What Is a Good Mileage for a Used Car?
Mileage is often the first thing buyers check on a used car. But lower isn't always better. Here is how to evaluate whether a car's mileage is "good".
The UK Average Mileage
Historically, the average UK driver covered around 10,000 to 12,000 miles per year. However, post-pandemic changes to commuting have reduced this. Today, a standard benchmark is 7,000 to 8,000 miles per year.
Using 8,000 miles a year as a rough guide, you can estimate expected mileages:
| Vehicle Age | Expected Mileage |
|---|---|
| 3 Years Old | 21,000 - 24,000 miles |
| 5 Years Old | 35,000 - 40,000 miles |
| 10 Years Old | 70,000 - 80,000 miles |
High Mileage vs Low Mileage
The Low Mileage Trap
A 10-year-old car with only 15,000 miles might seem like a dream find, but it could hide problems. Cars are designed to be driven. A car that sits unused for months or only does 1-mile trips to the local shop may suffer from:
- Rotted rubber seals and perished belts.
- Clogged DPFs (Diesel Particulate Filters) if it's a diesel that never reached motorway temperatures.
- A battery that never fully charged.
The High Mileage Motorway Cruiser
A 3-year-old car with 80,000 miles has done significantly more than average. However, if those were motorway miles, the engine ran at a constant, optimal temperature, the gearbox shifted rarely, and the brakes were lightly used. Combined with a full service history, this can represent excellent value.
Check the Progression, Not Just the Total
More important than the total number is how the vehicle reached it. You should always check the mileage history for anomalies like sudden drops (clocking) or periods where the car sat dormant.
When you run an AI Reg Check, our engine analyses the mileage progression mathematically and flags any drops or discrepancies in the History category and Main Concerns.