Age Of A Car: What You Need To Know
When buying a used car, the age of the vehicle under consideration merits serious consideration, too. Used cars that are newer with low mileage might be well-positioned to provide long-lasting, reliable service.
Its also interesting to note that according to IHS Markit, the average age of a car on U.S. roads hit 12.1 years old in 2020. Thats a new high as people hold on to their cars during the pandemic.
When you review a vehicles service history and get a clear picture of how the car got used in its past, it will help you understand how well it will perform as it ages.
A vehicle used for short- to medium-length commutes in stop-and-go traffic is bound to have taken on more wear than one that accumulated most of its miles on long highway trips. A vehicle with detailed service records showing that the used car seller routinely maintained it offers an advantage over those that dont deliver such care.
How Many Miles Is Too Many On A Used Car Brand Matters
There are a few automotive brands that offer consistent reliability. Therefore, depending on the brands some cars with higher mileage are worth the investment. Honda, Toyota, and Lexus are brands that are known for manufacturing car engines with a long-lasting life. Purchasing a Honda or Toyota that has 100,000 miles is a great investment because there is still much life left in these vehicles.
Some of the most popular vehicles that are equipped with powerful engines that can last for 200,000 miles and beyond include:
- Toyota Land Cruiser
- Toyota Camry
Vehicles manufactured by these brands are designed with high-quality components that can withstand years of wear and last much longer than any other brand. When these vehicles have been thoroughly maintained they can be a great buy.
Several auto manufacturers use a 30-60-90,000 mile maintenance schedule for their vehicles so if youre considering buying a vehicle from a reputable brand thats known for producing highly reliable vehicles then youll want to make sure the maintenance schedule has been upheld. If its about time to have the vehicle serviced for routine maintenance procedures you should factor this into your final offer.
Buying A High Mileage Car: How High Is Too High
Used Cars: How Many Miles is Too Much?
A question that is asked often is how many miles is too much on a used car? It is true that the age of the engine can be measured by how many miles are on the car but it is also true that if a car is taken care of the engine can last well into the 200,000-mile range. To decide whether or not a used car has too many miles you will need to also assess the age of the car. For example, if you want to buy a 2019 car but it already has 100,000 miles on it then most likely it has been driven hard to accumulate that many miles in a short amount of time. Even though it is a relatively new car, the engine has a lot of use on it already and the average miles per year is high.
On the other hand, a 2014 vehicle that has 100,000 miles shows that the vehicle hasnt been driven as much and therefore is more likely to be in better shape and have a more affordable price tag. When it comes to how many miles is too many miles there isnt a hard and fast rule. To get a better idea of what a good mileage is for a particular vehicle, we are going to look at the question year by year. The used mileage chart below shows the average mileage you should expect on a used car depending on the year of the vehicle. On average, a good used vehicle only has about 15,000 miles put on it each year.
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Are Some Cars Better Than Others With A Lot Of Miles
Some auto brands earned a reputation for being more reliable over the long haul than others. While not always scoring near the top of reliability ratings, Jeeps garnered a loyal following among motorists who keep them for extended periods. Pickup trucks, too, hold value in part because of their workhorse durability and construction.
But that doesnt mean every model from the higher-rated brands will always outperform those from competitors.
Again, a vehicle with a lot of less-taxing highway mileage will likely have more life left in it than one with heavy city miles that age a car more quickly.
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Finding A Quality Used Car For Sale In The Research Triangle
All in all, an inspection by an independent mechanic before purchasing the vehicle is always a good idea, or purchasing a used car with a warranty from the lot. Requesting a vehicle history report from a reputable source such as Carfax will show you how many owners a vehicle has had, help to verify service, maintenance, and repair records, and will show any history of accidents in which the vehicle may have been involved. These reports can be an invaluable aid when seriously considering the purchase of a vehicle.
Vehicles that have been used as rental cars are certainly worth considering. These vehicles are generally newer, but have higher mileage than the 15,000 miles per year rule of thumb. However, these vehicles, by virtue of their usage, are usually well maintained and have likely been reconditioned before being offered for sale.
When you consider that the average vehicle on the road these days is 11 years old, if you find a vehicle that is seven years old with around 100,000 miles on it, you can reasonably expect to get several more years on the vehicle if it has been properly maintained.
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Car Miles: What You Need To Know
In some cases, a newer car can have more miles than a comparable vehicle that is significantly older. Additionally, some miles weigh harder on an automobile than others.
For example, if a vehicle drove a lot of city driving , its likely that the car experienced more wear and tear on components such as brakes and transmission than vehicles mostly driven on the highway.
Read on to find out what else is essential to consider.
How Many Miles On A Used Car Are Too Much
As we have already mentioned, mileage is not the only factor that comes into play when judging a used cars tax value. This is why it becomes challenging to get an exact figure of what would be too many miles on a used car.
For example, think about a 10-year-old sedan that has 90,000 miles under its belt. Going by the mileage, it seems like a pretty good deal, doesnt it? However, if this sedan has been driven by four or five owners previously, its advisable to stay away from it. This is because it is implausible that all previous owners would have maintained the car with the same rigor and diligence that a single owner might have put in. This means that even if it has a lesser mileage under its belt, this sedan is likely ready for scrap.
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How Many Miles Are Too Many When Shopping For Used Cars
Whether youre in the market for your first car or youve owned many cars, chances are good youve considered the merits of buying a used car, second-hand car, or pre-loved car. After all, used cars are less expensive, depreciate less, and are usually cheaper to maintain and repair.
On the other hand, used cars are, well, used, which means some of their life has been used before youve ever gotten a chance to test drive it. Since you havent owned it from day one, it can be difficult to judge what its been through, whether its been maintained regularly, or what kind of parts and supplies have gone into any maintenance and repairs. Often, the only real clues we can get regarding the condition of a second-hand car are based on mileage, appearance, and drivability.
How Miles And Age Impact A Used Cars Value
Mileage should be considered in combination with age. If you have a three-year-old car with 70,000 miles on it, this will likely be considered high mileage because the car has significantly higher mileage than most cars its age. On the other hand, a 10-year-old car with 70,000 miles on it may be considered low mileage for its age.
In general, though, cars with more than 100,000 miles on them are typically considered high mileage.
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Is Mileage Truly Important
Even though the mileage is an important indicator of the condition of the vehicle, it certainly isnt the only thing you should pay attention to. People can sometimes overrate its significance and immediately neglect cars that have higher mileage. But its not as simple as that.
Its quite difficult to speak generally here because the importance of mileage should be considered on an individual basis. I can tell you the approximate numbers so that you can understand how many miles is too many miles on a used car. But you shouldnt apply that knowledge to every single scenario.
Below youll see that you should take high/low mileage with a grain of salt. High mileage wont always mean that a car is worthless. Similarly, low mileage doesnt mean that youve got yourself the best deal.
You can be cautious if you want to buy a used car, take a look at various options and decide accordingly, whether the mileage is a determining factor or not.
For now, lets figure out how many miles is too much on a used car.
Automax Is Closer To Raleigh Nc Than You Think
When buying a used vehicle, consider AutoMax, where you can find a great buy here pay here car. Our mission is to make it easy for Raleigh, North Carolina residents to buy reliable vehicles. We do this with in-house financing. For people with past credit challenges or no credit at all, buying a car through a traditional dealership can be a struggle if they cant qualify for a bank loan. At AutoMax, we have the solution, and can get you into a new-to-you car with financing options that are right for you.
You can get started on the search for your next car by getting approved for our buy here pay here financing before you visit our lot. Well use the information you provide to show you cars that fit your budget and lifestyle. Well even let you trade in your old vehicle as a downpayment!Visit our car lots in Henderson and Youngsville to browse our selection of vehicles, or check out our inventory online.
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How Many Miles Is Too Many For A Used Car
While mileage is an important factor to consider, the number of miles recorded is never an accurate impression of the vehicle you’re looking at.
For example, if the car you’re looking at was manufactured in 2010 with only 60,000 miles on it, but was never regularly maintained with minimal service history, then it may not be a good deal.
Compare that to a vehicle that has 100,000 miles on the clock but is in great condition and has a full-service history with no real list of problems. Thats the better deal.
As you can see, it’s not all about miles on the clock.
Like we touched on before, remember to ask the owner or dealer of the vehicle about its mileage, highlighting whether they have primarily come from city or motorway driving based on any previous owner knowledge.
What Is Considered High Mileage For A Used Car And Is It Safe To Buy One
If you’re in the you’ll hear a lot of people talk about mileage meaning the distance a car has driven over its lifetime. In particular, you’ll hear over and over that you should avoid buying a high mileage car.
But what is considered high mileage for a used car in the first place? And is it really that important?
In this article, were going to take a look at everything you need to know about mileage, from the per-year-average to the problems that begin to arise with a higher-mileage vehicle. Well also take a look at some other important factors to consider when buying a used car.
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Arthur Driessen Tesla Model 3
In October 2019, Electrek reported the story of Arthur Driessen as probably the first person in the world to push the Tesla Model 3 over the 100,000-mile mark. He reserved his Model 3 in 2016, and received it in March 2018, exactly two years later. He covered 20,000 miles in the first six months of ownership, which is obviously a lot more than the average driver would do, but it does offer some insight into the durability of Teslas batteries.
He kept the battery level, on average, between 10 and 60 percent, using superchargers to charge it quickly. In Driessens words, the Model 3 has been holding up amazingly. By the time he reached 100,000 miles, he apparently had only lost 2.5 percent of battery capacity, dropping the total range from 310 miles to 302-308 miles.
Why The Focus On Car Mileage
Youre probably wondering why most used car buyers give particular attention to car mileage.
After all, a car with a lower mileage doesnt necessarily mean its the best buy. If the said car was involved in a major collision but was beat back to life by mechanics, anyone will advise you to stay away from it.
On the other hand, its possible to find an accident-free car that has seen plenty of tarmac but still got thousands of miles to go.
Well, car mileage is the go-to way to determine how used a car is. Considering that a regular car engine is expected to last about 200,000 miles with proper maintenance, its easy to see why you wouldnt want to buy a used car thats closer to this mark.
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Choose The Right Dealer And Lender When Buying A Used Car
Where you buy a used car from and your choice of lender matters. At Birchwood Credit Solutions, youll find an extensive inventory of new and used vehicles, including trucks, vans and SUVs.
Additionally, Birchwood Credit Solutions also provides vehicle financing for new and used car buyers. Reach out today to learn what financing options are available and get your next used car purchase underway.
It takes just two minutes to complete our online application and find out if you qualify for vehicle financing through Birchwood Credit Solutions. We help buyers with a variety of credit backgrounds, including those who are newcomers to Canada or have negative credit history.
Do Some Models Last Longer
Brands like Toyota, Honda and Hyundai are known for having reliable cars. A long warranty is a good sign that a manufacturer believes in the build quality of its vehicles too. If you like two models from different brands, its worth looking into the reliability of both to see which is more likely to be hit with mileage-related issues in the future.
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Buying A Used Tesla How Many Miles Is Too Many
The above examples show us that Tesla may not be exactly at the point that Musk wants with its million-mile battery, but they are clearly doing well. Sasmans example shows that the estimate of 300,000 miles at the low end is likely very fair indeed. Furthermore, Driessens example shows the true resilience of the Tesla battery, with his 100,000-mile Model S losing less than 3 percent of its capacity over its long journeys.
Sasmans example also proves that assuming the battery is healthy, other maintenance costs are minimal. You should likely therefore feel pretty confident buying a pre-owned Tesla at just about any mileage under 100,000 miles, right?
Well, if only it were that simple. Knowing that Teslas in 2020 and 2021 are living up the promise of 300,000-500,000 miles made by Musk back in 2019 is good news, but there are other factors to consider when looking at pre-owned Teslas.
- The original owners driving style and behavior the less they drive and the more carefully, the more likely everything will be in good condition.
- The original owners charging habits sticking to home charging gives the best possible chance that battery degradation is minimized.
- The cars service and accident history if it has been crashed and repaired before, that will likely affect its long-term performance.
In the end, try to look a bit beyond the mileage and get as much information on the car as you can before you decide to buy it.
Whats An Acceptable Mileage On A Used Car
So, then, whats the magic mileage number when youre out to buy used cars?
If you do a simple online search, youll find that auto experts recommend a well-used car shouldnt register more than 12,000 miles a year. So, if the car youre looking to buy is 5 years old, it should have no more than 70,000 miles on it.
To be practical, a car with 70K miles can be a good buy, considering that all other factors hold up.
Unfortunately, theres no magic number. Theres no guarantee that a car with lower mileage will end up being your best buy.
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