One of the questions any car buyer must have on the top of their list is what is a good mileage for a used car? Look, model and engine life must be on the checklist as well, but the amount of miles already on a used car is a top priority for any consumer. Mileage has many factors, which makes it one of the trickiest areas to investigate when shopping for a used car, though. Here’s a look at the many factors one must account for when looking into used car mileage.

Too Much Mileage?

When you are searching for a used car, you may be stuck between two vehicles. Maybe everything is about equal, including age and engine performance, so could mileage be the deciding factor between the two? While it seems like sound logic to choose the car with 60,000 miles on it over the one with 120,000 miles, it truly isn’t that easy. To put it simply, not all miles are created equally. A vehicle with lots of miles on it purely from driving on the highway might be in better overall shape than one that has half the miles but was driven constantly throughout city streets and suburbs. It’s also possible that a vehicle with low mileage has been used by several individuals, with questionable service records. Perhaps choosing a car with more mileage but complete service records is the wiser choice.

Used Car Condition

15,000 miles driven per year is universally accepted as the industry standard. That means 150,000 miles sounds like a ton, but that is an understandable number for a vehicle that has been consistently used over a period of ten years. If a car’s mileage does not match its age, be sure to investigate why that is while you are at the dealership. Start by checking out the condition of the car before getting into the mileage. Condition is the best indicator of a car’s remaining shelf life. If a car is taken care of properly, the interior and exterior condition should reflect that. This will help show a commitment by the previous car owner(s) to keep the vehicle in the best possible shape. A committed car owner is more likely to go above and beyond the routine checks of the vehicle. Start with the eye-test, then move on to the car’s mileage.

Mileage Remaining

The question that comes after overall mileage is how many miles a certain car has remaining. Again, many factors can play into determining remaining mileage. Quality of care is the main factor here. A car that has been neglected with half the mileage of a car that has been well taken care of could have less of a shelf life. It’s crucial to know the ins and outs about a particular year, make and model of a car to determine what the mileage means and how much mileage is remaining after purchase.

Used Cars In Phoenix

If you would like to find a used car dealership in Phoenix that knows how to take care of their customers, please visit InPowerMotors.com. We have a huge list of $500 – $1500 Down (O.A.C. – On Approved Credit) used cars for sale.