Buying a used car instead of a brand new one can help you save a lot of money. Also, used cars are not difficult to come by. That said, it’s possible you will find exactly the model you’re looking for at a great price, only to realize it has a lot of miles on it. So, what should you do? Does it make sense to walk away? Let’s find out!
Is A Car With Too Many Miles The Wrong Choice?
Let’s say you have to choose between two cars that are the same price and have the same specs – one that has been driven as a rental car for around 40,000 miles and another that has over 100,000 miles on it but was driven mainly on highways by a single owner? Does it make sense to buy the car with 40,000 miles? No, it doesn’t! The car that was driven primarily on highways is likely to be in better shape than the one that was driven as a rental car.
Auto experts consider cars to be driven an average of around 15,000 miles every year. So, if you are looking at a car that is around 10 years old, it’s quite possible that the car may have over 100,000 miles on it. So, when shopping for used cars, make sure to consider the car’s age as well.
Check The Maintenance Records
Mileage is not the only thing you should be worried about when shopping for a pre-owned car. It’s also important to look at the overall condition of the car and its maintenance records. If the car appears to have a polished exterior and interior, it’s a good indication of how well the car was maintained by the owner.
How Many More Miles Can The Car Run For?
Rather than only looking at how many miles a car has on it currently, you may also want to check how many miles it can possibly run for. Say, for instance, a particular brand’s cars often cross the 250,000-mile mark. If you come across a model you like from the same brand at a good price, but it has around 120,000 miles on it, you may want to buy it if all the other details and records check out as well, since there’s a good chance you will be able to drive it for at least another 8-10 years.
So, make sure to consider these factors, in addition to the mileage, when buying a used car!