What is Considered Good Mileage for a Used Car?

Whether you’re trying to find a good starter car in the Lakeland area, or looking to stretch your dollar, a used car is a great choice. But there are a surprising number of questions that you might have when it comes time to purchasing a used car. The one that will almost always come up first after the cost is the mileage. 

Is there a limit to how many miles is too much for a used car? Should you always try to go as low as possible? Why is this one with 150,000 miles on it the same listed price as one with half as many miles? Learn more about what is considered high mileage for a used car with the experts at Stingray Chevrolet! We have plenty of low mileage used cars for sale in Plant City.

Determining Good Mileage for a Used Car

No two used cars are ever going to be equal, and there are some important details you should keep in mind about a car that has been around the block more than once. You may be wondering, ‘what exactly is high mileage for a used car?’ If you have two cars that are equal in everything except for mileage, you may be inclined to go with the one that has a lower mileage. That part feels like a no brainer, right? But not so fast, because there are other things to consider. 

• Age of the vehicle: A car that is two years old with 85,000 miles on it may be considerably worse off than a eight year old car with 100,000 miles on it. Industry-wide, 15,000 miles a year is considered the average.
• Regular service: You should always ask to see a proof of maintenance or a maintenance record when purchasing a used car. A used car with 35,000 miles on it but very little maintenance performed and multiple owners may have a number of problems waiting to happen that a vehicle with 70,000 miles on it but regularly maintained just won’t have.
• Manufacturing Date: As a rule of thumb, not everything gets better with age. The quality of cars within the last 10 years has improved considerably and many cars are lasting 100,000 to 200,000 miles with little issue. 

You can find a number of low mileage used cars for sale in the Valrico area, but you’ll want to pay special attention to those with under 100,000 miles on them. The newer models of used cars may have a lifespan longer than you were expecting, which stretches your investment farther.

Other Things to Consider

Here are some other helpful things you should consider when you’re browsing a used car. 

• Vehicle History: Viewing the history of a vehicle lets you see if it has been involved in any accidents, gotten any major repairs, was involved in any police-related activity, or other ways it could have accrued damage. If you’re wondering if a CarFax report tells you the whole history of a vehicle? We’ll cover that in a moment! 
• Vehicle location: While not as common, it’s good to know where the previous owners of a vehicle were from. A vehicle that spent many years in areas of freezing cold may have suffered wear and tear from weather conditions for example.
• Model Research: It’s always good to do research into the make and model of a car before you decide to buy. So you know what kind of issues that the car may have had or may have in the future. 
• Vehicle Specials: Some dealers will have specials on their pre-owned vehicles, that are always helpful to check out as well. 

Warning Signs of Used Vehicles

Does CarFax tell the whole history of your vehicle’s previous ownership? There is no guarantee that the report has covered every base. While these reports are incredibly helpful and often detailed, you need to learn a few warning signs of faulty used vehicles to be sure the car you choose is reliable. Let’s take a look: 

• Misaligned body panels and/or mismatched paint
• Signs of water damage on the upholstery, which could indicate that the vehicle was flooded and has been deemed to be totaled by the insurance company and actually has little to no value
• Any amount of rust could indicate water damage or weakening of the vehicle’s chassis
• Lack of vehicle history report
• An engine light that doesn’t work
• Smoke coming from the exhaust

Should I Buy a Used Vehicle Out of State?

Buying your next used vehicle out of state can be a great way to open to access a wider variety of deals. While there aren’t repercussions to buying out of state, you should note that you’ll need to pay the sales tax on the vehicle in which you register your car, so if you’re shopping in a neighboring state with a lower sales tax, you’ll pay the sales tax in the state you live in. Finally, make sure that you obtain a temporary registration from the out-of-state dealership so that your car isn’t confiscated on your way to register the vehicle in your state of residence.

Explore Low Mileage Used Cars for Sale near Brandon

When you’re looking for a used car, anything with under 100,000 miles and newer than 10 years will likely keep you on the road a very long time. One of the best parts about a used car is that they are often half as much as a new car, giving you far more car for your dollar, with many of the cars priced under 10k. Reach out to our team today to learn more about what is considered good mileage for a used car!