​What mileage is good for a used car? 

​Mileage considerations for used cars​

By Tia Harrison-North

Understanding what mileage is good for a used car is an important step before making a purchase.

Mileage impacts the value, running costs, condition and reliability of the vehicle, so it can be make or break.

This guide explores what counts as a ‘good’ mileage for a used car, how to judge age-to-mileage ratios and what mileage can mean for a car’s history.

In summary:

• 5,000-8,000 miles per year is typical for UK drivers
• Multiply the cars age by 7,000-10,000 miles to estimate expected mileage
• Higher mileage cars will have more wear and tear, may have lower resale value, and may not be within warranty
• Mileage can tell you if a car was privately owner, ex-lease, ex-fleet or used for long-distance commuting

What mileage is considered good for a used car

Typically, UK drivers cover around 7,000 miles per year in their cars. That means you can estimate a typical mileage of a vehicle by multiplying the age of the car by 7,000.

For vehicles that are typically used for commuting or work (like vans, for example), you might want to consider going up to 10,000 miles per year.

As a guide:

• Low mileage: under 6,000 miles per year
• Average mileage: 6,000 to 9,000 miles
• High mileage: over 10,000 miles per year

Choosing a high mileage car isn’t necessarily a bad thing; just look at the maintenance history.

As long as the car has been serviced, wear and tear parts upkept, and there’s nothing of note on the MOT, high-mileage cars can be great bargains.

The age-to-mileage ratio

It’s important to view mileage in line with the age of the car. The UK average suggests that drivers can cover up to 12,000 per year, based on a 2024 study from CompareMOTHistory.

A car with a mileage outside of these ranges isn’t necessarily a problem, but you might want to do further checks like looking at the service history and any receipts for maintenance work.

Why mileage is important for used cars

Mileage is important for used cars as it affects a few things:

• Wear and tear: higher mileage means there’s been more wear on parts such as brakes, tyres, suspension and timing belts
• Reliability: more miles does mean more wear, but it can also be a sign of reliability
• Value: lower-mileage cars are typically more expensive to buy used
• Warranty: a lot of manufacturer warranties come with age limits, so you might want to add a fresh one from your dealer

While mileage isn’t everything, it gives you a good indicator of how hard the car has worked and how it has responded.

What mileage can tell you about a used car

You can often tell a lot about a used car by the mileage it’s sitting at for its age. For example:

• Up to one years old with very low mileage

Could be an ex-demonstration car from a dealership or a nearly-new used model. It could also be a pre-registered car. That means it’s brand new but was registered by the dealership with the DVLA to help hit manufacturer sales targets.

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• One to three years old with low mileage

These cars are often ex-lease models, as lease contracts usually run for up to three years and have an annual mileage limit. That means they’re typically well-maintained with full-service records.

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• Three to six years old with high mileage

These could be ex-fleet models from businesses, or long-distance commuter cars. Condition here might vary, so ask for MOT and servicing records, plus any other receipts for work carried out.

• Over six years old with high mileage

These vehicles could be ex-lease or privately owned, but high mileage is normal for cars of this age. As usual, take a look at the car maintenance history and ask for receipts of any work carried out.

With all of this in mind, a ten-year-old car with 150,000 miles can be considered normal.

High mileage with regular maintenance

If you are considering a high-mileage car, then proper maintenance is what you want to look out for.

High mileage isn’t always a red flag, especially if you’re shopping for an older model. And, if it’s been properly maintained, you might run into fewer issues than you would with a lower mileage car that hasn’t been upkept.

Key signs of a healthy car include:

• Full service history (often abbreviated to ‘FSH’)
• Consistent MOT progression with advisories taken care of and any big issues properly taken care of
• Evidence of major maintenance, such as timing belt, brake and suspension replacements

You’ll often get exceptional value from a high mileage car with strong maintenance records.

What to expect from Marshall

All used cars at Marshall are held to our meticulous standards, whether you’re looking at our used, nearly new or ex-lease models.

You can expect verified mileage and MOT history, plus comprehensive mechanical checks on the cars we sell.

Learn more about buying a car in our car buying guides.