The mileage of your car is a huge indicator of your cars history, and too little and too much can both be a bad thing, but for totally different reasons. When you’re buying a car, there are a lot of different things that you have to consider. You need to decide what to buy, where to buy it from, what it\u2019s worth, if it\u2019s safe… the list is pretty endless. Aside from getting a third party to examine your car, there\u2019s not too much that the average joe can do. One of the biggest helpers, though, is mileage. To use it though, you first need to understand it and what is considered good and bad mileages for used cars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For those who are buying their first car, mileage is a gauge of how many miles your vehicle has done, in case the name wasn\u2019t indication enough. It can be all the difference between a hidden gem and a catastrophic purchase. To realise which of those it is, we need to look at what it really means.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First of all, let\u2019s take a look at why it can matter. Mileage, as we\u2019ve just said, is an indicator of what your car has been through and a part of its history<\/a>. The general idea is, or was at least, more miles mean more stress on the car. It’s had more wear and tear<\/a>. It makes sense; it’s driven further. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Chances are that along with all those miles are a load more bumps in the road, potential accidents and even just weathering. You might have engine faults, suspension issues, faulty windows\u2026 anything can happen. A car with fewer miles is a car with an easier life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sadly, that\u2019s not always the case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the other side of the coin, we need to look at why mileage isn’t everything. This is becoming more and more apparent as time goes on, but we need to talk about it if we’re going to build up a better understanding. A low mileage, although says less use, may not mean better<\/em> use<\/strong>. That’s the real key here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the car is 5 years old but has barely seen the light of day, and has a really low mileage, that isn’t always a good thing. Things seize and rust, or even perish and crumble. Anything can happen. If the car isn\u2019t being used, chances are that it\u2019s not being particularly well maintained either. Why would you spend money on a car you don\u2019t use, after all?<\/p>\n\n\n\n One last thing you need to look at before you make a\nconclusion for yourself on how much mileage matters is what it does to the\nprice of your new used car. You want to get yourself the best deal after all,\nand that’s what we’re here to help with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the most common determinants of what a car costs<\/a> is how many miles it has done, despite what we\u2019re saying. Again, it makes sense. Somethings that wear down on a car aren\u2019t supposed to be fixed or changed, like the main structure or the engine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The result is that your lower mileage car, no matter what the history, is going to be more expensive. That\u2019s almost always a safe bet. What that does mean though is that you can get yourself a steal if you have the right tools at your disposal. You can find yourself a cheaper vehicle that\u2019s been better looked after and reduce the risk from doing it. You need to put in the work, granted but even with 3rd<\/sup> party services you can save a killing, and in the long run, that can be a huge saving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So if both hight mileages and low mileages can be good, what kind of ballpark should you be in when it actually comes to buying? Well, it’s not an easy question to answer, and it really does depend on the age of the car and the purpose it’s used for too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a general rule of thumb, a good way to look at things is that the average person drives just over 7,000 miles per year<\/a><\/strong>. To put that into practice, for a completely average car, you’re looking at roughly:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remember though, this is average. As long as you’re looking at around a minimum of 3,000 miles per year and a maximum of around 15,000 miles per year, your car should be perfectly healthy, albeit worth less than a lower mileage would be. Prices soon drop as mileage increases, but it does align with the age of the car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Well, the combination of these is what makes things so confusing. It’s a real issue. Do you go for a low mileage car or a high mileage car? It depends entirely on its history. The best thing to do is to find a good balance of age and use but be aware of clocked car mileage<\/a>. You want as close to the middle of the road as you can get, with as clean a record as possible. There’s never one easy solution, so just do your homework and make sure you’re as safe as you can be. You may also like common mistakes when buying a used car.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n You need to know what you want to get out of your car, and in turn, how your miles are going to be used. If you\u2019re going to be using it as a cheap run around to get around town, you\u2019ll be fine no matter what you buy. If you\u2019re doing some serious miles, that\u2019s where things are a lot more important. If you\u2019re really struggling to decide, obtain a car history check!<\/a> When buying a used car it is always recommended to carry out vehicle inspection<\/a> to understand overall vehicles condition if it’s free from faults prior purchase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A commonly accepted average is around 7,000 to 10,000 miles per year. A five-year-old car with 35,000 to 50,000 miles would generally fall within a normal usage range. However, service history and maintenance quality are often more important than mileage alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not necessarily. While lower mileage can indicate less use, cars that sit unused for long periods may develop issues such as seized components, battery problems, or perished rubber parts. A well-maintained car with moderate mileage can sometimes be a safer choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n High mileage does not automatically mean poor reliability. A vehicle with higher mileage but full service history and consistent maintenance may be more dependable than a low-mileage car that has been neglected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the UK, average annual mileage is typically between 7,000 and 10,000 miles. Vehicles consistently doing under 3,000 miles or over 15,000 miles per year should be assessed carefully in context of their use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You should review service records, MOT history, and carry out a vehicle history check. Inconsistent mileage records or gaps in documentation may indicate mileage discrepancies or clocking.<\/p>\n\n\n\nConsiderations with Mileage<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Price Impacts of Mileage on Used Cars<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What is a Good Mileage for a Used car?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
So, how much does Mileage Matter?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Frequently Asked Questions About Mileage on Used Cars<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What is considered good mileage for a used car in the UK?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Is low mileage always better when buying a used car?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Does high mileage mean a car is unreliable?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How many miles per year is normal for a car?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How can I check if a car\u2019s mileage is genuine?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n