What Is the Good Mileage on a Used Car? A Guide for Buyers

When you’re ready to purchase a used car, one of the very first numbers you will check is the odometer. After all, mileage often impacts reliability, price, long-term ownership satisfaction, and many other factors.

And that makes many people wonder, “What is considered good mileage on a used car?” But honestly, there’s no magic number anyone can give you to determine “good mileage.” It depends on many other aspects, like the car’s age, how it was driven, etc., too.

That being said, some industry norms help to evaluate whether a vehicle’s mileage is a red flag or reasonable. So today, we’ll discuss how you can think about mileage smartly, and not just by the number.

Why Used Car Mileage Matters (But Isn’t Everything)

Mileage provides a quick snapshot of how much a vehicle has been driven. This means it can also reveal how much wear and tear a specific car has experienced and how it influences the price and value of the vehicle. In general:

• More miles = more wear and tear on parts like transmission, suspension, and brakes.

• Lower mileage means less wear and tear, but it may also hide other issues if the vehicle was driven only short distances.

Anyhow, industry experts believe that service records, maintenance history, and how the car was driven are usually more crucial indicators compared to the mileage number.

What Is Good Mileage on Used Car?

The general rule of thumb for a vehicle’s mileage is that the average car puts in 10,000-12,000 miles/year. And if you want to know if the used car has good mileage, simply divide the odometer reading by the vehicle’s age.

Let’s say, if you’re seeing a 5-year-old car, a reasonable mileage range should be about 50,000 to 60,000 miles. Vehicles with lower annual mileage can have less wear and tear, which makes them more attractive. But other factors should be considered, too.

Using that baseline, you can do a quick calculation to determine whether a vehicle’s mileage makes sense for its age. For example:

Car Age	Expected Mileage
1-year old	≤ 12,000 miles
3 years old	≤ 36,000–45,000 miles
5 years old	≤ 60,000–75,000 miles
7 years old	≤ 85,000–105,000 miles
10 years old	≤ 120,000–150,000 miles

How Many Miles Is Too Much for a Used Car?

Well, a normal American driver puts nearly 10,000 miles on their vehicle annually. Using this as a standard, you can estimate the car’s expected mileage depending on its age. With this baseline, you can see what’s good mileage on a used car.