How Many Miles Can a Car Last? (2024)

FAQs

How Many Miles Can a Car Last? ›

It's possible for some properly maintained, well-built cars to reach 300,000 miles. Typically, a conventional vehicle lasts for 200,000 miles.

Standard cars in this day and age are expected to keep running up to 200,000 miles, while cars with electric engines are expected to last for up to 300,000 miles. Keeping a car that long has a lot of benefits, including the fact that it could save you a great deal of money.

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!

While there are no exact mileage figures that definitively label a car as too old, auto industry experts recommend considering 200,000 miles as an upper limit. Beyond this point, even the most reliable cars may start showing indications of usage and deterioration.

In general, most modern cars can cross 200,000 miles without any major issues, provided the vehicle is being well-maintained. Considering that an average person drives 10,000-20,000 miles per year, this will account for roughly 15 years of service. Here are some factors to consider when assessing used car mileage.

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.

What's the Average Life of a Car? 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.

Toyota and Honda dominate the list of long-lasting cars, with models like the Camry, Civic, and Accord well-known for surpassing the 400,000-kilometer mark.

And then there are the real mileage guzzlers with a million or more miles on the clock. These are usually cabs, mostly from Mercedes-Benz, which is the case in a report from Grand Canary Island. According to Tenerife News, a W123 Mercedes 240D in the rather rare long version reached the milestone.

A conventional car can last for 200,000 miles. Some well-maintained car models will reach 300,000 or more miles total. The average passenger car age is currently around 12 years in the United States. Choosing a well-built make and model can help extend your car's longevity.

What car has the longest lifespan? ›

It's a good idea to sell your car before it hits 60,000 miles if you don't want to spend a lot of money on repairs and replacement parts. During this mileage bracket, your car should be about five years old, meaning it'll still command a substantial amount.

What mileage do vehicles begin to have issues at? Most vehicles will run smoothly until the 50,000 to 80,000-mile benchmark, but this is not guaranteed. Some vehicles may experience issues with their clutch, oil, and even transmission before this point, depending on how well the vehicle is maintained.

Depending on the car's value, repairing it might be worth the money to keep it going for a few more years. However, most modern gasoline-powered vehicles will start to struggle after the 200,000-mile mark. Electric cars can usually make it up to 300,000 miles before they're considered well used.

Routine Car Maintenance: 100,000 miles and beyond

If the car has been properly maintained up to this point, it should be able to have a lifespan of well over 200,000 miles.

Many modern cars with 100K-150K miles are in great condition and will easily go another 100K. However, if a car has not been maintained properly and has been driven hard or previously wrecked, it can be junk with only 30K miles on the odometer.

It's possible for some properly maintained, well-built cars to reach 300,000 miles. Typically, a conventional vehicle lasts for 200,000 miles. The average automobile age in the United States has increased over the past several decades.

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.

But, don't assume a car is in good condition because it has “low” or “average” miles — or that it is in bad condition if it has “high” miles. Many modern cars with 100K-150K miles are in great condition and will easily go another 100K.

How long should you keep a car? A typical car is expected to last 200,000 miles or more, with electric or hybrid vehicles going up to 300,000 miles. If you drive the average number of miles for an American, a typical car should last you about 14 years and an electric car will last about 21 years.