What is Good Used Car Mileage?

What is “good” mileage on a used car? The truth is that defining good mileage for a used car is more complicated than it might seem. To make a decision, savvy used car buyers must weigh many factors—rather than looking for a number on the odometer. 

At the end of the day, there’s no hard and fast cutoff for “good” mileage on a used car:

• Low mileage can indicate that a car is in like-new condition, but it can also be the perfect cover for a lemon. 
• Likewise, a car with what’s considered high mileage can be a great buy if the previous owner was fastidious with routine maintenance. 

If you love the benefits that used cars offer over new models, read on! This guide from Five Star Cadillac covers what you should know about shipping smart for a used car near Macon. 

How to Shop Smart for a Used Car

So, what should you consider besides good mileage? For a used car buyer, looking at a range of factors is the best way to lock in a great value:

• Usage – Find out how the car was usually driven by the previous owner(s). Stop-and-go traffic wears a vehicle down faster than highway driving.
• Location – Cold, wet conditions are harder on a car than warm and dry climates.
• Condition – You can rest assured that any used car for sale at our dealership is thoroughly inspected prior to sale, but you should have the car inspected if you’re buying from a private seller.
• Maintenance – Did the previous owner keep up with the vehicle’s recommended maintenance schedule? Find out! Properly-maintained cars are more reliable over time.

Age vs. Good Mileage for a Used Car

Which is more important for a used car: good mileage or age? Neither is more important than the other; it’s what they say about one other that should matter to buyers. Here’s why:

• Consider a car that’s only two years old but has 60,000 miles on the odometer. That’s still relatively low mileage, but the average driver logs about 12,000 miles per year—so this car has been driven quite a bit more than normal in a short period. There could be wear and tear that wasn’t noticed at the vehicle’s routine maintenance inspections.
• Now consider a car that’s 12 years old but only has 7,000 miles. Such low mileage could make it seem like a great buy, but be wary of older, low-mileage cars like this one. Cars that sit idle for long periods develop unique mechanical problems that don’t occur in cars that are driven regularly, like cracked rubber seals and gaskets.

Shop Our Selection of Pre-Owned Luxury Vehicles in Warner Robins 

If you’d like to know more about what good mileage really means on a used car, contact our service center to speak with a technician today. We’re here to help you secure the keys to a high-quality used luxury vehicle that’s easy on your budget! Visit Five Star Cadillac to take a test drive in the best used Cadillac sedans that you’ll find anywhere in Byron or Robins Air Force Base.