What is the safest mileage to buy 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. Cars are usually reliable for up to five years if they’ve been looked after. But a well-maintained 10-year-old car could be a better investment than a newer model that hasn’t been cared for as well. Budget is also a major factor. The older the model, the lower the cost.Finding the Right Balance. When buying a used car, it’s essential to find the right balance between mileage and age. A vehicle with low mileage but high age may have hidden issues, while a newer car with higher mileage may offer better value.A car that is more than 10 years old may lack modern safety features such as adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, or advanced airbag systems, which are becoming standard on newer models. If safety and technology are priorities for you, then a vehicle older than a decade might not meet your needs.The optimum age range for purchasing a used car is commonly recognized as falling between 2 to 5 years old. Within this timeframe, a car has traversed the steepest part of its depreciation curve while still maintaining relatively new and well-maintained conditions.A car’s age matters as much as its mileage. Even a car with low mileage can have issues if it’s old. Over time, parts like rubber seals, belts, and electronics degrade, even if the car isn’t driven much. An older car may also lack modern safety features found in newer cars, which can affect its long-term usability.
What is the best mileage to buy a second hand car?
To assess a used car’s mileage, multiply its age by 10,000. For example, a five-year-old car should have no more than 50,000 miles. If it’s significantly higher than this, investigate the car’s service and MoT history. Keep in mind that “high mileage” can vary depending on the car’s make, model, and condition. As a general rule, you should assume that the average car owner puts 12,000 miles on a car each year. 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.A reasonably good mileage on a used car should be about 15,000 km—20,000 km per year. For example, a three-year-old car should have used around 45,000 km to 65,000 km, and a five-year-old should have used around 75,000 km to 100,000 km. Anything beyond that is considered high mileage.A ten-year-old car, therefore, would typically have around 142,630 miles. Understanding this baseline helps you assess whether a car’s mileage is high, low, or just right. For example, a 10-year-old vehicle with only 71,315 miles is usually what is considered low mileage on a car and potentially a good deal.For Used Cars, What’s the Optimal Mileage to Look For? For the most part, you want to look for low mileage used cars. There’s no rule to how many miles on a used car is too much, but by attempting to stick to the 12,000 miles per year rule is a great place to start.Both age and mileage are important considerations when buying a used car. Still, the condition of the car and how it was maintained will ultimately have the biggest impact on its reliability and longevity.
What is the hottest used car selling right now?
Toyota corolla: the toyota corolla offers similar advantages to the civic—reliability, fuel efficiency, and affordability—which makes it a top contender in the used car market. Mazda3: known for its sporty handling and stylish design, the mazda3 continues to be a highly sought-after compact sedan in the used market. Hyundai variants like the sonata and elantra have consistently great quality & reliability j. d. power scores within the past few model years. Toyota and honda battle it out for the most dependable high-mileage reliable used cars. The highest j. d. power reliability rating of 93/100 goes to the 2022 chevy corvette.Toyota. For this reason, Toyota has long been considered one of the best-used car brands. Known for their reliability and excellent build quality, Toyota vehicles can run hundreds of thousands of miles with minimal issues. Models like the Toyota Camry, Corolla, and Tacoma are renowned for their long-lasting performance .Toyota and Honda models are often considered to be the safest older cars, as both manufacturers have a long history of producing reliable and safe vehicles. The Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, and Honda Accord are all good options if you’re looking for a safe car that is also reliable.The most dependable models—such as those from Hyundai, Kia, Lexus, and Toyota—have received high reliability ratings in various categories. Notably, the Toyota Corolla Hybrid, Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, Hyundai Elantra Hybrid, and Lexus NX Hybrid rank among the most reliable vehicles in the 2025 Consumer Reports survey.
What is the oldest second-hand car you should buy?
When shopping, is there a best age for purchasing a used car? Cars are usually reliable for up to five years if they’ve been looked after. But a well-maintained 10-year-old car could be a better investment than a newer model that hasn’t been cared for as well. Used cars are usually at their lowest prices from October through December, covering both late fall and early winter. This is a time when demand drops and dealerships aim to move vehicles off the lot.Generally speaking, the best time to buy a used car is at the end of the month, especially at the end of a quarter: March, June, September, and December. Dealers will be keen to meet their sales targets and, in turn, may offer better deals.If you have some flexibility when shopping for a car, timing your purchase can save you more money than you might think. Just as the end of the month is a good time for negotiations, so is the end of the year. Dealerships have annual goals, too, so they might be able to drop their prices a bit lower to get the sale.