How many miles does an average car last?
Asked by: Dr. Adaline Lindgren | Last update: September 8, 2025Score: 4.1/5 (56 votes)
What is the average lifespan of a car?
According to a report from Consumer Reports, the common lifespan of a car is still estimated to be about eight years or 150,000 miles. Of course, the results of this report should be considered as the average lifespan overall, and not necessarily what you can expect from your car.
Is buying a car with 150k miles bad?
Generally speaking, it is not necessarily a bad idea to buy a used car with over 150k miles, but there are certain risks associated with doing so. It is important to do your research, thoroughly inspect the car before you buy it, and consider getting a pre-purchase inspection from a qualified mechanic.
Is it worth fixing a car with 200k miles?
Usually not. By the time a car gets to 200000 miles it's going to need almost everything replaced-- radiator, brake calipers, suspension bushings, struts, trailing arms, belts, heater cores, heater motors, and the lower frame is likely to be about ready to split in two.
What is considered high mileage for a car?
Often, 100,000 miles is considered a cut-off point for used cars because older vehicles often start requiring more expensive and frequent maintenance when mileage exceeds 100,000.
How Much Mileage is Too Much for a Car: On Used and New Vehicles
What mileage is too high to buy?
200,000 miles is generally the upper limit for even well-maintained vehicles. However, mileage alone shouldn't be the deciding factor. A car's maintenance history, number of previous owners, and overall condition are equally important.
At what mileage do cars start having problems?
Average Lifespan of Modern Vehicles
Now, they can last about 100,000 miles before needing replacement. You can also see this in how much carmakers have extended warranties in recent years. Across the industry, 100,000-mile powertrain warranties are fairly standard.
Is it worth keeping a 20 year old car?
Older vehicles often require more frequent maintenance, and some components may need replacement due to age-related wear. The overall cost of ownership can increase significantly as the car ages, potentially outweighing the initial savings on the purchase price.
What mileage to get rid of a car?
30,000 to 60,000 Miles
It's a good idea to sell your car before it hits 60,000 miles if you don't want to spend a lot of money on repairs and replacement parts. During this mileage bracket, your car should be about five years old, meaning it'll still command a substantial amount.
Can I sell a car with 300,000 miles?
If your car is still in running condition, there is someone out there willing to buy it from you for a price. It doesn't matter how much miles you have. It has to start and run. Voila, you have a buyer for it.
At what mileage should you replace your car?
It's possible for some properly maintained, well-built cars to reach 300,000 miles. Typically, a conventional vehicle lasts for 200,000 miles.
How many miles should a 10 year old car have?
The average mileage a car accrues per year is 12,000 miles. Given that number, the average 10-year-old car should have roughly 120,000 miles on the odometer. You can use these numbers to determine if the car you're looking to buy is considered to have high mileage or low mileage for the age of the vehicle.
What miles are good for a used car?
To determine whether a car has reasonable mileage, you can simply multiply 12,000 by its age. That means good mileage for a car that's 5 years old is 60,000. Significantly more or fewer miles could indicate a problem or trouble in the future. That said, mileage can be misleading.
Which car brand has the longest life expectancy?
- Toyota Camry, 20.4%
- Toyota Matrix, 16.7%
- Subaru Legacy, 16.2%
- Lexus GS 300, 15.9%
- Acura RL, 14.9%
- Honda Civic, 14.7%
- Volkswagen Golf, 14.2%
- Volkswagen Jetta, 11.7%
At what age are most cars scrapped?
On average, cars tend to be around the 14-year mark when they reach the crusher, and that is a figure that tends to remain the same year-on-year.
Should you let your car warm up?
Consumer Reports' chief mechanic, John Ibbotson, says that giving the engine a chance to run for a minute before driving on a cold day is smart but that there's no need to let it run longer beyond warming the cabin and defogging the windshield. And there's a real downside: wasting fuel and generating emissions.
At what mileage is a car not worth fixing?
Based on this figure, a 10-year-old car would have approximately 135,000 miles on the odometer. At this mileage, major components like the engine, transmission, and suspension system may be nearing the end of their lifespan, increasing the risk of costly repairs.
At what mileage should you sell a car?
Somewhere in between the 50,000-mile and 60,000-mile mark seems to be the sweet spot for selling used cars. Once your car reaches 60,000 miles, you might have to start dealing with more major repairs than you had to tackle before. You can avoid them while still making a nice profit when you sell your car at this point.
Is it worth it to keep an old car?
In the majority of cases, the savings found from retaining, maintaining and repairing your current vehicle far outweigh the costs of a new vehicle. This is true even in the case of buying a used vehicle. Another perk of keeping your current vehicle is that it is yours!
At what age do cars lose the most value?
Within the first year, many cars will lose up to 20% of their value. After that, they may lose about 15% more per year until the four-or five-year mark.
How often should you wash your car?
All these contaminants can eat away at your car's finish, affecting the paint, damaging the seals and rusting the metal. Keeping your ride clean helps keep it in good condition. If the weather's not too harsh where you live, washing your vehicle every two weeks is a good rule of thumb to help your car last longer.
What is the best age to sell a car?
That's how much the car's value decreases over time. According to Edmunds, there's a significant drop in the first 2-3 years, and another at the four-year mark. Selling in between those drops will generally net you the best value. After that, the next big drop usually happens at around eight years.
What mileage do engines last?
Modern technology means a longer vehicle life-span.
At one time, 100,000 miles was considered a long life for a vehicle. Today, that same distance is considered mid-life for most cars. Certain makes and models regularly roll through 200,000 and even 300,000 miles.
What mileage is too high?
As such, the average mileage of a petrol car is typically slightly less than the overall car average (as this includes diesel models, too) - 6,000 to 7,000 miles per year is a good benchmark. Therefore, a petrol car that has travelled an average of 9,000 miles per year could be considered relatively high mileage.