What Mileage is Good for a Used Car? | High, Low and Average

Buying a car is an exciting time, whether you're buying new or used; each has its advantages and disadvantages.

When buying used, mileage plays a key part. Low mileage is always more sought-after than high mileage, for obvious reasons, but is there more to it, and does it all depend on the type of car?

This article will explain the basics of what mileage is good for a used car and point out other factors to consider when buying a used car, relating to mileage.

• What is the average mileage of a used car?
• High and low mileage cars
• Factors to consider with mileage
• Is low mileage always best?
• Condition over mileage?

What is the average mileage of a used car?

To understand what is classed as high and low, we must first confirm the average mileage. It was once a good estimate that the UK average mileage was 12,000 miles a year; however, with driving habits changing, this has reduced to between 5,000 and 8,000 miles a year, in more recent times.

From this number, you can therefore determine if the used car you have your eye on has low, average, or high mileage. It's worth noting that this is, in simple terms, and there are other factors, which, along with mileage, should be taken into consideration, more of which are explained below.

High and low mileage cars

Using an example, and in the simplest of terms, if you found yourself looking at a three-year-old car that has done 25,000 miles, it would be considered to be high mileage, and if it had 14,000 miles instead, it would be classed as low mileage. And between 15,000 and 24,000 would mean the car has average mileage.

Of course, 25,000 on a three-year-old car may seem fine to many. And this is where other factors could swing to make you make a purchase, or to find another example. The car could have been well looked after, and still have warranty remaining, as some manufacturers now come with more than the usual standard three-year warranty. It could even be an older car with lots of miles on the clock, but has been recommissioned or cherished.

To find a good used car, mileage only tells part of the story.

Factors to consider with mileage

The average mileage rule simply won't apply to some cars. Sure, everyday cars will reflect accurately towards the rule, but specialist performance, enthusiast, classic, and supercars can vary the mileage rule considerably.

For example, a three-year-old Ford Fiesta with 20,000 miles would be classified as average miles. However, if the used car was a Ferrari SF90, this would be ultra-high mileage in Ferrari and supercar terms.

This is because used supercars are more desirable with ultra-low miles, and the fact that supercars like the Ferrari SF90 are not designed to be used every day, like a Ford Fiesta, due to their enhanced engineering, specialist parts, incredible performance, and exclusivity.

On the flip side, cars like to be used, so it's not uncommon to see cars with 75,000 miles on them drive better than some cars with 30,000 miles. The type of car needs to be taken into account when relating to mileage, too. For example, a 100,000-mile Volkswagen Passat will feel more solid than a 100,000-mile Ford Fiesta. This is because the Passat is designed to be a mile-munching family car, whilst the Fiesta is more about being an everyday family hatchback, suited more to urban life.

Is low mileage always best?

This is somewhat of a grey area. Yes, low miles means the car hasn't been used that much, but the misconception in some cases is that the car will be in better condition. Whilst bodywork, interior wear, and most mechanical wear will be minimal, older cars with low mileage will have had time to sit, meaning some things will have perished or seals will have dried due to minor use.

You may see the term 'motorway miles', which means the car may have higher miles, but the miles have been done on a motorway. Of course, people can always lie, but motorway miles are easier on a car than on a car that deals more with traffic and town driving.

Low mileage is a great indicator of condition, but other checks should always be considered when looking at buying a used car.

Condition Over Mileage?

Sometimes, mileage is merely a first indication of a car. You can therefore find low-mileage cars that have lived a hard life, whilst you can find high-mileage cars that have been cherished.

Ask yourself this. You go to look at two used cars. One is just two years old with 5,000 miles on the clock, whilst the other is again two years old, but has 20,000 miles on the clock. By the average, high, low mileage rule, the 5,000-mile example should be in better condition than the 20,000-mile example. But, the car with 20,000 miles on it was garaged, cleaned each week, serviced on time, and did motorway miles for the majority of its life. The 5,000-mile car was not looked after, smoked in, never warmed up, and was thrashed at every opportunity. It may have even been a rental car, so will have had multiple people, all with different driving styles, get behind the wheel.

Now, of course, you'd never know with things like whether the car was warmed up properly, thrashed, etc, but the point is, some cars will have higher miles and will have been well looked after, whilst some low mileage cars will have lived a hard life. So, take the mileage as a first point of call, but do checks to make sure the car also looks like it has been looked after, too.

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