Like many shoppers on the market for a pre-owned vehicle, you may be asking what is a good mileage for a used car? Auto City Credit can shed some light on the answer, and help you find that reliable, late-model used car you’re looking for. Let’s take a look at some of the factors that go into evaluating the mileage of a used car.

The short answer to this question is the average mileage on a used car should be 12,000 miles per year. So, the average five-year-old vehicle should have around 60,000 miles on it. So, “good mileage” will be anything significantly below the average. That’s what you should shop for first.

There is a short answer, and here’s the longer and less satisfying answer, it depends on a number of factors.

First, consider how the vehicle was used. Cars used for longer commutes can rack up mileage a lot faster, but that mileage is almost all highway. This means it’s likely there’s considerably less wear and tear. A car like this can make a great bargain, especially if there are ample records the vehicle’s maintenance was well taken care of.

You’ll also find higher mileage in former rental cars. While rental cars may have a lot of different kinds of miles under the hood, they are generally well maintained and usually late models. Rental car companies keep their inventory in top condition, so even with high mileage, used rental cars can make a great bargain.

Brand reputation may also be a consideration. Certain manufacturers are known for building reliable cars that last. Consider this when evaluating an older vehicle with more miles. It may be a better long-term investment than a more recent model from a manufacturer that has a less than stellar reputation for repair and maintenance.

Recent events have made finding lower mileage used cars easier. The pandemic that began in 2020 caused a significant shift to work-at-home employment. That means cars that would have been in the “average mileage” zone are falling behind the curve as their owners are no longer commuting. With regular maintenance, these vehicles become bigger and bigger bargains.

Auto City Credit makes it easy to sort our inventory of quality pre-owned vehicles by mileage. Our complete online inventory can be sorted easily to find used cars with less than 10,000, 15,000, 20,000 miles, and more.

Auto City Credit is your source in Dallas for low-mileage used cars at great prices. We have many convenient locations all over the Dallas area, serving Arlington, Lancaster, Garland, and the greater DFW area. All our vehicles come with the Auto City Advantage, which includes our 24 month / 24,000 mile limited warranty. Visit us today or get started with our easy online pre-approval form.