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’s worth if it’s safe… the list is pretty endless. Aside from getting a third party to examine your car, there’s 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 mileage for used cars.
Mileage Definition
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’t indicated 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.
Why Mileage is Important
First of all, let’s take a look at why it can matter. Mileage, as we’ve just said, is an indicator of what your car has been through and a part of its history. The general idea is, or at least, more miles mean more stress on the car. It’s had more wear and tear. It makes sense; it’s driven further.
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… anything that can happen. A car with fewer miles is a car with an easier life. Sadly, that’s not always the case.
Considerations with Mileage
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 use. That’s the real key here.
If the car is 5 years old but has barely seen the light of day, and has 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’t being used, chances are that it’s not being particularly well maintained either. Why would you spend money on a car you don’t use, after all?
Price Impacts of Mileage on Used Cars
One last thing you need to look at before you make a conclusion for yourself on how much mileage matters is what it does to the price of your new used car. You want to get yourself the best deal after all, and that’s what we’re here to help with.
One of the most common determinants of what a car cost is how many miles it has done, despite what we’re saying. Again, it makes sense. Some things that wear down on a car aren’t supposed to be fixed or changed, like the main structure or the engine.
The result is that your lower mileage car, no matter what the history, is going to be more expensive. That’s 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’s been better looked after and reduce the risk from doing it. You need to put in the work, granted but even with 3rd party services you can save a killing, and in the long run, that can be a huge saving.
What is a Good Mileage for a Used car?
So if both high mileage and low mileage 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.
Aside from the typical suggestion to drive less, here are a few tips for lowering the amount of gas you use per mile:
- Make sure the gas cap is screwed on tight. A loose cap can cause you to lose gas, even when you’re staying in one place!
- Try not to idle. When you leave the engine on and stay in a single spot, you’re still using gas—even though the miles on the odometer stay the same.
- Accelerate and brake softly. Sudden bursts or decreases in speed can eat up your fuel much faster than a gradual acceleration or stop.
- Coast when you can. When you’re driving downhill, you may not even need the gas! Lower your gas usage by coasting when you can (but do so carefully).
- Try not to use the AC. Your air conditioning actually uses gas to run, so try not to use it too much. Open a window instead!
- Get rid of excess weight. Your car’s fuel efficiency drops about 2% for every 100 pounds of added weight!
Conclusion
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. To put that into practice, for a completely average car, you’re looking at roughly:
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