For many drivers, the age-old debate when buying a used car is whether the mileage or age of the vehicle matters more. While each of these factors plays a major role in a vehicle’s condition, higher numbers for both aren’t always a reason to turn away from a purchase. A car that has high mileage but has been well taken care of may still have many years remaining in its life, and the same goes for a car with a high age.

Certain sub-factors related to mileage and age, though, can help you determine whether they will negatively impact the used vehicle you are considering. Learn everything you need to know about these factors so that you can make an educated purchase decision.

Understanding Mileage: The Wear and Tear Factor

Between the two factors, age or mileage, the latter is truly a better indicator of the car’s condition. Mileage is just a direct indicator of the distance a car has been driven during its lifespan, but its importance can vary. For example, 100,000 miles on a car that is only three years old is one that was driven far harder than a vehicle with the same mileage at ten years old.

In regards to general wear and tear, though, it’s true that low mileage typically means that a vehicle has had fewer problems and will have fewer problems on an ongoing basis. Increased miles driven directly impact the quality of a vehicle’s major components, such as the transmisión, engine, suspension, and more. However, a high mileage also means that assuming the prior owner was doing their job, the vehicle has been through many maintenance sessions with mechanics, which helps to increase its longevity.

The Role of Age: Time’s Impact on Vehicles

Many people are under the common misconception that if they simply store a vehicle in their garage for a long amount of time, then they can take it out again one day without missing a beat. Unfortunately, just because a car hasn’t been driven doesn’t mean that its parts won’t have degraded. Age impacts everything, and cars are no exception. Parts that contain material such as rubber, which includes crucial components such as hoses, will naturally begin to deteriorate over many years if not replaced.

For drivers who only take their vehicle out occasionally, car washes may have seemed pointless. However, accumulated dust, dirt, and debris can begin to rust underneath your vehicle, which can lead to the degradation of parts such as the oil tank, gaskets, or other metal parts. On top of everything else, an older car may have had historical problems that went unaddressed as they didn’t significantly impact the driving experience of the vehicle. On older cars, this can lead to more serious problems developing that aren’t worth fixing due to the book value of the vehicle.

Comparing Mileage and Age When Car Buying

To truly evaluate whether an older vehicle is worth the money you are considering investing in the purchase, you need to balance both the mileage and age with other considerations. After all, an older vehicle does not automatically mean a vehicle that has a low resale value. First and foremost, consider the vehicle’s average reliability score to gain an indication of how long you may reasonably expect that vehicle to last. If it’s knocking on the door of its final year on average, then it may be best not to invest your money into purchasing it.

Further, an older and high-mileage car should ideally have a robust maintenance history and correct odometer that shows the owner took care of it during its years. This maintenance history should also be used to look at the average cost of repairs and what specific repairs were handled. For example, a vehicle with thousands of dollars worth of maintenance taken care of over 15 years may actually bode better than a vehicle the same age with nearly no maintenance conducted.

In the same vein, you should also check to see if any major parts, such as the engine, transmission, radiator, and others, have already been replaced. Those are naturally more expensive repairs, and if the prior owner already handled these, then you may be getting a “newer vehicle” disguised as an older vehicle.

Evaluating Vehicle History: Beyond Mileage and Age

Sticking to the same topic as above, you should request a maintenance report for every vehicle you attempt to purchase from a private party, even if it’s a newer car. This report will outline all major repair and maintenance tasks taken care of on the vehicle, their frequency, and any history of accidents. This can be used to speak with the current owner of the vehicle to gain a feel for the true condition of the vehicle. If the owner of a vehicle doesn’t want to provide this information, it should be considered to be a red flag.

Situational Considerations: Matching Needs to Vehicle Condition

Weighing whether mileage or age matters more in your purchase is truly a case-by-case decision. After all, someone who is seeking long-term usage out of a vehicle may prioritize a low-mileage car with safety features. On the other hand, someone who is seeking reliability on a budget may opt for a new car that is also a high mileage vehicle simply due to the fact that newer cars may last longer.

To determine whether you should prioritize fewer miles or a lower vehicle age, consider your budget and what you are hoping to get out of the car. If you want to look back in a decade and have a 10-year-old car, purchasing a vehicle that is already seven years old with average mileage may not be a smart choice. Don’t forget to look at car brands as well. Companies such as honda, toyota, Vado, y lexus are all known for making reliable vehicles with less wear over time. Consider the type of driving you will be doing, such as city driving vs. off-roading, as this will also have a direct impact on your vehicle’s condition.

Extended Warranties: Protecting Your Used Car Investment

Whether you are looking to buy a used car or a newer model, investing in an extended car warranty contract can help. Extended warranties, also known as vehicle service contracts, offer financial protection in the form of reimbursements for covered repairs stemming from manufacturer defects or breakdowns. An extended warranty will not cover repairs stemming from a car accident, as it’s not insurance, but it can be used if your transmission breaks down so long as that part is covered by your contract.

A vehicle service contract from providers like Endurance Warranty can save you thousands of dollars and prevent you from having frustrating headaches in the future. This benefit becomes all the more prominent when considering a pre-owned vehicle that may be more likely to have issues in the coming years.

Remember that a car’s age doesn’t always have a direct correlation with its likelihood of a breakdown, but that doesn’t mean that investing in protection is a bad idea. Lower mileage and higher mileage vehicles are still both just machines, and breakdowns can happen naturally, but having an extended warranty on your vehicle can stop a hole from burning in your wallet.

Safeguard Your New Purchase with Endurance

As indicated above, a car with a high mileage or high age is not necessarily a car that will need to be retired in just a couple of years. You can save money while still getting a reliable vehicle with a used car, though you must be certain that the sub-factors of its existing mileage and age are up to scratch. Beyond this, an old car is still an old car at the end of the day, which means it may have mechanical issues. This is why investing in an extended warranty, as outlined earlier, is so crucial.

At Garantía Endurance, we offer a myriad of planes de protección de automóviles. Those seeking basic, high-level stated protection for their older vehicle could enjoy the Secure Plus plan, which offers specific protection for only the most crucial components. Alternatively, those who have purchased a vehicle that the previous owner took good care of and one that likely has a long life span yet could consider the Supreme plan, which offers near bumper-to-bumper coverage.

Endurance’s wide range of contract options means you can truly design a plan tailored to your specific vehicle, lifestyle, and budget. Additionally, each Endurance plan comes with standard benefits like Asistencia en carretera 24 horas al día, 7 días a la semana, rental car coverage, and trip interruption reimbursement. You can also choose to activate our Paquete de beneficios Élite, which includes bonus perks such as key fob replacement, reimbursements for up to four tires per year due to road hazards, up to $1,000 in total loss protection, and so much more.

To learn more about how Endurance can protect your older vehicle, contact our knowledgeable plan advisors at (800) 253-8203 o Solicite una cotización GRATIS. Tú también puedes shop on our eStore to see your specific plan recommendations and pricing right now!