Should You Buy a Used Car Over 100K Miles?
Our team at Val-U-Line® hears drivers ask this question all the time. Should you buy a used car with over 100,000 miles? In many cases, the answer is yes! The 100,000-mile marker is the sign of a true veteran. You'll know the vehicle has experience and proven capability you can rely on.
If you'd like to learn more about what to look for when checking out the odometer on a used car, read our guide below.
What's Good Mileage for a Cheap Used Car?
When you hop into the driver's seat of a pre-owned car, one of the first things to catch your eye is the odometer. How many miles does it have? Is that too many? You'll need to examine both the mileage and the year to answer that question.
The average American drives about 12,000 miles each year. That means, you may need to do a bit of math to find out if there are too many miles on that odometer. Go ahead, check out the odometer:
- A 5-year-old car should have about 60,000 miles
- A 7-year-old car should have about 84,000 miles
- A 9-year-old car should have about 108,000 miles
- An 11-year-old car should have about 132,000 miles
It's important to remember that lower mileage is not always better. Modern vehicles are built to last, and they're meant to be driven. A 10-year-old car with 30,000 miles on it may have dried-out gaskets and a weak battery, but in a higher-mileage vehicle, those items are likely to have been replaced to keep it in tip-top shape.
Benefits of Buying a Used Car Over 100K Miles
The average American car is 12 years old. Therefore, most vehicles are cruising around with well over 100,000 miles on the odometer. When you buy a used car, it's important to think about how many miles you can still get out of it-not how many it has already covered.
Here are the top three reasons to buy a car with over 100,000 miles:
Lower Purchase Price
After creating a budget, a pre-owned vehicle with over 100,000 miles will make it easy to stick to since it will generally carry a low purchase price. This could give you the chance to save up enough money to pay for it in cash. That means, you could enjoy years of debt-free driving.
If you do decide to take out a loan, you'll be able to pay it off over a much shorter term, and your monthly payments are likely to be much lower. Plus, with so many high-mileage cars out on the road, banks and lenders are more willing to offer great loan terms for older used vehicles.
Reliability
If you buy a vehicle with 100,000 miles, you could still get another four or five years of driving out of it-sometimes more. It's important to remember that, with most modern vehicles hitting 200,000 miles, a car with 100,000 miles on the odometer has only reached its midpoint.
You simply need to stay on top of its regularly scheduled maintenance. Genuine OEM (original equipment manufacturer) part replacements are made with high-quality materials, and they'll keep your car running for many years to come.
Great Investment Opportunity
A cheap used car with over 100,000 miles will hold its value for much longer than many other vehicles. For example, if you purchase a 10-year-old car with over 100,000 miles for around $8,000, it may only lose $1,000 in value per year-maybe less if well cared for.
What does that mean for you? If you're thinking about upgrading in a few years, it should be easy to sell the car. Plus, you may have a decent down payment from the sale to put toward your next ride.
Other Things to Look for When Buying a Pre-Owned Car
Whether the used car you have your eye on has 100,000 miles or 200,000 miles, there are a few more things you should look for before you buy. First, you'll want to make sure the previous owner kept up with its maintenance schedule. Luckily, this is easily done with a CARFAX® Vehicle History Report™ in hand.
A vehicle history report will also have more in-depth information that can help you determine if the vehicle you're getting will be as dependable as you need it to be. You'll be able to examine info about:
- Reported accidents
- Number of previous owners
- Title history
- Recall notices
- Odometer readings
Finally, there's the test drive, where you'll get to experience the car firsthand. If you like the way the driver's seat feels and you think it's the right fit for your lifestyle, then you should certainly buy a car that has over 100,000 miles.
Where Can You Buy a Car With Over 100K Miles?
You'll likely find used cars with over 100,000 miles at any used car dealership. If you're looking for a dealer that prides itself on providing a worry-free car-buying experience, come visit one of the Val-U-Line® dealerships. All our vehicles are priced at $14,999 or below. They also come with the following:
- 360-point safety inspection
- CARFAX® Vehicle History Report™
- Completed state inspection
- No Questions Asked Return Policy
Every used car on our lot must pass a rigorous 360-point safety inspection regardless of how many miles are on the odometer. Our team of ASE-certified technicians will examine both mechanical and electrical components to make sure everything is in tip-top shape when you drive off the lot.
What if you get home and realize you should have chosen an SUV rather than the sedan you purchased? Easy! We have a No Questions Asked Return Policy, so bring the vehicle back to our dealership and we'll help you find the perfect match.
Find Cheap Used Cars Over 100K Miles!
Now that you know it's a good idea to buy a used car with over 100,000 miles on it, come find one that suits your needs at one of Val-U-Line®'s nationwide used car dealerships.
