--- url: "https://cheapvhr.com/blog/good-mileage-on-a-used-car" title: "What Is the Good Mileage on a Used Car? A Guide for Buyers" --- [Back to Blog](https://cheapvhr.com/blog) ![What Is the Good Mileage on a Used Car? A Guide for Buyers](https://i.postimg.cc/PJd2K7dT/used-car-mileage.png) **Category**: used car mileage # What Is the Good Mileage on a Used Car? A Guide for Buyers **Written By**: CheapVHR Team **Published on**: Tue Jan 13 2026 0 min min read 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. A 10-year-old car with just 70,000 miles would be regarded as low mileage on the car and could actually make a nice deal. In contrast, a 5-year-old vehicle with about 140,000 miles would be considered high mileage and raise concerns about the vehicle condition. ## How Many Miles on a Used Car Is Too Little? There’s no specific rule for how many miles is too few on a used car. In most scenarios, low mileage is a good indicator, even if it seems significantly low. But still, you should confirm if the odometer reading on the Carfax vehicle history report is accurate. After all, the car’s overall condition also matters. And when you see a lightly driven car, it should have minimal interior wear and exterior damage or dents and scratches. That’s why you should make sure you get assistance from a professional mechanic to stay away from unexpected repairs. ## Is High Mileage Bad? If Yes, Why? While high-mileage cars may be a red flag for many, it doesn’t always indicate that the car is bad. In fact, highway driving is usually less taxing on the car compared to city driving with its fewer stops and starts and steady speeds. Nevertheless, high-mileage vehicles demand careful upkeep on your end. A complete inspection of its maintenance history is important, including timely repairs, oil changes, and adherence to all the manufacturer’s recommendations. Before making a purchase, you should also review a reliable vehicle history report from a trusted platform, like [CheapVHR,](https://cheapvhr.com/) for more clarity. They are really helpful when it comes to the details, like recalls, reported accidents, and other issues that can cause trouble later. ## What Other Factors Are Important When Considering a Car’s Age Beyond Mileage? When you consider a used vehicle’s age, many other factors play a role than just mileage. Here’s what else you should look into: - [ ] Motorway Miles: A lot of fleet car models likely have accumulated their miles on the highway, where the consistent speeds aren’t stressful, and the engine has time to get to temperature. In this case, even 100,000 miles shouldn’t be a concern. - [ ] Service History: A thorough service history is a good sign that the vehicle has been looked after properly by previous owners. The more miles there are on the clock, the more crucial these documents actually become. - [ ] Brand & Model Durability: Some brands are known to go beyond 200,000 miles, like Honda and Zanesville Toyota, even with proper vehicle maintenance, while others may start showing issues earlier. So, research specific models efficiently. - [ ] Frequent Inspections: Never compromise on vehicle inspection for hidden issues like rust, frame damage, or any sort of internal diesel engine issues, regardless of its mileage or age. ## Our Takeaway Now that you’re familiar with good mileage on a used car, the next step is to determine the best security solution to get a reliable CARFAX® Vehicle History Report™. That’s where CheapVHR comes in to provide you with accurate history reports at only 4.49! After all, every potential buyer wishes to be sure about the vehicle's lifespan. And with this platform, you can get all the necessary details you need to know about a used vehicle, such as mileage ratings, ownership changes, [hail damage](https://cheapvhr.com/blog/hail-damage-carfax), title history, [trade-in value](https://cheapvhr.com/blog/carfax-trade-in-value), and more. ## Tags cheap carfax ## Related Articles - [Affordable Carfax Reports: Instant VIN Checks & Trusted Vehicle History for Less](https://cheapvhr.com/blog/affordable-carfax-reports-instant-vin) - [Does Hail Damage Show Up on CARFAX?](https://cheapvhr.com/blog/hail-damage-carfax) - [How to Interpret the Details in a Carfax Report for Used Car Buying?](https://cheapvhr.com/blog/how-to-interpret-the-details-in-a-carfax-report-for-used-car-buying) - [Is Carfax Reliable? Find out More About the Vehicle's History Report!](https://cheapvhr.com/blog/is-carfax-reliable) - [How Long Does Carfax Take to Update?](https://cheapvhr.com/blog/how-long-does-carfax-take-to-update) reCAPTCHA Recaptcha requires verification. [Privacy](https://www.google.com/intl/en/policies/privacy/) \- [Terms](https://www.google.com/intl/en/policies/terms/) protected by **reCAPTCHA** [Privacy](https://www.google.com/intl/en/policies/privacy/) \- [Terms](https://www.google.com/intl/en/policies/terms/)