What Is Good Mileage On a Used Car?

Plenty of Raleigh drivers turn to used and certified pre-owned vehicles when they want to upgrade their daily travels for a fair price. If you’re new to the used car market, you probably have a few questions on your mind, like “What is good mileage for a used car?” It’s a common question and a smart one to ask, but there’s no best answer because mileage is just one factor to consider when exploring used cars. 

For some Cary drivers, only a used vehicle with fewer than 30,000 miles is acceptable. For others, a budget car with 100,000 miles and a solid maintenance record is the right way to go. If you want to learn how to factor mileage into your decision and find the best used car for you, read on with BMW of Southpoint!

Choose a Used Vehicle the Smart Way

What is considered high mileage for a used car? To answer this, you must also consider the age of the vehicle and its history. Why? 100,000 miles might look like a huge number at first, but a car with this many miles can still be a wise purchase if it was well maintained. Meanwhile, you might think you’re getting a deal on a car with only 20,000 miles, but what if it was in a major accident and wasn’t properly maintained? 

Keep these points in mind when determining what good mileage is for a used car you might bring home to Chapel Hill: 

• Mileage vs. Age: A 1-year-old car with 30,000 miles could be in poorer condition than a 5-year-old car with 50,000 miles — 30,000 miles per year is likely to put a lot more wear and tear on a vehicle than 10,000 miles per year.
• Model Year: Car manufacturing has vastly improved over the past 10–20 years, and drivers are getting many more miles out of their cars these days than in the past. Quality engineering paired with good maintenance habits can carry a vehicle past the 100,000-mile mark, and even past 200,000 miles. 
• Maintenance Record: The key to making a smart used car purchase is to lean in favor of a good maintenance record. You may like the sound of 15,000 miles more than the sound of 30,000 miles, but if the lower-mileage car wasn’t properly maintained, it’s far more likely to give you trouble down the road. A dealership like BMW of Southpoint will always provide proof of maintenance for you, but if you’re shopping elsewhere you should always ask to see this. 

Buying a Used Car – Other Considerations 

• Model Generation: Research the model generation for the used vehicle you’re considering. When a model enters a new generation, it usually comes with significant changes in design, performance, features, etc. — for better or worse in some cases. Check sources like Kelley Blue Book and Edmunds.com to learn how the generation of the car you like was regarded. You might confirm that it’s a solid choice, or you might learn that a different generation has more of the features you want.
• Vehicle History Report: Always ask for the Vehicle History Report if it’s not readily provided, and take your time looking it over. This is where you’ll find information like repair reports, collision reports, police records, and DMV records. 
• Previous Location(s): You can also use the Vehicle History Report to see where the vehicle was previously owned and driven. Keep in mind that humid or wet climates and areas that salt their roads in the winter will be known to be a little harder on vehicles. 

Looking for Low Mileage Used Cars for Sale?

Now that you know more about what is considered “high mileage” for a used car, you might have a lot more options to consider! But even if you’re dead set on low mileage used cars for sale, BMW of Southpoint can help. We have a dynamic inventory to suit all types of shoppers, so stop by in Durham or contact us for an appointment. We also offer pre-owned specials so you can save even more, coupled with high trade-in offers so you can clear a spot in your driveway.