information you need to make an informed decision about your next vehicle is eCarsTrade, so check out our rich offer of used cars today.
