What Is Good Mileage for a Used Car?

Olathe Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram helps customers from Overland Park to Springhill find affordable pre-owned vehicles that suit their needs every day. Among the many questions we receive from shoppers, the most common is “What is good mileage for a used car?” There’s no magic number or one-size-fits-all answer when determining what is considered high mileage for a used car; however, there are several factors to take into account aside from the actual mileage. With that said, you can learn more about how to navigate used cars and used car mileage in the guide below!

What Is Considered High Mileage for a Used Car?

Many shoppers believe that if a car has reached 100,000 miles, it’s no longer a good purchase. However, modern vehicles are built to last a lot longer than cars in years past. If you are mainly focused on affordability, you can often find late-model used cars for under $15k that have higher mileage but are well maintained, meaning they could definitely last at least another 50,000 miles, often more. The average Gardner driver clocks about 10,000–12,000 miles per year, which is something to consider when looking at high-mileage cars.

When you’re determining what is good mileage for a used car, you really need to look at the big picture and not focus strictly on the number of miles. Here are some factors to consider:

• Mileage vs. age: If a vehicle is only one year old but has 40,000 miles on it, it might have more wear and tear than a five-year-old vehicle with 60,000 miles because it was put through a lot of miles in a short period of time, whereas the older vehicle put on miles steadily over a longer period.
• Model year: Auto manufacturing has seen major improvements over the last decade, and just about every manufacturer is now able to produce reliable vehicles that can easily make it to 100,000 miles, and often past 200,000 miles with diligent maintenance.
• Routine maintenance: The service record of a car is one of the most important things to consider. A vehicle could have only 15,000 miles, but if it didn’t receive regular maintenance, it may well have more repair costs than a car with 30,000 miles that has a spotless record.

What Else Should You Consider with Used Cars?

• Model generation: When a specific model enters a new generation with major redesigns, the first model year of the new generation is often the one that sees the most unexpected issues. When shopping for a used car, it’s smart to look for a model year that is two or three years into the generation it’s from.
• Vehicle History Report: A reputable seller will have no problem providing a Vehicle History Report. This will help you glean important information like repair reports, collisions, police records, and DMV records for the vehicle.
• Location: Through the Vehicle History Report, you can also see where the previous owner was driving the vehicle. If it comes from a dry, warm desert climate, it may be in better shape than a used car that comes from a cold, wet climate.

Find Low Mileage Used Cars for Sale in Olathe

If you have your heart set on low mileage used cars for sale, we recommend checking out our certified pre-owned DCJR inventory! These vehicles are OEM-certified to be a recent model year with low mileage and a great service record. Check out our used vehicle specials for further savings, and contact us if you have any additional questions.