What’s Good Mileage for a Used Car?

What’s Good Mileage for a Used Car?
Every used car is unique in terms of its history and condition, so you may be wondering how to tell when a vehicle has good mileage. As a general rule of thumb, around 12,000 miles a year are expected to be driven, so the mileage really depends on the model year of the ride.

At Grace Auto Group, we want to make sure our Morrisville, Bristol, and Levittown, PA, friends are choosing the best ride for their needs. Therefore, we put together this guide to mileage on pre-owned cars.

Learn more about how to choose good mileage on your next purchase and give us a call when you’re ready to start shopping. 

Mileage on a Pre-Owned Vehicle 

There are many factors to consider when purchasing a used car, and one that’s probably at the forefront of your mind is mileage. Some shoppers will discredit certain numbers right away as “bad mileage,” but the reality is there are other specs you need to look at first before determining if a car has good mileage.

For starters, mileage is largely dependent upon the model year, meaning you need to analyze both factors together. On average, cars are driven around 12,000 miles a year. So, if you’re looking to buy a 5-year-old ride, you’d want the odometer to read around 60,000 miles.
Pre-Owned Vehicle Holding Keys

How Important Is Mileage When Buying a Used Car?

Mileage is definitely an important factor to consider when choosing your next ride. Certain components in vehicles wear out, depending on your mileage, so a higher mileage car could need more auto services performed.

However, a higher mileage does not automatically discredit a vehicle. More and more we are seeing cars last well over 200,000 miles, thanks to innovations in automotive technologies in the last decade alone. Make sure to look at various specs on a vehicle before deciding if it’s the right ride for daily drives.

Vehicle Mileage vs Model Year

So, which factor is more important: mileage or model year? The answer is not quite so straightforward.

For example, a low mileage car with a newer model year may seem like a great deal, but it’s important to look into the history as well. If the car has been in an accident, then you may want to go with a similar ride with slightly higher mileage, or an older model year that has been incident-free.

A higher mileage car with a newer model year usually means the driver was a fan of road trips or had a long commute, but if you plan on driving sparsely because you work at home, this may be a great match for you. Additionally, an older model year with low miles can mean a car that sat idle for a while because the driver never took it out. This can lead to the degrading of certain components.

The reality is that there’s no single factor that determines if a used car is a “good buy.” In fact, you need to look at the complete picture before making a purchase.

Check Out Our Used Cars Today! 

If you want to get behind the wheel of a used car, then stop by Grace Auto Group today. We look forward to seeing our Morrisville, Bristol, and Levittown, Pennsylvania, neighbors soon!
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