What’s the oldest used car you should buy?
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. 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.In such cases, it may be best to consider purchasing a vehicle with fewer than 50,000 miles to avoid recurring maintenance issues and breakdowns. That said, a high-mileage car, such as one with 100,000 miles or more, can be a great option if you need a spare car or if you don’t drive much.Traditional wisdom used to warn car buyers to keep away from vehicles with over 100,000 miles. Put simply, though, the 100,000 mile-marker is no longer a good indicator for buying used. If a vehicle has been properly maintained, it can last several hundred thousand miles.The short answer: A good rule of thumb is 12,000 miles per year. So a 5-year-old used car with 60,000 miles or less is generally considered good mileage. But the real story depends on the car’s age, condition, and how those miles were driven.Consumer reports note that while the typical lifespan of a new vehicle is approximately 8 years or 150,000 miles, well-maintained vehicles can surpass 15 years and overcome 300,000 miles.
What is the best cheap reliable car used?
What is the most inexpensive and reliable vehicle? According to used vehicle reliability ratings, the most dependable used cars with the lowest price tags are the Kia Optima, Toyota Prius, Hyundai Santa Fe, Honda Accord, and Chevrolet Silverado. Consumer Reports places Subaru, Lexus, and Toyota among the top brands for overall reliability, particularly for hybrids and SUVs. Specific models like the Toyota RAV4, Corolla, and Camry repeatedly appear on Canada’s most reliable car lists for 2025.The most reliable models—from Hyundai, Kia, Lexus, and Toyota—have earned top reliability scores across a number of categories. For example, the Toyota Corolla Hybrid, Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, Hyundai Elantra Hybrid, and Lexus NX Hybrid are among the most reliable models in this year’s survey.
What’s the best age to buy a used car?
For most buyers, the sweet spot for a used car tends to be around three to five years old and here’s why: Depreciation Slows Down – The biggest drop in value has has already happened, meaning your car’s likely to hold its price while you own it. The sweet spot for used car buying is typically between 2-5 years old. During this period, cars have already undergone the sharpest depreciation (about 20-30% in the first year alone), making them significantly more affordable than a brand-new model.The optimal time to purchase a used car is typically between 2 to 5 years old. Within this age range, the vehicle has already experienced the most significant depreciation, yet remains relatively new and in good condition.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.A vehicle’s age is the key factor in determining car depreciation – that’s how much value the car loses over time. The older a vehicle, the less it’s worth. Again, this is because it’s more likely to need repairs at some point, but also because it will fall behind the standards of newer models.