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The thought of purchasing a used car can be worrisome, especially if that car has high mileage. What many people don’t know, though, is that buying a high mileage used vehicle can have some perks over purchasing a brand-new vehicle.

The Benefits of Buying High Mileage

High mileage used cars often have several benefits for prospective car owners, including:

High Mileage is Usually Proof That a Car’s Had a Healthy Workout

As long as its owners took good care of a vehicle before offering it for sale, then a high odometer reading shouldn’t scare you away. Manufacturers design cars to handle a lot of driving.

In fact, cars need you to drive them to stay healthy, similar to how the human body needs routine exercise to stay in its best shape and healthy form. With routine maintenance, tending to necessary repairs, and regular driving, a high mileage 5-year-old car can be in better shape than a 20-year-old car with only 10,000 miles.

You’re Likely to Qualify for Financing, Even with Less-Than-Stellar Credit

Buying a used vehicle with high mileage can be especially useful for you if you have poor credit or little to no credit history, especially if you work with a Buy Here Pay Here dealership that focuses on financing for people just like you. High mileage used vehicles are often much lower in price than new vehicles and, therefore, have a lower financing risk, making it easier for you get approval to buy the car you want.

You Can Save Money (and Get a Better Resale Value)

Since you’ll save money by buying a used car with high mileage, you could also find yourself in a good position to resell the car later when you’re ready to move onto your next vehicle. If you’ve taken care of your high mileage car with routine maintenance and careful driving, you’ll probably find that it doesn’t lose much of its value during your ownership, even with its mileage.

What to Consider in a High Mileage Used Car

What, exactly, should you look for in a high mileage used car? If you think a used vehicle might be the best choice for you, you’ll want to consider the following factors:

Age

Car manufacturers continuously improve their vehicle designs and manufacturing technology to make newer cars better than their previous models. Used cars released within the last 10 years will likely give you the reliability and efficiency you want in a vehicle regardless of how many miles are on the odometer.

Maintenance History

A vehicle with responsible previous owners who have kept track of its repair and maintenance history is almost always a better choice than a vehicle with little to no evidence that its previous owner kept up with routine maintenance. The better a high mileage used vehicle has been taken care of over the years, the better it will take care of you after you purchase it.

The Right Seller

The dealership from which you purchase your used car is almost as important as the car itself. Be sure to do your research on used car dealerships to learn what other buyers’ experiences have been like during and after the purchasing process.

Many dealerships also let you browse online inventory to see what’s available. Doing so can help you learn more about the kind of car you want, narrow your choices, and compare prices, as well as find out more information about financing and other benefits the dealership offers.