When buying a car, whether it is your first car or you’ve owned cars in the past. The chances are high that you have considered buying a used or second hand or pre-loved car. It is true that used cars aren’t as expensive as buying new cars.
Used cars are also normally cheaper to maintain and repair, if anything does happen to them. However a used car has had another owner, it can be difficult to judge what the car has been through. The only way to tell is by the mileage it has done. This article will explain how many miles a used car should have.
What’s Good Mileage On A Used Car?
Mileage can be misleading. However, it is a general rule of thumb to assume the typical driver puts on about 12,000 miles every year. This is a good guideline for determining the value of prospective used cars.
As a result, the average 10 year old car should have around 120,000 miles on it. Anything more or less and that could be a hint that there is a problem with the car.
Good mileage doesn’t really exist but the mileage can tell you something about the car. You need to also look at not just the mileage but look at the condition of the car also, its servicing history and if any important components like the brakes have been replaced.
The mileage helps you get a better understanding of what the car has been through already.
Why Is Mileage Important?
There is a close relationship between the mileage of a car and the lifespan of the parts of the car. Through regular use, parts of your vehicle will naturally wear out and need to be replaced over time.
Sometimes it doesn’t matter about the car’s mileage as long as the components around it have been carefully looked after. Certain parts of a car need to be replaced after so many miles.
For example the timing belt needs to be replaced every 60,000 to 100,000 miles. The timing belt is a crucial part of your car’s engine. If this wears out and snaps, it could cause serious problems and damage to your car’s engine that could ruin the entire engine and cost you a lot of money to fix.
Brake pads need to be changed every 30,000 to 70,000 miles, while the brake discs need to be changed every 120,000. The brake discs might last longer than the brake pads but the pads aren’t that expensive to replace.
If you don’t keep the pads in good condition this could affect your braking system, which you need to be safe on the roads.
Transmission has an average lifespan of 150,000 to 200,000 miles. Transmission is one of the most crucial and expensive things to replace and repair. This is something that you need a professional for and don’t want to neglect on your car.
Hence mileage is quite important, as it basically tells you the state of the used car you are considering buying. It also tells you what state certain components are at and how much work you may have to do on the car if you consider buying it.
High Mileage Can Be A Good Thing
Some used cars will naturally have a high mileage due to the owners but some can still be a good second hand buy. Rental cars or ex-company from real estate agents or travelling sales representative cars will have high mileage. Most of this mileage will come from driving on the motorways.
However it can mean that the car has a relatively healthy engine as it has been used with relaxed cruising speeds. It will have a much healthier engine with less wear and tear than a car that has been driven by a slow drive in stop-start traffic.
Low Mileage
Sometimes the mileage on a second hand car depends on the driver. This normally explains a lot about the mileage that the car has or hasn’t done.
It is known that older drivers have more respect for their vehicle and will drive less, than younger drivers. Older drivers take a lot more care of their cars and maintain them to the best of their abilities, which includes regular servicing.
If you do find a car with a low mileage, you should get it professionally checked. Even with careful owners, if a car hasn’t done enough miles this can affect the car’s performance.
If a car has just been sitting around for a long time and not being driven, certain parts of the car may have dried out and require attention. This could mean repairs or replacement. A car mechanic or technician should look over the car and evaluate the condition of the engine, brakes and tires.
A car with low mileage can be a good thing if the care has been properly taken care of and maintenance has been kept up on it. If the car has just been left then you should be wary because it could end up costing you even more money if parts need to be replaced.
Final Thoughts
Mileage is a tricky thing when it comes to used cars. It can tell you the state of a car but it also depends on the circumstances. 12,000 mile a year is a great starting point when looking for a new used car.
As mentioned above, high or low mileage can be a good thing too, but it depends on the circumstances and how the car has been left. While it can also be a bad thing, because it means that soon that car may need repairs or you may need to replace parts if they are reaching the end of their expected service life.
Used cars are a cheaper alternative than buying brand new. If in doubt stick to the rule of 12,000, but you can still consider cars above and below the mileage rule.