What Is Good Mileage on a Used Car?

Clarkston drivers trying to determine what good mileage for a used car is will have to consider a number of factors when identifying the condition of their vehicle. That’s because cars built in the aughts and after can take on far more miles than cars that were built in the 90s or earlier. While the used vehicle you buy will ideally have less than 100,000 miles on the odometer, even then, a car from the 2010s with 100k miles under its belt could last you for another 4 years. Read on to learn about the proper ways of identifying the condition of a used vehicle, and then explore our pre-owned vehicle specials and arrange for some test drives.

The Smart Way to Shop for a Used Car

So, what is good mileage on a used car? Most concrete figures won’t tell Waterford drivers much about a vehicle’s condition, although a car made in the last 10 years with less than 75,000 miles on it definitely hasn’t racked up many miles on the odometer. Here are some equally important things you should consider besides good mileage for a used car:

• Usage – If your car earned its 75,000 miles in the stop-and-go traffic of downtown Detroit, it’s taken a bigger beating than a car that drove those miles on the highway or the countryside.
• Location – Vehicles that have been driven in dry, warm climates haven’t undergone the stress that cars in cold, wet climates (like the climate of Grand Blanc) have.
• Condition – Make sure a certified mechanic inspects the vehicle for rust or mechanical issues, and figure this cost into your budget.
• Maintenance – Look at the vehicle history report of the car to make sure that it was regularly maintained. A vehicle that wasn’t taken in for its service intervals is definitely a riskier buy.
• Driving History – If you buy from a private seller and they emphasize that they hardly ever drove the car, that’s actually a sign that the vehicle is in worse condition. In the case of automobiles, disuse is its own form of wear and tear, which is another reason why determining good mileage for a used car may not be the most insightful way to determine a vehicle’s condition.

Explore Our High Quality Used Vehicles in Clarkston

Now that Lake Orion drivers know that the question, “What is good mileage on a used car?” is a little misleading, it’s time to take what you’ve learned to the used car lot at Bowman Chevrolet and find a pre-owned vehicle that is truly in excellent condition. Be sure to check out our pre-owned vehicle specials and to read our guide on the differences between used and certified pre-owned vehicles while you’re here.