If you’re shopping for a used car, you’ll find that cars that have covered higher mileages generally cost a bit less than all-but-identical examples that have covered fewer miles, and that means that choosing a high-mileage car can be a useful way of saving yourself a bit of cash.
But at what cost? Surely, a car with more miles beneath its wheels will be more worn out – and therefore less reliable – than a lower-mileage example, right? And so, by saving that money, you’re letting yourself in for reliability headaches further down the line? Well, not necessarily.
Obviously, there are no guarantees where used cars of any age and mileage are concerned, but as we’ll find out, there’s no reason to dismiss higher-milage cars out of hand, and in some cases, it’s even likely that a high-mileage could be in better mechanical condition thank a lower-mileage equivalent.
What is a high-mileage car?
Many believe that an annual mileage of around 10,000 miles is the average figure for the UK, and indeed that was the case once upon a time. However, that figure has been steadily dropping over time. Since the MOT system was put online in 2002, average UK mileages have become much easier to track, and back then, the figure stood at just under 9,500. Today, the annual average for the UK stands at more like 7,500. So, multiply that number by the age of your car in years, and that will constitute the average mileage it should have covered. If the actual figure is significantly above or below that – say 15 percent or more – then it can be considered to be a high- or low-mileage example, respectively.
So, let’s suppose that you’ve decided what make and model of car you want, you’ve begun shopping, and you’ve found examples with both low- and high mileages. Which should you go for? Should you be avoiding high-mileage examples?
Well, our top tips for buying a high-mileage car should help you make that decision…
1) Don’t be put off!
Mileage and age are both useful indicators over what condition a used car may be in, but they are no means the most useful. As we’ll find out, it’s far more important to ascertain how well the car has been maintained throughout its life, and how it’s been used/driven. Remember, cars are designed and built to be driven, so doing plenty of it shouldn’t necessarily start alarm bells ringing in your ears. Depending on the two factors identified, it’s entirely possible that a high-mileage car can be in better condition that an identical equivalent with fewer miles on the clock.
2) Insist on a full service history
The best way to figure out how well a car has been maintained is to check its service history. Each and every car has an established service and maintenance schedule detailing what work should be done at what point (whether that point be a point in time or a point in the mileage covered – both can apply), and by cross referencing that schedule with a car’s service history, you can ascertain whether all the necessary work has been carried out, and carried out at the correct point.
If there’s no evidence of a job having been done, or not being done to schedule, it can be a sign of neglect by a previous owner and you should be prepared to walk away.
How to get a used car inspected
It doesn’t need to be a full main dealer service history necessarily, especially where older, higher-mileage cars are concerned, but you should insist on a full set of stamps from established mechanics. If possible, also check that the parts used in the work are of a decent quality, and are made by brands you recognise.
3) Try and find out exactly how the car has been used
If you take two identical cars that have been serviced and maintained according to schedule, it’s still entirely possible for a car with higher mileage to be in better condition than one with less distance beneath its wheels. That’s because different types of driving put different types of stress on a car, and in different amounts. For instance, if a car has a low mileage, it could be that it has predominantly been used in built-up urban areas for stop-start commuting, and that means more strain will have been put on its clutch, brakes and gearbox than a car that has spent the majority of its time cruising along motorways (and ironically, high levels of motorway driving could itself account for a higher mileage). Short-hop use can also mean that a car’s engine isn’t given a chance to get up to its optimum operating temperature often enough, and again, this will cause an engine to wear faster than one that’s regularly given a good long run (you should be particularly weary of this if you’re considering a diesel car with a diesel particulate filter, or DPF, as the filter can quickly become clogged if not allowed to get up to temperature).
What is a good mileage for a used car?
So a car that’s been used predominantly on the motorway is always more desirable than one predominantly used in the city, then, but how do you tell? Well, you could ask the person selling it, whether that be a dealer or the previous owner, but you can also look for some of the tell-tale signs. City driving tends to involve much more use of the steering and gears than motorway driving, so a worn steering wheel rim or manual gearshifter knob is an indicator of a city-dwelling car. And if a throttle pedal has been overworked, there may well be a small patch of worn carpet just in front of it where a heel may have rested. Small dents, scratches, scrapes and scuffed wheels are an indication of extensive town use, and short journeys also mean lots of getting in and out of the car, so check the side bolsters of the driver’s seat for wear, and the driver’s seatbelt for minor fraying.
4) Make sure the higher mileage is reflected in the price
As we’ve discovered, a lower-mileage car won’t always be in worse condition than a higher-mileage equivalent, but it should always – in theory at least – be cheaper to buy. That’s because it’s one of the many factors used in ascertaining the value of a used car. However, price-setting is not an exact science, and many of the numerous variables involved are open to interpretation. That’s why, thanks to our super-sophisticated pricing technology, all adverts listed on CarGurus carry one of five deal ratings – ranging from ‘Great Deal’ to ‘Overpriced’ - so that car buyers can be confident that they’re getting a good deal without knowing all the ins and out. Even so, it’s always a good idea to compare the prices of higher-mileage cars with those of equivalent lower-mileage ones to make sure they really are cheaper.
For instance, we searched our own listings for three-year-old Ford Fiestas – traditionally the UK’s best-selling car – and found a variety in 1.0T Ecoboost 125 PS Active X Edition form. Those with 10,000 miles and less on the clock were listed for around the £16,500 mark, while those with more like 30,000 miles were going for around £15,000, so there are some useful savings to be had.
We also conducted the same exercise with a popular diesel car, the BMW 320d M Sport Automatic saloon. Diesel cars tend to have higher average annual mileages that petrol cars – around 12,500 miles compared with 7,500 miles for a petrol – and that can see the price differences grow even further. We saw three-year-old examples with total mileages of between 12,000 and 13,000 going for around £29,000, while examples with upwards of 65,000 miles were going for less than £25,000.
The trend applies to electric cars, too, which is interesting uncertainties over how their batteies will last over time. A search of 2020 Nissan Leaf N-Connecta models served up numerous 10,000-mile examples listed at around the £18,000 mark, wheras cars that had covered around 40,000 miles were clocking in at just over £15,000.
5) Definitely consider a high-mileage car if you’re a low-mileage driver
The reason that higher mileage cars are cheaper than lower-mileage ones is because they’ve suffered more depreciation as a result. That’s why, if you’re a low-mileage driver, buying a high-mileage car could be the gift that keeps on giving. Not only will your car be cheaper to buy in the first place, but then if you keep for a few years and then sell it on, your lower mileage during your period of use will top up the car’s previously high miles at a slower rate, meaning you’ll be closer to the industry average (again, roughly 7,500 miles per year of the car’s life) when you come to sell it, which means you’ll get more money for it.