What to Look For When Evaluating a Used Car

Buying a used car involves more than comparing prices. Mileage, vehicle age, and history can each tell you something different about a vehicle. Together, they provide a better starting point for evaluating it.

A car with 60,000 km may seem like an obvious choice over one with 100,000 km, but mileage alone doesn't tell you how the vehicle was driven or maintained. The odometer tells you how much the vehicle has been driven, the model year tells you its age, and a CARFAX report can help reveal what has happened throughout its history.

At Islington Chrysler, our lineup of used cars is always preferred by drivers in Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, and surrounding communities within the GTA.

Quick Answers:

1. Is lower mileage always better?

Not necessarily. A low-mileage vehicle can still require maintenance, while a higher-mileage vehicle may have been consistently maintained.

2. What is considered high mileage?

It depends on the vehicle's age, make, model, and how it was used. Instead of focusing on one kilometer threshold, consider whether the mileage makes sense for the vehicle's age and history. A decent rule of thumb to consider when looking for a unit is its driving mileage per year is below 25,000 kilometers. This accounts for the unit being driven for local commute or for personal use. Any unit driven for more than 25,000 kilometers per year may have been driven for longer distances, making its internal components put through more mechanical stress.

3. Does highway versus city driving matter?

Yes. Highway driving generally involves longer periods of steady-speed driving, while city driving involves more stops, starts, and short trips. Understanding how the kilometers were accumulated provides useful context.

Here's the bottom line: mileage is an important indicator, but it shouldn't be used as the sole measure of a used car's condition.

4. How Old Is Too Old for a Used Car?

There is no specific age at which a used car automatically becomes too old. Vehicle age should be evaluated alongside mileage, maintenance, and condition.

5. Is an older car with low mileage a good choice?

It can be, but low mileage doesn't eliminate age-related wear. Components such as rubber parts, seals, fluids, and batteries can deteriorate over time, even when a vehicle isn't driven frequently.

6. How does age affect reliability?

As a vehicle gets older, maintenance needs can change. That's why it's important to consider how old the vehicle is and how well it has been maintained, rather than assuming a newer vehicle is always the better choice.

What Should I Look for When Reviewing a CARFAX Report?

Aside from looking at the car's odometer to look at its mileage, or the year it was manufactured to account for its age, looking at its CARFAX report gives documented information that cannot be seen by physically inspecting the car.

A CARFAX report can provide information about a vehicle's reported accidents, mileage, ownership, service history, and registration history.

What does a CARFAX report tell me?

Depending on what has been reported, it can help you understand:

Accident or damage history
Reported mileage
Previous ownership
Service and maintenance records
Registration history

Does a clean CARFAX mean the car is in good condition?

Not necessarily. A clean CARFAX can be reassuring, but it isn't a substitute for a physical inspection or test drive. Not every incident or repair is necessarily reported.

What should I look for in the vehicle's history?

Look for consistent mileage, accident information, ownership history, and available maintenance records. Any unusual gaps or inconsistencies may be worth investigating further. For example, if the car's ownership was registered for commercial use then the vehicle might have been used other than personal driving.

Looking at the Whole Picture:

Mileage, age, and CARFAX history each tell a different part of a used car's story.

For example, a 2019 vehicle with 65,000 km and documented maintenance tells you more than the odometer alone. Similarly, an older vehicle with low mileage isn't automatically a better choice without understanding how it was maintained.

The goal isn't to find a used car with the lowest mileage, newest model year, or perfectly clean history. It's to understand the vehicle well enough to make a confident decision. At the end of the day, buying a car revolves around what your need as a buyer is, and being more equipped with the proper information makes the decision-making process a lot easier for the buyer.

Need Help Evaluating a Used Car?

Contact us to help you look beyond the odometer and model year when evaluating a used vehicle. We always strive to pay you top dollar for your trade in vehicle. In some cases we may even pay 'over' market value! If you're considering a specific vehicle, we can help you review its available history and understand the information that can help you make a more informed decision.

Explore Islington Chrysler's used inventory or speak with our team about a vehicle you're considering.

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