Should I Buy a Car With 200k Miles?
Chris is Head of Content for FindTheBestCarPrice and is based out of Philadelphia, PA. As a seasoned automotive industry analyst and car enthusiast, he ensures the highest level of quality across all our content and curates our picks for the best deals each month.
Chris studied information systems and marketing at Drexel University and writes about a wide range of topics ranging from car buying tips to troubleshooting common mechanical issues.
When he’s not thinking about cars, he likes to stay in with his dog and make an “attempt” to finish a crossword puzzle (he’s not quite at the Saturday/Sunday level…yet). As a former cheesemonger, Chris still has a “sharp” passion for all things cheese, and his fridge is always loaded with it!
Buying a used car is one of the best ways to save on buying a new car. Because they are called “used” cars doesn’t mean they are too old or faulty; you could find a year-old used car. But when buying a used vehicle, one of the most important things to check is the mileage on the odometer.
Apparently, if the used car has accumulated several thousand miles, the price should be lower than another one with fewer mileage counts. Now, you may want to ask, “Should I buy a car with 200k miles?”
Well, 200k is high mileage, but if the car is a Toyota, it’s still a good buy. Some car brands remarkably produce models that last well above 400k miles, so finding such models at 200k miles is still ideal - however, it should be listed with a “cheap” price tag.
This article explains whether or not you should buy a 200,000 miles car.
Table of Contents
What Is a High-Mileage Vehicle?
A high-mileage vehicle is simply a car with a reading of over 150,000 miles; many people don’t see 100k miles as high mileage. But then, once a car’s mileage starts reading in the hundreds of thousands, many buyers would consider it as high mileage.
This is why used car dealerships attach “lower” prices to 100k+ miles vehicles and “higher” prices to fewer miles alternatives.
If 150k is high mileage, what about 200k miles or higher? The higher the mileage reading on a car, the cheaper the car would be. Buying a high-mileage car is fine if the car has a verifiable maintenance and servicing record.
One of the reasons people shy away from high mileage cars is because they can cost a fortune to maintain.
Should I Buy a Car With 200k Miles?
Buying a car is a personal decision - you set out a budget, decide the type of car you want, decide the color and features needed in the car, and also decide where to buy from. However, reading expert reviews and guides about buying brand-new or used cars can help you make wiser decisions when choosing a new car.
Understandably, many people would want to consider 200k miles vehicles because of their price tag, but before you settle for such cars, ask to see the maintenance records and past owners and also ascertain the current state of the components. If the 200k miles car is in good shape and has good records, it could still be a great buy.
While 200k miles is a red flag for a number of used car buyers, some notable car models remarkably last over 400k miles and still drive smoothly; this includes cars like the Toyota 4Runner, Nissan Pathfinder, Toyota Corolla, Volkswagen Passat, Honda Accord/Civic, Ford F-Series trucks, Dodge Ram models, and Jeep Wrangler.
What To Consider Before Buying a 200k Miles Car
Although it’s cool to buy a 200k-mile vehicle, it is not professionally advisable because the maintenance and insurance costs for high-mileage vehicles are on top of the hill. Before you pay for that 200,000-mile vehicle, ensure that you observe these conditions:
- Is the price fair enough? It should be way cheaper than a 50k - 100k-mile option of that same car make and model.
- Are there bad or failing components already? If yes, ensure to get the cost of replacing that component, so you can request for it to be deducted from the car’s listing price.
- Go through the car’s ownership records (lookup the VIN).
- Why is the car being listed for sale at such mileage? Is it due to an accident, or does the seller need some money?
- Go with a professional mechanic to thoroughly inspect every aspect of the car to confirm that everything is in perfect condition and won’t need repair quite too soon.
- Ensure you buy the car from a reputable dealership or a trustworthy private seller.
Note: Don’t try to finance a high mileage vehicle; lenders would make you excessively high. High-mileage cars are best bought with cash. If you’d go through a car loan, avoid high-mileage used cars.
