Mileage for its age
Enter the odometer reading
Pick the model year and type the miles shown on the dash.
Typical mileage by age
At the U.S. average of about 13,500 miles a year, this is what a car usually shows on the odometer:
| Age | Typical mileage |
|---|---|
| 1 year | 13,500 |
| 3 years | 40,500 |
| 5 years | 67,500 |
| 7 years | 94,500 |
| 10 years | 135,000 |
| 12 years | 162,000 |
| 15 years | 202,500 |
Real cars spread out around these numbers. A highway commuter can add 20,000 miles a year, and a weekend car might add 3,000. That's why the checker calls anything within 20% of the average normal, and only flags readings that sit well outside it.
Signs of odometer rollback
A low reading on its own proves nothing. These are the things that should make you look closer at a "low-mile" car:
- Worn pedals, seat or steering wheel. Rubber worn through on the brake pedal, a sagging driver's seat bolster or a shiny, smooth steering wheel don't fit a car that has barely been driven.
- Mismatched service stickers. Oil change stickers on the windshield or door jamb, and old receipts in the glovebox, often show a mileage. If one is higher than the dash, that's a problem.
- Gaps in recorded readings. Odometer readings get logged at sales, inspections and services. Years with no reading at all give someone room to change the number without being caught.
- A replaced digital dash. A new instrument cluster can start from a different number. A legitimate replacement should come with paperwork showing the old mileage.
The one thing a rollback can't change is the readings already on record. Our guide on how to spot odometer fraud walks through what to look for in them.
Frequently asked questions
Is 100,000 miles a lot for a used car?
It depends on the car's age. At the U.S. average of about 13,500 miles a year, 100,000 miles is normal for a car that's 7 or 8 years old, very high for a 4-year-old car and on the low side for a 12-year-old one. How the car was looked after matters more than the number, so check the service records and the recorded odometer readings too.
How many miles should a 10 year old car have?
About 135,000 miles at the U.S. average of 13,500 a year. This checker counts anything from about 108,000 to 162,000 as normal for a 10-year-old car. A lot less isn't automatically a problem, but it's worth confirming against the car's recorded odometer readings.
How can I tell if the odometer was rolled back?
Compare the wear on the pedals, seat and steering wheel with the reading, look for old service stickers or receipts that show higher mileage, and check the odometer readings recorded at past sales, inspections and services. A reading that goes down, or a long gap with no readings at all, is a red flag. A vehicle history report lists those recorded readings in one place.
Source: Average miles per driver from the Federal Highway Administration (13,476 a year). The checker rounds this to 13,500 miles a year.
Guides that pair with this tool
- How to spot odometer fraud — the red flags most buyers miss
- Used car buying checklist — 27 things to check before you pay
- What a CARFAX report shows — including the odometer section
- Free VIN decoder — confirm the model year before you check the mileage