How Many Miles Can a Car Last? (2024)

FAQs

How Many Miles Can a Car Last? ›

A conventional car can last for 200,000 miles. Some well-maintained car models will reach 300,000 or more miles total.

In the past, the average lifespan of a car was significantly lower than it is today. Now, you can expect a standard car to last around 12 years or about 200,000 miles. More advanced vehicles like electric cars can go even longer, up to 300,000 miles.

If you take care of your engine, regularly change oil and other vital fluids on time and keep up with wear and tear, your engine may very well last 500,000 miles. It might even last forever!

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.

Buying a used car with over 150,000 miles can be a viable option, provided you take the right precautions and do your due diligence. While these vehicles come with a lower upfront cost and often have well-documented maintenance records, they also require more maintenance and may lack the latest technology.

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. Find out how old the car is, multiple the number of years by 12,000, and if the number on the odometer is significantly higher than that, some concern might be warranted.

As a general rule, most vehicles begin to seriously degrade at around 150,000 miles. It is considered rare, and therefore outstanding longevity, if a car reaches 200,000 miles on the road. That said, there's more to identifying good versus bad mileage on a used car than just the odometer reading.

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.

Finding a four-year-old car with 50,000 miles on it can be a great deal, as it means that the driver used it a little less than average, and it could have more life left in it. However, you should be a bit wary of vehicles that are a decade old with only 50,000 miles to show for it.

Is a 20 year old car too old? ›

Additionally, maintenance costs can quickly add up as cars age. Parts are harder to find, and labor is more time-intensive. If these concerns make you uneasy, avoid cars over 20 years old. This rule of thumb may help ensure your vehicle choice is still safe, reliable, and affordable.

What is considered high mileage on a car? Often, 100,000 miles is considered a cut-off point for used cars because older vehicles often start requiring more expensive and frequent maintenance when mileage exceeds 100,000.

How many miles does a car last? A conventional car can last for 200,000 miles. Some well-maintained car models will reach 300,000 or more miles total.

Much comes down to keeping your car well maintained. If you follow the manufacturer's service intervals, a modern car from a brand known for reliability should be capable of 200,000 miles or more. “Much depends on the specific make and model of the vehicle,” says Joe Veselak, an automotive tester at Consumer Reports.

Cars older than eight to 10 years will be a riskier option, depending on the driving and maintenance history, while vehicles over 15 to 20 are usually nearing the end of their service lives.

Minor things, if the rest of the car is still functioning well, I would say yes. If anything major goes wrong, like a transmission, or an engine, probably not. I would continue to do the regular maintenance as necessary.

Service History - If a car has made it to 100k miles, you can expect that it will have a lengthy service history. That is a LOT of data to ultimately help you decide if it's been a reliable car. A well-maintained car with 100k miles and no major issues is a great sign that it's reliable for another 100k.

Still, mechanics typically use the phrase 'high mileage' when a car has 100,000 miles or more on the odometer. That sort of mileage can put a lot of owners off and many cars don't come with warranty cover for more than 100,000 miles.

With rough estimates of average mileage and vehicle model, it is said that engines on newer cars have an average lifespan of around 10 years or 200,000 miles. It is common for vehicles to get driven 10,000-20,000 miles per year, which can give you an idea of how long your engine is likely to last.