What Is a Fair Price for a Used Car by Mileage?

A fair price for a used car in the U.S. depends heavily on mileage—same year, make, and model can vary by thousands of dollars based on how many miles it has. Here's how mileage affects fair price and how to use it when you buy or sell.

TL;DR Fair used car price = same-year, same-trim comps with similar mileage (within 10–15%). Rule of thumb: every 10,000 miles can move value roughly 5–8% in many segments. Use autopremo.com to see real comps by mileage in your area.

Why Mileage Matters So Much

Mileage is a proxy for wear. More miles usually mean more wear on engine, transmission, brakes, tires, and interior. Buyers discount that risk, so higher-mileage cars sell for less. In the U.S., 12,000–15,000 miles per year is normal; cars above that often take a bigger hit. Below-average mileage often commands a premium. Fair price is always relative to comparable mileage—not just year and model.

Check fair price by mileage for any car at autopremo.com.

Fair Price by Mileage Tier (Ballpark)

These are guidelines; exact numbers depend on make, model, and region. Use autopremo.com for your specific vehicle and zip.

Mileage tierTypical impact vs same car at 30k miles Under 15,000Often 5–15% premium (like new) 15,000–30,000Baseline (early life) 30,000–50,000Often 8–15% below 30k baseline 50,000–75,000Often 15–25% below 30k baseline 75,000–100,000Often 25–35% below 30k baseline 100,000+Depends on model; many buyers discount heavily

Rule of thumb: every 10,000 miles in many segments moves value roughly 5–8%. A 40,000-mile car might be ~8–10% less than the same car at 30,000 miles, all else equal.

How to Find Fair Price by Mileage

Step 1: Lock in year, make, model, trim

Same car can have multiple trims; mix them and your "fair" number is wrong. Get the exact trim and key options (AWD, leather, etc.).

Step 2: Pull comps in your mileage band

Search same-year, same-model, same-trim cars within 10,000–15,000 miles of your car. Example: for a 45,000-mile car, use comps between 35,000 and 55,000 miles. Use autopremo.com's price checker to see listings in your area.

Step 3: Get median and range

From 5–10 comps, note lowest, highest, and middle (median) price. Fair = within about 5% of median for that mileage band. Above 10% = overpriced unless condition or history justifies it.

Step 4: Adjust for condition and history

Clean history, one owner, full service records can support a price at or slightly above median. Accident history, gaps in service, or rough condition often mean below median. Mileage sets the band; condition refines where in the band the car sits.

See comps by mileage and condition at autopremo.com.

What Most People Get Wrong

Mistake 1: Comparing different mileage bands

A 20,000-mile car and a 60,000-mile car are not direct comps. Always compare within a tight mileage range (e.g., ±10k–15k miles).

Mistake 2: Using "average miles per year" only

12,000–15,000 miles per year is a rough guide, but total mileage matters more. A 5-year-old car with 40,000 miles is worth more than the same car with 80,000 miles, regardless of "average" use.

Mistake 3: Ignoring service history at high mileage

At 80,000+ miles, maintenance and repair history matter a lot. Two same-year, same-mileage cars can have very different values if one has full records and the other doesn't.

Mistake 4: Assuming low mileage always means "fair" premium

Very low mileage on an older car can mean long periods of sitting (bad for seals, battery, tires). Don't pay a huge premium without checking condition and history.

Get a fair price range for your exact car and mileage at autopremo.com.

Fair Price Formula (Conceptual)

Fair price ≈ median of same-year, same-model, same-trim comps within ±10–15% mileage.

Example: 2021 Honda CR-V EX, 48,000 miles. Comps (35k–55k miles) in your area: $26,200, $27,100, $27,800, $28,400, $29,100. Median ≈ $27,800. Fair range ≈ $26,400–$29,200. If listed at $30,500, it's above fair unless condition or warranty justifies it.

When Mileage Doesn't Tell the Whole Story

• Highway vs city: 60,000 highway miles can be easier on a car than 40,000 city miles. Condition and history matter.
• Rental or fleet: Sometimes higher wear per mile; buyers discount.
• One owner, full records: Can support a price at or above the mileage-based median.
• Accidents or damage: Can push value below the mileage-based range even if miles are low.

Always pair mileage with condition and history when judging fair price.

Your Fair Price by Mileage Checklist

• [ ] Exact year, make, model, trim identified
• [ ] Comps pulled within 10,000–15,000 miles of your car's mileage
• [ ] Median and range calculated from 5–10 comps
• [ ] Asking price compared to median (within 5% = fair)
• [ ] Condition and history considered (adjust up or down within the band)

Run your own fair-price-by-mileage check at autopremo.com.

Bottom Line

A fair price for a used car by mileage = median of same-year, same-trim comps in a similar mileage band (e.g., ±10k–15k miles). Mileage moves value roughly 5–8% per 10,000 miles in many segments. Use autopremo.com to see real comps by mileage in your area so you don't overpay or underprice.