Reading time: 5 minutes
Last updated: September 2026
Written by: The Motodan Team
Category: Buying Advice
Mileage is one of the first things most people look at when searching for a used car.
It's easy to think that lower mileage automatically means a better car. A 40,000-mile car must be better than a 90,000-mile car, right?
Not necessarily.
There isn't a magic mileage figure where a car suddenly becomes "too high". A car's age, service history, condition, how it has been driven and how well it has been maintained can all be just as important - and sometimes more important - than the number on the odometer.
So, before you automatically rule out a car because it has covered more miles than you'd hoped, here's what we'd look at.
1. There isn't a magic "Too High" mileage
You'll often hear figures such as 100,000 miles described as a cut-off point.
But 100,000 miles isn't a cliff edge.
Modern cars can cover very high mileages when they have been properly maintained, and current MOT data shows that millions of cars on UK roads have already passed the 100,000-mile mark.
The important question isn't simply:
"How many miles has it done?"
It's:
"How has it been looked after during those miles?"
A well-maintained car with 100,000 miles and a strong service history may tell a very different story from a neglected car with 60,000 miles.
2. Look at the mileage in relation to the car's age
Mileage makes much more sense when you consider the age of the vehicle.
As a very rough guide, cars in England averaged around 7,100 miles per year in 2024, although annual mileage varies considerably depending on the vehicle and how it is used.
For example:
- A 3-year-old car with 20,000 miles has covered relatively few miles.
- A 5-year-old car with 35,000 miles may have had fairly typical use.
- A 10-year-old car with 100,000 miles has averaged around 10,000 miles a year.
None of those figures automatically makes a car good or bad.
They simply give you some context.
And remember, low mileage isn't always a positive on its own. A car that has spent long periods sitting unused may have different maintenance considerations from one that has been regularly driven and serviced.
3. Service history can tell you more than the mileage
This is one of the biggest things we'd look at.
A car with higher mileage should ideally have evidence that it has been maintained properly.
Look for:
- Regular servicing
- Evidence of oil and filter changes
- MOT history
- Receipts or invoices where available
- Digital or stamped service records
- Evidence of manufacturer-recommended maintenance
- Any major maintenance that may already have been carried out
A full-service history doesn't guarantee that a car is perfect, but it can give you a much clearer picture of how it has been looked after.
As we covered in our Full-Service History guide, it's also worth looking beyond the words "full service history" and checking what was actually done and when.
4. What kind of miles has the car done?
Not all miles are necessarily equal.
A car that has spent much of its life travelling steadily on motorways may have experienced very different use from one that has spent years doing short journeys around town.
For example, motorway driving can put a lot of miles onto a car without necessarily meaning the vehicle has had a particularly hard life.
On the other hand, repeated short journeys, frequent stop-start driving and lots of cold starts can put different demands on a vehicle.
This doesn't mean motorway mileage is automatically "good" or town mileage is automatically "bad".
It's simply another piece of the puzzle.
5. Check the MOT history
The MOT history can be particularly useful when you're looking at a higher-mileage car.
It allows you to see how the recorded mileage has changed over time and can help you spot anything that doesn't look right.
You can also look for patterns in MOT advisories and failures.
For example, repeated advisories relating to tyres, brakes or suspension may be worth investigating further.
The mileage should also make sense as you work through the history.
If the numbers suddenly go backwards or there appear to be a significant unexplained discrepancy, that's something you should ask questions about. Vehicle history checks can also identify mileage discrepancies.
6. Higher mileage can mean some maintenance is more important
This is where being realistic matters.
A higher-mileage car may be approaching maintenance or replacement points for certain components.
Depending on the make, model and engine, this could include things such as:
- Timing belts or timing chains
- Clutch and dual-mass flywheel
- Brakes
- Suspension components
- Tyres
- Battery
- Cooling system components
- Other age- or mileage-related maintenance
This doesn't mean these parts are going to fail simply because the car has reached a certain mileage.
It means you should understand what maintenance the particular vehicle is likely to need and whether there is evidence that important work has already been completed.
7. Don't ignore the car's overall condition
Imagine you're looking at two cars.
Car A: 55,000 miles but poor condition, patchy history and lots of signs of neglect.
Car B: 90,000 miles, excellent condition, well documented service history and evidence of regular maintenance.
Which one would you rather investigate further?
That's why mileage should be considered alongside the rest of the car.
Look at:
- Bodywork
- Interior condition
- Tyres
- Brakes
- Suspension
- Engine bay
- Warning lights
- Service history
- MOT history
- Vehicle history
- How the car drives
A car's odometer is only one part of its story.
8. Is 100,000 miles too much?
Not automatically.
100,000 miles can feel like a psychological barrier, but there are plenty of cars that continue to cover substantial mileage beyond it.
Recent UK MOT data recorded more than 4.3 million cars in the 100,000–149,000-mile range, with many more beyond that.
That doesn't mean every 100,000-mile car is a good buy.
It simply shows that 100,000 miles isn't a guaranteed end point for a modern car.
If you're considering one, look particularly closely at its maintenance history, current condition and any upcoming work.
9. What about a low-mileage car?
It's also worth remembering that low mileage isn't a guarantee of a trouble-free car.
A car with very few miles may still have:
- Poor service history
- Age-related deterioration
- Long periods of inactivity
- Previous accident damage
- Mechanical problems
- An incomplete or questionable history
That's why we'd never recommend choosing a used car based on mileage alone.
Think of mileage as one piece of information, rather than a pass or fail test.
10. So, what mileage should you look for?
The honest answer is:
Whatever mileage makes sense for the car, its age, its history and your budget.
Instead of setting yourself an arbitrary limit - such as "I won't buy anything over 60,000 miles" - consider the whole vehicle.
Ask yourself:
- Does the mileage make sense for the car's age?
- Is there evidence that it has been serviced properly?
- Does the MOT history make sense?
- Does the condition match the mileage?
- Is there any important maintenance coming up?
- Does the car drive well?
- Does the vehicle history check out?
- Does the car suit your needs and budget?
If the answers stack up, a higher-mileage car shouldn't automatically be dismissed.
Buying with Confidence
Mileage is useful information, but it isn't the whole story.
A 40,000-mile car isn't automatically better than a 90,000-mile car, just as a 100,000-mile car isn't automatically a bad purchase.
Look at the age, mileage, service history, MOT history, condition and previous use together.
The aim isn't to find the car with the smallest number on the dashboard.
It's to find a car that has been properly looked after and makes sense for you.
Before you buy – a quick mileage checklist
☐ Check the mileage against the car's age
☐ Review the MOT history
☐ Look through the service history
☐ Check what maintenance has already been carried out
☐ Consider how the car has been used
☐ Make sure the condition matches the mileage
☐ Check for mileage discrepancies
☐ Find out what maintenance may be coming up
☐ Carry out an appropriate vehicle history check
☐ Look at the whole car - not just the number on the dashboard
Motodan's honest tip
Don't reject a car just because the mileage is higher than you'd originally planned.
A well-maintained higher-mileage car can make much more sense than a lower-mileage car with a poor history.
Motodan fact
There are millions of cars on UK roads with more than 100,000 miles on the clock.
MOT data for 2025 recorded more than 4.3 million cars in the 100,000–149,000-mile range alone.
Motodan's final word
Mileage matters. But it doesn't tell you everything.
When you're buying a used car, don't get too caught up in finding the lowest number.
Look at the story behind the mileage.
How has the car been maintained? How has it been used? What condition is it in now? And does it make sense for you?
That's where you start getting a much clearer picture of whether a used car is right for you.
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