What Is Good Mileage for a Used Car?
There are countless things to consider while shopping for a car, especially when it comes to buying a previously-owned vehicle.
Drivers need to take a number of things into consideration, including the price, auto insurance costs, condition and age.
However, we can’t talk about buying a used car in Canada without talking about the importance of mileage. Used cars are generally classified as “high” or “low” mileage vehicles — this leads to today's question, “what is good mileage for a used car in Canada?”.
Want to learn the answer? Continue reading to learn more!
What is good mileage for a used car in Canada?
Many automotive experts believe that a used vehicle has “good mileage” if it has been driven less than 160,000 km. Anything above the 160,000 km mark is generally considered a high-mileage vehicle.
But, the total kilometres driven isn’t the only thing that indicates if a vehicle has “good car mileage”.
You also need to take the mileage range into consideration.
Bonus tip — Learn about the pros and cons of buying a used vehicle with accident history.
How to calculate a used car mileage range
Determining the mileage range of a used vehicle is relatively straightforward but will require you to do a little bit of math. To calculate the mileage range of a used car, all you need to do is multiply the age of the vehicle by the average annual mileage (24,000 km) and compare it to the vehicle’s odometer.
Here’s an example:
You’re thinking about buying a nine-year-old Honda Civic with roughly 145,000 km. To calculate the mileage range of this vehicle, you would multiply nine by 24,000, which equals 216,000 km. You can then subtract 145,000 from 216,000, which equals 71,000.
This equation indicates that the nine-year-old Honda Civic has been driven roughly 71,000 km less than an average vehicle (that’s the same age), which makes it a low mileage vehicle.
So, the next time you ask yourself, “what is good mileage for a used car in Canada”, you can find the answer by using the handy formula listed above!
How to calculate the average annual mileage of a used car
If you want to calculate the average annual mileage of a used car, we’ve got you covered!
Calculating the average annual mileage of a vehicle is quite simple: all you have to do is divide the odometer reading by the age of the used vehicle.
We’ll use the previously mentioned Honda Civic for another example:
You’re thinking about buying a nine-year-old Honda Civic with roughly 145,000 km. To calculate the average annual mileage, simply divide 1450,000 by nine. This equals out to 16,110 km driven per year, which is well under the national average of 24,000 km.
This is one of the best ways to figure out if you’re getting good mileage on a used car.
Highway mileage vs city mileage — What’s the difference?
If you’re asking yourself, “how much mileage is good for a used car in Canada?”, you should take a moment to learn about the difference between city mileage and highway mileage.
Knowing the difference between these types of mileage can be the deciding factor between buying a used car and holding out for a different option.
What is city mileage?
City mileage is a term that refers to the amount of “city driving” a vehicle has experienced.
City mileage is often referred to as “bad mileage”, as it tends to be tougher on vehicles. This is due to the fact that large cities are full of stop signs, street lights, etc., which force drivers to brake, idle and accelerate more often. City streets are often home to speedbumps, potholes and other risks that can damage vehicles.
These factors can lead to additional wear and tear, which can lead to mechanical issues and affect the lifespan of the vehicle.
What is highway mileage?
Highway mileage is a term that refers to the amount of “highway driving” a vehicle has experienced. In comparison to city mileage, highway mileage puts considerably less strain on vehicles (which is why it is often referred to as “good mileage”). This is due to the fact that highway driving is relatively streamlined and doesn’t require drivers to brake or idle nearly as often.
If you’re thinking about buying a used vehicle, be sure to ask the seller if the vehicle spent more time driving on highways or city streets. Even if a vehicle appears to have good used car mileage, it may not be the best option if it was primarily driven in cities.
However, if the seller says that the vehicle was primarily used for highway driving, it may be a reliable option.
Does mileage affect your car insurance rate in Canada?
No, but at the same time, yes, mileage plays a part in determining your auto insurance rates.
Let’s clarify:
If you’re buying a used car, the mileage count will not affect your premium. However, the amount that you drive said car will affect your premium.
As a rule of thumb, the more that you drive, the more likely it is that you’ll get into an accident or collision. This is why drivers that use their vehicles occasionally often opt for products like usage-based insurance.
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