There it is...99,999...100,000 miles!
Your odometer rolls over and suddenly the perfectly good car you drove yesterday feels like it should receive a senior discount. But does hitting 100,000 miles actually mean it's time to sell?
Not necessarily. Modern vehicles can travel well beyond 100,000 miles when properly maintained. But reaching six figures is a smart time to evaluate what you're driving, what it's worth and what keeping it for another several years could require.
The mistake is assuming there are only two choices: sell immediately at 100,000 miles or drive it until the wheels fall off. There's a lot of territory in between.
100,000 Miles Is a Decision Point, Not an Expiration Date
Mileage is only one part of a vehicle's condition and value. A well-maintained 105,000-mile car may be in considerably better shape than an abused 65,000-mile one.
What changes around this point is the bigger ownership picture.
Depending on the vehicle and its maintenance history, higher mileage can bring more attention to suspension components, cooling systems, belts, hoses, fluids, brakes, bearings, engine components and transmission performance. Tires may be approaching replacement again. Little noises you ignored at 60,000 miles can suddenly become considerably more interesting at 105,000.
None of that means a major repair is guaranteed. It means you should know what you're signing up for.
SHOULD I KEEP IT OR SELL IT?
TAKE A LOOK AT... |
KEEPING IT MAY MAKE SENSE |
SELLING MAY MAKE SENSE |
|---|---|---|
Reliability |
Rarely gives you trouble |
Repairs are becoming frequent |
Maintenance |
Records are excellent |
Major services are approaching |
Payment |
Paid off or nearly paid off |
You're still making a substantial
payment |
Future plans |
You want it for several more years |
You've already been thinking about
another car |
Condition |
Mechanically and cosmetically solid |
Several issues are developing |
Current value |
You're comfortable keeping that value
tied up in the car |
You're comfortable keeping that value
tied up in the car |
Don't Wait Until 150,000 Miles to Ask What It Was Worth at 100,000
This is where procrastination can become expensive. You may decide to keep your 100,000-mile vehicle, and that could be an excellent decision. But every additional year adds age, and every trip adds mileage.
If you drive another 15,000 miles a year, that 100,000-mile car could show 145,000 miles only three years from now. That's why knowing today's value matters.
CarBuyerUSA can provide your vehicle value in approximately 20 seconds, without requiring your email address or phone number just to see the initial value.
Now you have something useful: a number. Maybe you discover the car is worth enough today that selling makes more sense than you expected. Maybe you look at the number and decide you'd rather keep driving it because the vehicle is reliable, paid for and doing exactly what you need. Either way, you're making the decision with information instead of staring suspiciously at the odometer.
You Don't Have to Wait Until Something Breaks
Too many people think about selling only after the transmission starts slipping, the engine begins making an expensive noise or the dashboard lights up like a Christmas tree. You don't have to wait for a crisis. A vehicle with 100,000 miles can still have substantial value, and CarBuyerUSA buys vehicles in a wide range of mileage and condition levels nationwide.
So, should you sell your car at 100,000 miles?
Maybe. But first, find out what it’s worth.
Go to CarBuyerUSA.com and get your vehicle value before you automatically decide to keep driving it for another 20,000, 50,000 or even 100,000 miles. Knowing what someone is willing to pay for your car today could make that decision a whole lot easier.
Because 100,000 miles isn’t automatically the end of your car.
It may simply be the perfect time to decide what you want to do with the next 100,000.
