What is Good Mileage on a Used Car?

If you’re looking for a new ride with like-new quality and an affordable price tag, you’ve come to the right place! Modern Nissan of Winston Salem is proud to offer a wide variety of high-quality pre-owned vehicles in the High Point area, from popular automakers like Ford, Hyundai, and Chevy, as well as certified pre-owned vehicles from Nissan. Since used cars have had previous owners, the first thing prospective buyers often want to know is how many miles are on the odometer. Many experts would agree that a used car that’s been driven more than 100,000 miles is an unnecessary risk, but this isn’t always the case. In fact, high-mileage used cars can be a safer bet than their low-mileage counterparts in certain circumstances! The team at Modern Nissan of Winston Salem has more information on what’s considered good mileage for a used car in the guide below, as well as the reasons why mileage isn’t always the most important factor.

Factors To Consider When Buying a Used Car

In general, mileage is just one factor you should take into consideration if you’re looking for a high-quality used car. Here are four other factors you should keep in mind:

• Usage: We’ve found that used cars driven primarily in the city and in stop-and-go traffic will wear out faster than one driven primarily on the open highway, even if they have the exact same number of miles on the odometer. It’s always a good idea to obtain the previous owner’s driving history before you commit to buying a vehicle.
• Location: Climate has a huge effect on the quality of a used car. Cars driven in warm, dry climates tend to hold up better than those driven in cold, wet conditions.
• Condition: We always recommend that prospective buyers have a certified mechanic inspect a used vehicle they’re interested in, to look for any underlying mechanical issues.
• Maintenance: Properly-maintained vehicles with high mileage tend to be safer bets than poorly-maintained vehicles with low mileage. Be sure to check out a vehicle’s service history before you buy.

Good Mileage For a Used Car

There’s no one answer to the question of the best mileage numbers for a used car, since there are a lot of other factors to take into consideration. However, there’s some conventional wisdom you can follow. The average Kernersville driver clocks about 12,000 miles on the odometer per year, so used cars with 50,000 miles or less are generally safe bets. Well-maintained vehicles with 100,000 miles or over are usually a good choice, particularly if you’re on a tight budget, and can generally last up to four more good years before they wear out.

Considering Mileage vs. Age

As we discussed above, mileage is just one of the things you should keep in mind when picking out your next used ride. Another factor you should consider is the age of the vehicle. In fact, a newer car with a high number of miles on the odometer could be a better choice than an older model with less mileage. Here are some other things to keep in mind:

• If a car has low mileage because it hasn’t been driven regularly, it’ll usually be more expensive to repair and maintain. Cars that aren’t driven on a regular basis tend to develop mechanical problems, which will cost you more in the long run.
• Vehicles with well-documented service records are a safer choice than vehicles with spotty or incomplete histories.
• Low-mileage used vehicles are usually more expensive, even if they’ve been poorly maintained.

Find Your Next Used Ride at Modern Nissan of Winston Salem!

To keep up with all things related to our new and pre-owned Nissan models, be sure to check out our blog! You can also contact our office with any questions, or for more information on shopping for the perfect used car. If you’re interested in seeing how our used models handle on the road, contact us or stop by our dealership to set up a test drive around Thomasville!