Last week, I watched my neighbor Tony walk around a 2015 Honda Civic with 145,000 miles on it, shaking his head like he’d found a deal breaker. “Too many miles,” he muttered. Meanwhile, my buddy Sarah just bought a 2018 sedan with 65,000 miles that spent its life as a delivery car in downtown Chicago. Guess which one’s already back in the shop? The truth is, those odometer numbers tell a story, but you need to know how to read between the lines.

• The 100,000-mile barrier died with flip phones: modern cars regularly hit 200,000+ miles when maintained properly
• Highway miles beat city miles every time: a 120,000-mile interstate cruiser will outlast most 80,000-mile city fighters
• Maintenance milestones predict your wallet pain: know what’s coming at 60K, 100K, and 150K before you buy

The Death of the 100K Myth

My dad still talks about cars being “done” at 100,000 miles. Back in the 1980s, maybe. Today’s cars laugh at that number. I know people driving Toyotas with 250,000 miles that start every morning without complaint. Modern engineering changed everything: better metals, tighter tolerances, synthetic oils that actually protect what they’re supposed to protect.

Here’s what really happens: a three-year-old car with 140,000 miles probably lived on highways, getting regular oil changes between long trips. Compare that to a ten-year-old car with 60,000 miles that spent a decade making short trips to the grocery store, never getting hot enough to burn off moisture and contaminants. Which one sounds healthier to you?

The 12,000-Mile-Per-Year Math

Most people drive about 12,000 miles annually. Take any car’s age, multiply by 12,000, and you get a ballpark for normal mileage. A five-year-old car should have around 60,000 miles, give or take. Way over that number? The previous owner either had a long commute or took some serious road trips. Way under? Maybe it sat in a garage most of its life.

But don’t get religious about this formula. I’d rather buy a well-maintained eight-year-old car with 130,000 miles than a neglected four-year-old with 25,000 miles that never saw a maintenance shop.

Why Highway Miles Win Every Time

All miles aren’t equal. City driving beats up cars something fierce. Think about it: you’re constantly stopping at red lights, accelerating from zero, riding your brakes in traffic jams. Your transmission shifts constantly, your engine runs hot in stop-and-go traffic, and your brake pads get a workout every few blocks.

Highway driving tells a different story. Your engine finds its happy cruising RPM and stays there for hours. Your transmission locks into top gear and coasts. Your brakes barely get used except for the occasional lane change or off-ramp. A car with highway miles often looks and runs years younger than its city-driven cousin.

When you’re looking at a used car, ask where those miles came from. Highway commuter? Great. Urban delivery vehicle? Maybe keep looking.

The Maintenance Miles Reality Check

Smart used car shoppers know the maintenance schedule better than the salesperson. Here’s when things get expensive:

Around 50,000 miles: Brake pads start squealing, transmission fluid needs changing, and if you’re unlucky, those original tires are getting sketchy. Budget around $1,500 for this round of maintenance.

The 60,000-mile service: This one hurts. Timing belt inspection becomes serious business. If it snaps, you’re looking at engine damage. Transmission service isn’t optional anymore. Spark plugs might need replacing. Plan for $2,000-3,000 in maintenance around this milestone.

100,000 miles—the big one: If the timing belt wasn’t replaced at 60K, it’s due now. Tires definitely need replacing. Water pump might start leaking. Exhaust system components start showing their age. This can easily run $3,000-5,000 depending on what needs attention.

Beyond 150,000 miles: You’re in high-mileage territory now. Suspension components start getting creaky, air conditioning systems develop leaks, and electrical gremlins show up. Not necessarily deal-breakers, but factor these potential costs into your decision.

When Low Miles Mean Trouble

Here’s something that surprised me early in my car-buying education: sometimes super-low mileage creates problems. Cars that sit unused for months develop their own issues. Seals dry out, fluids get funky, batteries lose their ability to hold charge, and rubber components crack from sitting still.

I once looked at a five-year-old car with only 15,000 miles on it. Sounded great until I learned it belonged to an elderly owner who drove it maybe twice a month to church and back. The brake rotors had surface rust, the tires showed flat spots from sitting, and the engine ran rough until it warmed up. Sometimes regular use keeps things healthier than garage pampering.

Brand Reputation Matters

Some manufacturers build cars that shrug off high mileage better than others. Toyota and Honda earned their reliability reputations honestly. I know people with Camrys and Accords pushing 300,000 miles. Ford trucks, especially the F-150, can handle serious mileage when maintained properly.

Luxury brands? That’s trickier territory. A BMW or Mercedes with 150,000 miles might still run beautifully, but when something breaks, the repair bills can sting. Factor those potential costs into your budget.

The Real Upper Limit

So when do the numbers actually become scary? Around 200,000 miles, even well-maintained cars start showing their age. Major components like transmissions, engines, and suspension systems have accumulated enough wear that expensive repairs become more likely.

That said, I know people happily driving cars with 250,000+ miles. The secret? Religious maintenance, gentle driving habits, and realistic expectations about repair costs.

Making the Smart Call

When you’re staring at a used car with high mileage, ask the right questions. Was it a highway commuter or a city warrior? Does the seller have maintenance records? Has the timing belt been replaced? Can you see evidence of regular oil changes?

Get a pre-purchase inspection, especially for anything over 100,000 miles. A good mechanic can spot upcoming problems and give you a realistic picture of what you’re getting into.

The sweet spot for most buyers sits somewhere between 60,000 and 120,000 miles. You avoid the brutal depreciation hit of a nearly new car while getting a vehicle with plenty of life left. Understanding what those miles represent helps you make smart decisions instead of following outdated rules about high-mileage vehicles.

Don’t let big numbers scare you away from a good deal. A maintained car with higher mileage often beats a neglected low-mileage vehicle every time. The odometer tells part of the story: the maintenance records and overall condition tell the rest.