High vs. low: what’s best mileage for a used car?

Why is mileage important?

Mileage is the distance a car has travelled over its lifetime, measured in miles or kilometres. The mileage reading appears on the vehicle’s odometer. The odometer is in the instrument cluster. On some vehicles with a configurable electronic cluster, you may have to toggle the cluster view for the odometer to appear. (Some will also show a trip odometer or the mileage left before maintenance is required, so be sure you’re looking at the correct number.)

If you’re on the market for a used car, you’ve likely already compared a few different models. And aside from the price tag, mileage is perhaps the first thing you’ve looked at. Understandably so, since mileage generally correlates with the car’s value: higher mileage often means a lower selling price, and vice versa.

Most used cars have been driven for at least a few years. Through regular use, various components start to wear down, gradually causing the car’s value to drop — this is depreciation.

As such, mileage is commonly used to gauge wear and tear. That’s why cars that haven’t covered much ground will typically cost more, since they likely haven’t developed significant issues yet. However, the assumption that low-mileage cars will guarantee fewer problems doesn’t always hold true.

Mileage only tells you how far the car has travelled, but nothing about how it was previously treated. A 50,000-kilometre car could come with serious red flags if the previous owners skipped basic vehicle maintenance tasks, like changing the oil. In comparison, a 100,000-kilometre car might be in excellent shape if it was taken for servicing every few months.

Before you buy a used car, make sure you review the vehicle’s history and service records. Or better yet, get a pre-purchase inspection done by a trusted mechanic. Combined with the car’s mileage, these checks will offer a clearer picture of whether it’s truly worth your money.

What is considered good mileage for a used car?

Good mileage doesn’t have a universal definition. it essentially comes down to your needs and priorities — what is perfect for one person might not suit another.

The average Canadian driver drives 15,336 kilometres (or 9,529 miles) per year.¹ Some experts suggest an upper mileage benchmark of 20,000 kilometres driven per year of ownership; anything over that might signal that the car has been overworked.

For a five-year-old car, this translates to about 100,000 kilometres. For a 10-year-old model, it’s about 200,000. Issues generally become more frequent as you move further into the hundreds of thousands, so buying a 500,000-kilometre car (for example) might not be worthwhile — you might quickly end up funneling more money into repairs than what you bought the car for.

As you compare mileage across used models, remember to factor in their age, too. The average age of cars on Canadian roads today is approximately 10 to 11 years.² Many modern vehicles, particularly those built within the last decade or two, can last up to 15 years with the proper care, reaching 300,000 kilometres or so.³ Of course, you’ll be better off buying one that’s still got years of reliable service ahead — but that will depend on your budget.

To summarize, consider both the age and mileage of the car rather than mileage alone. Assuming the car’s age is reasonable, you can use the following margins when comparing your options:

• Low mileage: 10,000 kilometres or less per year
• Moderate mileage: 10,000 to 20,000 kilometres per year
• High mileage: 20,000 kilometres or more per year

High mileage vs. low mileage considerations

Buying a car, whether new or used, has its fair share of considerations. Of course, you’ll only worry about the odometer reading when buying pre-owned, which brings up another factor to consider: do you buy high or low mileage?

Buying a high-mileage used car

Pros	Cons
Save money upfront Much of the car’s value has depreciated already, so you won’t be taking a big hit Potentially lower cost of car insurance	Manufacturer or extended warranty options might no longer be available Maintenance issues may be more frequent and widespread Potentially higher interest rates if you decide to finance

A high-mileage used car can usually offer upfront savings, but be prepared for recurring expenses down the road as the car ages.

Buying a low-mileage used car

Pros	Cons
Typically cheaper than buying new Fewer kilometres usually means the engine and components have been through less stress May be under factory or extended warranty May attract buyers down the road	Mechanical issues can still exist despite low mileage Repairs (when needed) can be more expensive if the vehicle uses older parts or outdated systems May depreciate faster than higher-mileage cars of similar age Increased risk of odometer fraud

A low-mileage used car may offer better long-term reliability and warranty coverage. It still will depreciate and need maintenance, and could exhibit issues from regular wear, but all things being equal, likely not as much as a higher-mileage used car.

Odometer fraud isn’t so widespread nowadays, but it’s still a concern for some used car buyers. Basically, the odometer reading is tampered with (and usually rolled back) to display a different mileage, often to make it appear newer. If there is a chance of odometer fraud, the possibility is more likely in a private or uncertified sale.

If you’re looking into a low-mileage model, make sure the odometer reading aligns with the numbers in the vehicle’s history and recent maintenance reports. If the dealer is hesitant to produce such reports, it’s a red flag. The official mileage should reflect the car’s condition, too. This is where a pre-purchase inspection can help, especially if you’re not comfortable inspecting the car on your own.

Other considerations when buying a used car

Mileage is important, but it’s not the only factor you should consider when buying used. Here are a few questions you should ask before you secure the deal:

What was the car used for?

Was it primarily used for short city trips, long highway drives, or perhaps as a work vehicle?

Two cars can have equal mileage, but the wear on their components can be vastly different depending on how that mileage was accumulated. Highway driving is generally easier on a vehicle than frequent stop-and-go city traffic (unless the highway driving was always during the heaviest commuter hours and was primarily stop-and-go as well).⁴ A vehicle used solely for short trips usually doesn’t have much chance to get up to ideal operating temperature, which can ultimately be harder on an engine than longer drives. And, a car used for commercial purposes may have endured heavier loads or rough terrains (depending on the job, of course).

Don’t just ask how far the car has gone—ask how it got there. The type of driving can reveal more about the car’s condition than the odometer alone.

How often was the car serviced?

This is key to the car’s longevity. Routine servicing allows mechanics to change or top up the car’s fluids and ensure all components function properly. You will want to see all of the service records to determine if the vehicle had any serious mechanical issues, and was done to correct them.

Some components require servicing at different intervals. Check the owner’s manual to ensure that the previous owners followed the manufacturer’s recommended schedule. Each car service should be documented in the vehicle’s maintenance history records. Watch out for suspiciously long gaps.

If the car has racked up many kilometres, it’s also worth asking what type of oil it’s running on. Many auto manufacturers specify the viscosity and often even the formulation of oil that should be used in their engines within the owner’s manual, especially newer vehicles that may have very tight engine tolerances.⁵ If the automaker does specify, that’s what the car should be using. If a specific oil isn’t required, some vehicles over 120,000 kilometres may see benefit in using ‘high mileage oil’, which helps condition engine seals and reduce leaks.⁶

Has the car been in any accidents or required repairs?

No one wants to buy a battered car — and presumably you don’t either. Ask the dealer if the car had any prior damage, and if so, exactly what repairs were done and when. A fresh paint job can hide many imperfections, but it won’t fix underlying structural issues or mechanical wear.

If the seller doesn’t provide a vehicle history report upfront, consider requesting one from CARFAX Canada. It can reveal if the car has been through major collisions, suffered water damage, or has unfixed safety recalls. If the car is certified pre-owned (CPO), that’s a good sign—it means it was inspected and approved by the manufacturer or dealer before being listed for sale.

Also, don’t just take the seller’s word for it. Get a trusted mechanic to inspect the car thoroughly (especially if you’re buying from a private seller). They’ll check for things you might not notice, like fluid leaks, worn brake pads or rotors, worn shocks or struts, cracked belts, unusual engine noises, or transmission slipping.

In Ontario, inspection centres licensed by the Ministry of Transportation can provide safety certificates for vehicles that meet the government’s criteria for minimum safety standards. You can still buy and register the car without a safety standards certificate, but you can’t put plates on it until that’s issued.⁷

How long do you plan on keeping the car for?

If you’re only looking for a temporary ride, a higher-mileage car might work just fine without too much trouble. However, if you’re hoping to keep the car long-term, it’s worth finding something with as little mileage as possible — budget permitting, of course.

It’s not just the car you’re paying for; you’re also investing in peace of mind.

Commonly asked questions

Does mileage affect your car insurance rates?

It’s kind of a yes and no situation. Insurance companies don’t consider the total mileage accumulated on the odometer when calculating your car insurance premiums. Most will be concerned with your annual mileage, or how much you drive in a typical year.

Some insurers may monitor this distance via a device attached to the car, offering potential discounts through usage-based programs. But mileage generally plays a bigger role in assessing who should be listed as the car’s primary operator on the policy, which inherently affects the rate.

Every insurer does things differently, so it’s worth checking with your provider to understand exactly how they factor in mileage.

Is high mileage always a problem?

Not necessarily.

High mileage can be a red flag, but it’s not an automatic deal-breaker. A well-serviced car with 200,000 kilometres on the odometer can be in better shape than a neglected one at 100,000. In the same vein, a car that has sat idle for prolonged periods without being driven can develop its own set of problems, possibly including seized brake calipers or cooling system issues.

It all boils down to how the previous owners drove and cared for it over the years, along with all the other factors we’ve covered in this article.

Sources

1. National Resources Canada. “2009 Canadian Vehicle Survey Summary Report.” oee.nrcan.gc.ca, oee.nrcan.gc.ca/publications/statistics/cvs/2009/index.cfm. Accessed May 9.
2. Government of Canada. “Canadian vehicle survey, passenger-kilometres, by type of vehicle and province, quarterly” open.canada.ca, 27 Jun. 2018, open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/4e65e8bc-021b-4607-b58d-33404f550c3b.
3. Towing and Scrap Car Removal. “What is the Average Life Span of a Car?” towingandscrapcarremoval.ca, towingandscrapcarremoval.ca/blog-post/what-is-the-average-life-span-of-a-car. Accessed May 9.
4. GoodCar. “Highway Miles vs. City Miles: Which One’s Better?” goodcar.com, goodcar.com/car-ownership/city-miles-vs-highway-miles. Accessed May 9.
5. McIntosh, Jil. “Does using the right engine oil really matter?” driving.ca, 31 Mar. 2025, driving.ca/features/maintenance/does-using-the-right-engine-oil-really-matter.
6. Teague, Chris. “Is High Mileage Oil Worth It?” carfax.com, 20 Mar. 2025, carfax.com/maintenance/high-mileage-oil.
7. Government of Ontario. “Safety standards certificate.” ontario.ca, 1 May 2017, ontario.ca/page/safety-standards-certificate.

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