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.

View Low Mileage Used Car Inventory

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.

How many miles is too high for 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.

Does mileage really matter when buying a used car? ›

When purchasing a pre-owned vehicle, the miles it has traveled are important. However, it's not the only factor to consider. The condition of the car is the most important factor. A vehicle with less than 100,000 miles and a service record with regular maintenance are ideal.

What is the best age and mileage for a used car? ›

So, for a four-year-old car, you might reasonably expect it to have around 58,000 miles. We suggest you consider a 4- to 6-year-old vehicle with less than 50,000 miles.

What is the most reliable and economical used car? ›

The top 10 cheap fuel-efficient used cars to buy
  • Fiat 500 (2008-present) – 67.3mpg.
  • BMW 2 Series Active Tourer (2014-2022) – 74.3mpg.
  • Mercedes C-Class (2014-2021) – 70.6mpg.
  • Audi TT (2006-2015) – 53mpg.
  • Mini Hatch (2006-2013) – 72mpg.
  • Suzuki Swift (2010-2017) – 72mpg.
  • Ford Fiesta (2008-2017) – 76.3mpg.
Dec 18, 2023

What are the best months to buy a used car? ›

The Best Months and Holidays to Buy Used Cars

You'll want to sign the paperwork on a used car in January or February, if possible. For the best deal, aim for Martin Luther King Day or Presidents' Day, which respectively offer 39.2% and 32.5% more deals than the average day, per iSeeCars.

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.

What mileage is not worth buying? ›

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.

At what mileage should you sell a used 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. While your car may need a couple of expensive repairs to run properly, it shouldn't entirely give up on you if it has been well-maintained.

How many miles should I accept on 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.

What's the sweet spot for buying a used car? ›

If you decide to keep it at that point, understand that there's a good chance it's going to be less reliable in the future. When you're buying a used car, I'd say the sweet spot is two-three years and 24,000 to 36,000 miles. At that point, lots of cars will have depreciated by about a third. Some more, some less.

Which year used car is best to buy? ›

The optimal time to purchase a used car is typically between 2 to 5 years old. Within this age range, the vehicle has already experienced the most significant depreciation, yet remains relatively new and in good condition.

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

A car with 50,000 miles in good condition will provide years of adventures if taken in for regular maintenance visits. But if you find a well-maintained car with 100,000 miles, it may last another four or five years with proper care – and you'll probably get a great deal on the price.

What used car has least problems? ›

Here are some of the most dependable used vehicle brands you can start with:
  • Toyota.
  • Honda.
  • Mazda.
  • Subaru.
  • Hyundai.
  • Lexus.
Mar 7, 2024

What are the best car brands to buy used? ›

Top Picks for Quality Pre-Owned Vehicles
  • Most Reliable Brand Overall: Lexus.
  • Best Compact SUV for Families: Honda CR-V.
  • Most Reliable SUV: Toyota RAV4.
  • Best Off-Road Choice: Toyota 4Runner.
  • Best Economical Sedan: Chevrolet Cruze.
  • Most Eco-Friendly Choice: Toyota Prius.
  • Best Compact Car for Urban Driving: Honda Civic.
Feb 21, 2024

Which used cars last the longest? ›

Here's a curated list of 25 used car makes and models that have earned a reputation for their longevity:
  • Honda Element.
  • Honda CR-V.
  • Toyota Sienna.
  • Subaru Outback.
  • Toyota RAV4.
  • Lexus RX.
  • Chevrolet Silverado.
  • Ford F-150.
Nov 3, 2023

Is it safe to buy a car with 200000 miles on it? ›

In general, most modern cars can cross 200,000 miles without any major issues, provided the vehicle is being well-maintained. Considering that an average person drives 10,000-20,000 miles per year, this will account for roughly 15 years of service. Here are some factors to consider when assessing used car mileage.

Is it worth fixing a car with 200k miles? ›

Depending on the car's value, repairing it might be worth the money to keep it going for a few more years. However, most modern gasoline-powered vehicles will start to struggle after the 200,000-mile mark. Electric cars can usually make it up to 300,000 miles before they're considered well used.

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 is considered excessive mileage on a car? ›

Traditional wisdom used to warn car buyers to keep away from vehicles with over 100,000 miles. Put simply, though, the 100,000 mile-marker is no longer a good indicator for buying used. If a vehicle has been properly maintained, it can last several hundred thousand miles.

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