Yes, 150,000 km is generally considered high mileage for a car, but it's not necessarily "bad" and depends heavily on the car's make, maintenance history, and how it was driven; a well-maintained car with 150,000 km can be a better buy than a low-mileage car with poor care, as consistent servicing (like oil changes and major component checks) is more crucial than the odometer number alone.
Over 150,000 km: This is high mileage. These cars might need more frequent repairs, but they can be bargains if they have a solid maintenance history and are known for longevity.
Treat any car >200k km as a repair-prone purchase. Pay for a mechanic's inspection and reduce purchase price to cover plausible repairs. If you're mechanically handy or have a trusted repair budget and the model has longevity reputation, the car can be a strong value.
How Many Kilometres Can a Car Log? In general most cars don't last more than 350,000km unless they've been well looked after. However this will depend on the make of the car and how well it has been maintained. Obviously the older the car, the more wear it has had, and the closer to the end of its life it will be.
While 160,000 km is generally considered high mileage, that number alone doesn't tell the full story. It's just as important to look at how and where the car was driven. A vehicle with higher mileage that's been well cared for can be a better buy than a lower-mileage car that's been driven hard.
That complies with common advice: to aim for a vehicle that has travelled less than 15,000km per year. So, if you're buying a car from 2015, 150,000km or less would be advisable.
A well-maintained car with 150K miles can last several more years, often exceeding 200K miles with proper care. Regular maintenance, including oil changes and inspections, significantly impacts a vehicle's longevity and reliability.
Used Car Mileage – Defining Good Mileage on a Used Car
A 5-year-old car with 75,000 to 100,000 km is considered average. If a car of the same age has less than 60,000 km, it can be categorised as a low-mileage car. On the other hand, a car exceeding 120,000 km might be considered high mileage for its age.
Acceptable mileage on a used car
Reasonable mileage ranges from 15,000 to 20,000km per year. Anything beyond that is considered high mileage. So, a 5-year-old car with normal usage would typically have between 75,000 and 100,000km on the clock.
Generally, vehicles with more than 250,000 kilometers on the odometer may have experienced significant wear and tear. While many cars can last well beyond this, you'll want to carefully consider the vehicle's service history and current condition if it has higher mileage.
150,000 to 200,000 Miles
This is when your car may need more significant repairs, such as the replacement of leaking engine oil seals, a transmission rebuild or replacement, a new exhaust system, or possibly a head gasket replacement. “The potential for big repairs goes up after 150,000 miles,” Ibbotson says.
Ultimately, car age and mileage both matter when buying a used car. They both affect the vehicle's depreciation rate and they are both interlinked – mileage is taken as being high or low based on a car's age and the older the car, the more miles it's likely to have driven.
A general rule of thumb for car mileage is that the average vehicle accrues about 10,000 to 12,000 miles per year. To determine if a used car has good mileage, divide the odometer reading by the car's age. For example, if you're looking at a 5-year-old car, a good mileage range would be between 50,000 and 60,000 miles.
Aiming for that 15,000km per year mark means you'll more likely get a well-maintained car that's been serviced at least once a year, while not having an exorbitant amount of kilometres on the dash.
No, 200,000 km isn't inherently bad for a car, but it signals a need for thorough inspection; reliable makes (like Toyota, Honda) with excellent, consistent service records can still be great buys, while poorly maintained cars, even reliable models, risk costly repairs, as wear on major components like engines, transmissions, and suspension is significant at this mileage. A good service history and a pre-purchase mechanic's inspection are crucial to determine if the car is a durable workhorse or a money pit.
Its recent ratings of the most reliable used car brands list Lexus, Toyota, Mazda, Acura and Honda in the top five. One new study finds that some 5 to 10-year-old used cars offer much better value, clocking in with better value and longer lifespans than ever before.
If you're asking, 'how many kms is too many for a used car', let's cut to the chase. Generally, vehicles over 200,000 kms could be ripe for costly repairs, but the true picture is nuanced by factors we'll unpack.
Engines in high-mileage vehicles experience gradual wear over time. Piston rings, valve seals, and gaskets can deteriorate, leading to increased oil consumption. If you notice that your car is burning oil between changes or that the oil level drops without visible leaks, it may be a sign of worn internal components.
What is the best age for a used car to buy? If you want the best balance of cost and dependability, a used car that's 2-5 years old is usually your best bet. Here's why: A car loses most of its value in the first 2-3 years, so buying nearly new avoids the steepest depreciation.
You can expect a one-year-old car with only 5,000 miles covered to look and feel practically new, while a car with 150,000 miles is likely to show lots of wear and tear both physically and mechanically - and potentially have some reliability issues if it hasn't been maintained well.
“High mileage” often refers to cars over 100,000-150,000 miles, but it's not a red flag on its own. Thanks to better engineering and durable parts, many modern vehicles can go 200,000 miles (or more!) with the right care.
The average for all vehicles reaching over 200,000 miles is just one percent. Toyota dominated as the top brand in all categories, including pickups. The study found Toyotas and full-size sports utility vehicles are the longest-lasting vehicles that are most likely to reach 200,000 miles or more.
If you notice any of these warnings, it's time to seek a qualified engine repair shop.
Which Cars Last the Longest?
“I would lean more toward newer vehicles, even if they have more miles,” says Jennifer Stockburger, director of operations at Consumer Reports' Auto Test Center. “And the reason I say that is because there have been so many advances in terms of safety and fuel economy.