Buying a Used Car Do Miles Matter?

It's time to buy your next used car for your journeys around St. Albans City, Burlington, South Burlington, VT, and Champlain, NY. The first thing you'll consider is how many miles are on the odometer. Is that as important as everyone thinks? Do miles really matter?

Yes, miles do matter when buying a used car. Our team at GossCars.com, knows that it's more complex than finding the car with the lowest mileage. Let's get into the specifics!

What's Good Mileage for a Used Car?

There's a lot that goes into the ideal mileage for a used car, so a cut and dry answer is hard to come by. On average, drivers cover about 13,500 miles a year, so to determine what's good mileage for the vehicle you have your eye on, a little math will be required.

You'll want to multiply the average yearly miles by the age of the vehicle and look for the following:

• About 54,000 miles on a 4-year-old car
• About 81,000 miles on a 6-year-old car
• About 108,000 miles on an 8-year-old car
• About 135,000 on a 10-year-old car

Of course, these numbers will vary based on the vehicle. While choosing a pre-owned vehicle with good mileage can often mean a more dependable performance, mileage is only one piece of the puzzle. In fact, some cars with higher mileage can last longer than those with less based on how they were driven and how well they were taken care of.

Why Is Mileage Important?

Mileage is one of the main indicators of a vehicle's wear. In most cases, a vehicle with lower mileage is considered relatively new, while higher-milage vehicles are considered older. Modern vehicles, however, are made to be driven. In fact, higher mileage could be a good thing.

Mileage can also impact the cars value. Buying a high-milage used car that's in great shape could be an awesome investment. They come with several benefits that could include:

• Lower initial cost
• Little depreciation
• Good resale value

The average car in the U.S. is about 12 years old, which means most have about 162,000 miles on the odometer. Proper care and maintenance could help them hit 200,000 miles and even beyond.

What Else to Look for When Buying Used

The mileage is only one breadcrumb on the trail to your next pre-owned car. There are a lot of other factors to consider. It's also important to make sure it was well cared for by the previous owners. A CARFAX® Vehicle History Report™ can help with that. It will give you more information on service records, reported accidents, and title history.

You'll also need to be vigilant during your test drive. Bring a check list with you to make sure you examine all the most important factors. It could include:

• Look for dents and scratches.
• Check tire tread.
• Adjust the seats.
• Check that all buttons and knobs are operational.
• Turn on the heat and A/C.
• Listen for pings and knocking when driving.

In some cases, it's more important to look at the number of previous owners an older vehicle has had. If a vehicle has only had one or two owners-even with well-over 100,000 miles-there's a good chance they cared for it to reach that milestone. If a car has had four or more owners, it's likely that at least one of them could have neglected scheduled maintenance.

Does a Used Car's Mileage Really Matter?

When buying a used car around St. Albans City, Burlington, South Burlington, Vermont, and Champlain, New York, mileage is an essential factor to consider. It's important to consider all the other factors as well. A well-maintained car with high mileage may be a better option than a low-mileage car that hasn't been adequately maintained.

When you're ready to start shopping for a pre-owned car, contact GossCars.com!