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Buying a High Mileage Car

by Bianca Garrison - October 23, 2019

Buying a High Mileage Car

You are in the market for a used car. You find one you like, but it has a lot of miles and you are worried. Buying a high mileage car comes with a lot of questions. Is it reliable? How much longer will it run? Has it been in any accidents? A large number on a car’s odometer isn’t necessarily a red flag. Read on to learn more about buying a car with over 100k miles.

How Many Miles is a Lot For a Car?

According to United States Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, Americans drive an average of 13,476 miles per year. When you are looking at a car that has a lot of miles, you have to take the brand of the car into consideration. For example, Toyota and Honda are two brands that are known for holding their value beyond 100,000 miles. So if you are looking at a Toyota Camry that has 110,000 miles, odds are the car can probably last for at least 100,000 more miles. If you drive 10,000 miles a year, that car can last you another 10 years. 

Another thing to consider is how and where the vehicle got those miles. A vehicle with 100,000 miles that are almost all highway miles might be in better shape than the same vehicle with 40,000 miles that was driven in neighborhood streets. That’s because the constant stop-and-go of stop signs and stoplights are harder on brakes than the smooth driving of the highway. 

If you find a car that has 65,000 miles, but has had several owners and incomplete service records and it is the same price as a car that has 100,000 miles with a single owner and complete maintenance records, then the high mileage car may be the better buy. 

Should I Buy a Car With a Lot of Miles?

Buying a high mileage car is a decision that should not be taken lightly. There are a lot of things to consider. One way to look at the high mileage concern is to ask how many miles are left on the vehicle rather than how many miles it currently has. As stated above, certain cars are known to last well over 100,000 miles. 

Think about the condition of the car. If the car has been well taken care of, it might make your decision easier. Also, be sure to get complete service records of all cars you are interested in. 

Buying a car with over 100k miles could actually work out in your favor especially if you don’t have a large budget. 

What Are the Most Reliable High Mileage Cars?

According to many reputable sources including Carfax, U.S. News, and Consumer Reports, these are some of the most reliable high mileage cars:

  • Subaru Legacy/Outback
  • Toyota Tacoma
  • Lexus RX 350
  • Toyota 4Runner
  • Ford F-150
  • Subaru Forester
  • Honda CR-V
  • Jeep Cherokee
  • Chevrolet Suburban

According to Clark.com, the following vehicles can last 200,000 miles or more:

  • Toyota Avalon
  • Honda Odyssey
  • Toyota Camry
  • Toyota Camry Hybrid
  • Toyota Sienna
  • Toyota Prius
  • Honda Accord
  • Chevrolet Impala
  • Honda Civic

Thanks to improvements in automotive quality, high-mileage cars have become the norm, not the exception. According to Carfax.com, the average odometer reading in the U.S. is currently around 95,000 miles. Additionally, nearly 118 million cars on our roadways have more than 100,000 miles on the clock.

If you are considering purchasing a high-mileage vehicle, don’t forget that you will need car insurance.

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