Importance of Mileage on a Used Car: What You Need to Know

Mileage on a used car is one of the most important factors to consider while buying a vehicle. Even though general usage, age, and condition are more influential, miles often determine which automobile is the best one. You should also consider the odometer fraud that makes identifying real mileage even more challenging. All these factors often make finding the optimal solution almost trickier. If you want to avoid complications and be confident in your choice, you need to understand how miles work on a used car.

Why mileage matters in a used car

Total mileage shows you how much a vehicle has traveled during its lifespan. Based on this data, you can identify approximate wear and tear. Cars with higher mileage usually have more depreciation. That is why people mostly prefer low-distance automobiles. However, the reality is not that straightforward, and the information can mislead you.

Car mileage and wear

It is no secret that mileage mostly reveals the wear of your automobile. This is exactly why we pay so much attention to it. What if I tell you that this is not always correct?
Mileage on a used car is not the best option to determine a vehicle’s actual wear. Let’s discuss a simple case. Imagine two vehicles with 100,000 and 80,000 miles, respectively. It may sound reasonable to think that a car with a total of 80,000 mileage has lower wear. But what about its usage? What was it used for? What was its load? Are those highway miles or city miles?
The answers to these questions would significantly change the perception of the car. 100,000 mileage on highways can be better than 80,000 city miles. Also, if a car covered 80,000 miles with a heavy load, it should be more depressed than a lightly loaded automobile with 100,000. Apart from this, if you also consider the owner’s driving habits and follow the maintenance recommendations, you will have a more real picture.
As you can see, measuring mileage and wear is not always easy. You need to pay attention to every detail and consider as many factors as possible.

What is the low mileage on a used car?

Vehicles up to 12,000 miles are usually considered as low mileage cars. To calculate your yearly mileage, simply divide the total annual mileage by age. For example, if your car has covered 60,000 miles in 5 years, your yearly mileage will be 60,000 miles / 5 = 12,000 miles.
Now, let’s discuss what are the advantages of low-mileage cars:

1. Less wear: although it isn’t the only factor, the chances are higher that lower mileage vehicles have less wear and damage.
2. Better resale value: mileage, of course, affects the price tag. When you have a car with low mileage, you can sell it for a higher price.
3. Fewer or no need for repairs: Low–mile automobiles mostly don’t require any repairs, especially costly services.

On the other hand, let’s discuss the drawbacks of low-mileage vehicles:

1. High price: if you are looking for a low-mileage car to buy, you will need to pay more than average. Such autos have high prices, and it’s not easy to find a cheaper alternative.
2. Price drop: The first few years after the release of the automobile is the crucial moment. During this time, they have the highest value, and you have to pay a lot to get your hands on them. However, after 4-5 years, the price can drop drastically, and you can’t make a profit after resale. This definitely depends on the maintenance as well as the car model.
3. Possibility of underuse: if you ever find an expensive vehicle with low mileage and low price, don’t be very excited right away. Low mileage is not always a good thing. If a car is 10 years old and it has only 10,000 miles, the vehicle is underuse. Such autos have various issues and will become more problematic as time passes. So, to avoid underusing cars, always check the correlation between mileage and age.

What to consider when evaluating car mileage?

There are several factors that should be considered when you want to determine the average mileage on a used car. These factors include maintenance records, driving conditions, and car manufacturers.

Official records and documented maintenance

If you want to verify the actual mileage on a secondhand vehicle, one of the first things to do is gather official documents. These documents are mostly service and maintenance records. Whenever a car goes under a thorough check-up, the service center should add detailed information to the vehicle’s records. You can always request such official documents. Service records will show you whether the owner followed oil changes and other major component maintenance.
If you want to gather more details about the automobile, you can check it through Carfax. They can give you detailed information, which includes recorded mileage data.

Driving habits and road conditions

We have already discussed that drivers have a huge influence on their vehicles. Not only based on how they take care of them but also how they actually drive. For instance, rapid acceleration and heavy braking cause quicker depreciation. It can also negatively affect fuel and oil consumption. If such a driving pattern continues regularly, it may also damage crucial components within the vehicle.
Apart from the driving habits, the road is undoubtedly another significant factor to consider. No matter how good a driver you are, if the roads are damaged or the terrain is uneven, it will eventually damage the vehicle.

Manufacturer and mileage on a used car

All vehicles measure mileage in the same way. However, you can still see the difference when you compare specific car manufacturers and models. Some brands are famous for their durability and longer lifespans, which sometimes is the major reason why customers prefer specific car models.
For instance, Toyota is famous for its exceptionally good quality and durability. When a customer buys a Toyota car, they believe that the vehicle will operate for a long time without issues and expensive services. If you compare this to Chevrolet, people don’t think the same way. Customers will buy Chevrolet for experience and because of its durability.
Here are the top 10 cars by reliability:

1. Lexus NX
2. Toyota Aygo X
3. Mini Countryman
4. Mercedes-Benz GLC crossover
5. Volkswagen T-Roc
6. Audi A1
7. Honda Jazz (Fit)
8. Mazda 3
9. Honda CR-V
10. Lexus GS

Red flags or bad signs for a used car

When you want to determine decent and bad mileage on a used car, don’t make a decision based only on the odometer. Miles on the dashboard can be manipulated and mislead you. The following are the most common signs that might help you identify inaccuracies and avoid any mileage fraud:

• Inconsistent mileage on the odometer. Nowadays, people often try manipulating odometers. As a result, the control panel displays incorrect miles. If the odometer numbers don’t match the service records, it can be the result of the odometer fraud.
• Not providing service records and official documents. People usually try to hide or refuse to provide service records when something is wrong with the car. If you notice that an owner suspiciously refuses to share the details about the vehicle, it can be due to illegal car manipulations.
• Unusual wear and tear. There are cases when a vehicle has significant wear compared to its mileage. Don’t assume that you are lucky and find a low-mileage vehicle. If a car is well maintained, it should not have obvious signs of heavy wear and tear. That’s why you need to carefully double-check the details about the car and make sure that the automobile has actual mileage.

Mileage blockers for testing used cars

Car testers make sure that a vehicle works flawlessly despite their age and mileage. It is crucial to make sure that used cars are safe on the road and follow the manufacturer’s guidelines. To help car testers, manufacturers from Germany have developed a mileage blocker device. It is a tool that only halts distance recording and doesn’t save the mileage data in control units. Consequently, miles data is untraceable.
The mileage blocker is designed only for car testers. It should be used under strict circumstances and professional monitoring. This device should not be used on public roads or for any illegal purposes. Always check local guidelines and laws in advance.
The mileage blocker has some special features that make it a special tool on the market:

1. The mileage blocker is 100% untraceable;
2. It is compatible with almost all car models;
3. The blocker has different settings to choose from;
4. The device has a mobile application;
5. It uses DIY easy installation guidelines;
6. Premium quality materials that work in harsh weather conditions;

You can now buy the mileage blocker online from the SKF website. If you have any questions, please check the details in the support section or contact the customer service department.

Takeaway

Mileage on a used car is an important factor when trying to purchase a vehicle at a reasonable price. Total miles can hugely affect the price, but remember that it’s just one piece of a big image. Factors such as driving habits, road conditions, maintenance, and manufacturers sometimes provide more realistic explanations. Therefore, always carefully check every detail and never neglect any inconsistencies.